How Concern NI is governed

All our trustees are non-executive and are drawn from diverse backgrounds in business and professional life and bring a broad range of experience and skills to board deliberations. There are clear distinctions between the role of the board and the executive management team to which day-to-day management is delegated.

The board meets three times a year and has responsibility for monitoring the performance of our retail operation in Northern Ireland against the strategic plan, annual plans and budgets. This includes monitoring the management accounts, reviewing and approving Concern (NI)’s annual report and accounts, ensuring risks to the organisation are managed appropriately and the recommendations of audit reports implemented. The board reviews all shop development plans, including regular lease reviews, and monitors all retail operations to ensure compliance with the relevant trading, fundraising and volunteering standards.

The board complies with the Code of Good Governance, which sets out the principles and key elements of good governance for the boards of voluntary and community organisations in Northern Ireland and is recognised by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

The members of the board cannot, under the regulations that govern charities, receive remuneration for their services to Concern (NI).

The day-to-day management of Concern (NI) is delegated to the Northern Ireland Retail Management Team. The principle that “management purposes, board decides, management implements, board monitors,” forms the basis of the board and management relationship.

Policy, strategic planning and budgets are prepared by management for consideration and approval by the board. To further enable the board to evaluate the effectiveness of Concern (NI)’s work, management also bring other matters of relevance to the board e.g. action plans to address the findings of risk assessments and audits.

Reporting lines within Concern

The Concern (NI) board report to the Concern Worldwide (UK) Audit and Finance Committee, which in turn reports into the Concern Worldwide (UK) Board. 

Legal status

Concern (NI), company number NI019332, is a limited company by guarantee, of which the sole member is Concern Worldwide (UK).  Concern (NI) is registered as a charity with Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (charity number NIC108592).