Over 130 trustees, directors, and senior charity staff came together on Thursday 17th July for a half-day Charity Governance and Compliance Seminar, organised by Interlink and Cohen Arnold. The seminar aimed to provide trustees and charity leaders with practical tools to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

The seminar, held at Deal Halls, Kinloss, NW London, drew participants from across London, with several travelling from as far as Manchester and Gateshead. Attendees represented a wide range of community charities, including grant-making foundations, educational charities, youth initiatives, and poverty relief organisations, alongside some accountants and advisors supporting charities on governance and compliance. Their shared objective was to gain knowledge and strengthen the governance structures that protect their charities and ensure they fulfil their charitable purposes.

The seminar began with opening words from Rabbi Dovid Lichtig, Chief Executive of the Interlink Foundation, who highlighted the importance of strong governance as the foundation of any successful charity. “Good governance is absolutely essential to protecting a charity,” he said. “Trustees are dedicated and hardworking, but they need clear structures to guide their decisions.”

Rabbi Lichtig led the first session on trustees’ responsibilities, drawing on the six core duties set out by the Charity Commission. He highlighted common governance blind spots – such as conflicts of interest, risk management, and the need for documented decisions and robust policies and procedures – all of which are crucial in ensuring charities operate transparently and in line with regulatory expectations. Attendees appreciated the practical approach, with one commenting, “I’ve learned that governance isn’t just paperwork, it’s about creating systems that allow the charity to run smoothly and responsibly.”

The second session was delivered by David Goldberg, accountant and partner at Cohen Arnold, who addressed the complex rules surrounding grant-making, particularly overseas giving. He outlined key regulatory requirements and common pitfalls, emphasising that even grants made to other UK charities require clear documentation and approval processes to ensure alignment with a charity’s objects.

Neasa Coen, charity lawyer and partner at Payne Hicks Beach, led the final session, tackling the complexities of equality law. She explained that while charities can legitimately serve specific communities or groups, trustees must understand the Equality Act to ensure they operate within the law. She encouraged trustees to ensure that any restrictions on who their charity serves are carefully justified and lawful, noting that while the Equality Act can feel daunting, understanding its framework is essential to avoid unintentional breaches.

Attendees engaged enthusiastically during the Q&A session, raising practical questions around compliance, trustees’ roles, and risk management.

The seminar concluded with a catered lunch, where participants networked and exchanged ideas with other trustees and experts.

One trustee commented, “The seminar was very informative and relevant. I’m leaving with clarity on my responsibilities as a trustee, which will help me make better decisions. A highlight for me was the Q&A session, as well as meeting other trustees.”

Attendees left with a stronger understanding of their responsibilities and compliance requirements, and many commented on the practical takeaways they could apply directly to their own charities.