1. Introduction
This Annual Governance Statement documents the Board’s application of good
governance practice during the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024, in
compliance with the requirements of the Sport England Code for Sports
Governance.
2. Summary of Governance Highlights
2.1. The Board appointed Karen Pearce as a new trustee and lead for EDI
following the retirement of Patrick Price. As Patrick had also been the Vice
Chair, the Board appointed Debbie Henderson to be the new Vice Chair
alongside her existing Senior Independent Director role.
2.2. Four Board meetings were held (May, September and November 2023, and
January 2024) all of which were fully quorate, and the minutes of which are
available on the Rise website. The Board contributed to the strategy
oversight of Rise through its Board meeting process.
2.3. Three meetings of the Audit Committee were held (June and September
2022 and March 2024). These meetings included the following key items:
2.3.1. Registering for VAT;
2.3.2. Reviewing and recommending the draft 2023-2024 budget;
2.3.3. Discussing and agreeing appropriate investment approaches for the
charity’s reserves;
2.3.4. Reviewing the 2022-2023 financial audit with the newly appointed
external auditors, Reid Milburn;
2.3.5. A review of the charity’s Reserves Policy, Investment & Cash Deposit
Policy, Financial Procedures, Internal Controls and Risk Management
Strategy;
2.3.6. Reviewing and approving the charity’s Whistleblowing Policy; and
2.3.7. Reviewing its own performance as a sub-committee and its terms of
reference.
2.4. Two meetings of the Nominations & Remuneration Committee were held
(Aug 2023 and Feb 2024). These meetings included the following key items:
2.4.1. Trustee retirements and re-elections;
2.4.2. Sub-committee appointees;
2.4.3. Updating the Succession Plan;
2.4.4. Reviewing the People Plan;
2.4.5. Staff cost of living increases; and
2.4.6. Reviewing its own performance as a sub-committee and its terms of
reference.
2.5. Three meeting of the EDI Sub-Group took place (May and Oct 2023 and Feb
2024). The group reviewed progress against the existing EDI Action Plan and
discussed the new Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) development.
2.6. The Board reviewed the following governance documents for suitability:
2.6.1. Risk Register;
2.6.2. Board Terms of Reference;
2.6.3. 2023-2024 Balanced Scorecard;
2.6.4. Health & Safety Policy & Statement;
2.6.5. People Plan;
2.6.6. Succession Plan;
2.6.7. Safeguarding Children & Young People and Safeguarding Adults at
Risk policies;
2.6.8. Matters Reserved for the Board & Scheme of Delegation;
2.6.9. Business Continuity Plan; and
2.6.10. Environmental & Sustainability Policy.
2.7. The Board, supported by the Audit Committee, reviewed the following areas
of governance:
2.7.1. Reserves Policy;
2.7.2. Financial Procedures; and
2.7.3. Investment & Cash Deposit Policy.
2.8. The Board reviewed the Governance Action Plan to achieve compliance
with the Sport England Code of (updated in December 2021). (Confirmation
of compliance was received in April 2024.)