ABC to Read, a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), is overseen by a Board of Trustees which is responsible for the governance of the Charity.  The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) reports into the Chair of Trustees and all  staff report into the CEO.

MAIN DUTIES OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Trustees ensure that the CIO complies with charity law and with the requirements of the Charity Commission as the regulator.  This includes:

  • ensuring that the CIO prepares annual reports and annual accounts.
  • ensuring that the CIO does not breach any of the requirements or rules set out in the Constitution and that it remains true to its charitable purpose and objects set out therein.
  • ensuring safeguarding is a clear priority of the CIO.
  • trustees act with integrity and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of CIO funds or assets.
  • trustees use charitable funds reasonably, and only in furtherance of the CIO’s objects.
  • trustees avoid undertaking activities that might place the CIO’s funds, assets or reputation at risk.
  • trustees use reasonable care and skill in their work for the CIO to ensure that it is well-run and efficient.
  • trustees regularly review potential risks that the charity may be exposed to, including, but not limited to, all operational, financial, legal, and people matters and keep an active Risk Register.
  • trustees consider seeking external professional advice on all matters where there may be material risk to the CIO, or where the trustees may be in breach of their duties.

Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting and may be co-opted to the Board during the year. The trustees must meet a minimum of 3 times a year. This may be face to face or on online.

MAIN DUTIES OF THE CEO

The CEO reports into the Chair of Trustees.  The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Charity. This includes:

  • all aspects of operational management
  • management of staff
  • day-to-day financial management of the Charity
  • proposing strategies and policies to the Board of Trustees
  • setting standards within policies laid down by the trustees and ensuring these standards are maintained

The CEO reports all matters and updates to the Board of Trustees each school term or as required.

In addition to this regular reporting, the CEO is responsible for alerting the Board of Trustees, in a timely manner, to any issue that might affect the reputation, risk or future of the CIO.

The CEO has the following delegated authorities:

  • authorisation of items of expenditure within the approved budget
  • authorisation of additional emergency expenditure or expenditure above the agreed budget limits (within each term) up to £1000. Such decisions must be brought to the next meeting of the Trustees for ratification
  • submission of grant applications
  • recruitment, training and support of staff and volunteers
  • production and maintenance of all necessary procedures and processes

Policy Reviewed – March 2026