Governance isn’t just for large institutions or formal boards. In fact, the smaller the organisation, the more visible the impact of good (or poor) governance becomes. Whether you’re running a local charity, a parish council, or a small business, getting governance right isn’t about red tape, it’s about clarity, trust, and function.
We often see the same questions arise: “Do we need a policy for this?” “Whose job is it to decide that?” “Are we covered if something goes wrong?” These are not just operational concerns, they’re governance concerns. And when governance is clear, those questions are easier to answer.
Why Governance Feels Tricky in Smaller Settings
Small organisations are often built on relationships, between founders, trustees, volunteers, or local stakeholders. That can be a strength. But when roles aren’t clearly defined, or decision-making happens informally, it can lead to confusion, burnout, or even conflict.
What we find is that many small teams are doing good governance without realising it, but they’re often doing it inconsistently. Writing it down, making it transparent, and ensuring everyone understands the rules of the game makes life easier for everyone involved.
Principles That Work
We believe governance should be:
- Proportionate — Not overly complex, just clear and appropriate to the size of the organisation.
- Agreed — Everyone should know the expectations, especially around decision-making and accountability.
- Reviewed — Policies and practices aren’t just paperwork — they should evolve as your organisation grows or changes.
- Accessible — Governance should never be locked away in a document nobody reads. It should be practical, visible, and lived.
Making a Start
You don’t need a wholesale rewrite of your constitution or company documents to improve governance. Often, it starts with a simple conversation”
H26 supports organisations looking to bring structure, to clarify without complicating. We can work with your existing framework or help you build something lightweight and robust from the ground up.
This article is informed by our experience supporting local organisations.