1. Introduction
This Annual Governance Statement documents the Board’s application of good governance practice during the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025, in compliance with the requirements of the Sport England Code for Sports Governance.
2. Summary of Governance Highlights
2.1. The Board did not appoint any new trustees in the year, although the following trustees were approved to sit a second four-year term:
2.1.1. Nic Erevik
2.1.2. Debbie Henderson
2.1.3. Simon Gordon
2.1.4. Graeme Nash
2.1.5. Katy Storie
2.2. No trustees stood down.
2.3. Four Board meetings were held (May, July and November 2024, and January 2025) 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.
2.4. Three meetings of the Audit Committee were held (July and September 2024 and March 2025). These meetings included the following key items:
2.4.1. Reviewing and recommending the draft 2024-2025 budget;
2.4.2. Discussing and agreeing appropriate investment approaches for the charity’s reserves;
2.4.3. Reviewing the 2023-2024 financial audit with the external auditors, Reid Milburn;
2.4.4. A review of the charity’s Reserves Policy, Investment & Cash Deposit Policy, Financial Procedures, Internal Controls and Risk Management Strategy; and
2.4.5. Reviewing its own performance as a sub-committee and its terms of reference.
2.5. Two meetings of the Nominations & Remuneration Committee were held (Oct 2024 and Mar 2025), although the second meeting was not fully quorate. These meetings included the following key items:
2.5.1. Trustee re-elections;
2.5.2. Sub-committee appointees;
2.5.3. Updating the Succession Plan;
2.5.4. Reviewing the People Plan;
2.5.5. Staff cost of living increases; and
2.5.6. Reviewing its own performance as a sub-committee and its terms of reference.
2.6. Three meetings of the EDI Sub-Group took place (June and Oct 2024 and March 2025). The group reviewed progress against the new Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) and supported with insights into steps that could be taken to support those actions.
2.7. The Board reviewed the following governance documents for suitability:
2.7.1. Risk Register;
2.7.2. 2024-2025 Performance Scorecard;
2.7.3. Health & Safety Policy & Statement;
2.7.4. People Plan;
2.7.5. Succession Plan;
2.7.6. Matters Reserved for the Board & Scheme of Delegation;
2.7.7. Conflict of Interest Protocol (Trustees);
2.7.8. Trustee Code of Conduct;
2.7.9. Reserves Policy; and
2.7.10. Environmental & Sustainability Policy.