Governance

Governance & policies

How we're governed, how we safeguard our beneficiaries, and how we ensure every pound is spent effectively.

Our governance structure

Back to Basics CIO is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Registration 1176426). We are governed by a board of trustees who give their time voluntarily and are responsible for the strategic direction, financial oversight, and legal compliance of the charity.

Board of Trustees

Our trustees bring a range of skills and experience to the charity, including community development, education, finance, and environmental sustainability. The board meets regularly to review strategy, finances, and operational performance.

Adrian Hamilton

Managing Director & Finance Director

Responsible for the overall strategic direction and financial management of the charity. Ensures compliance with Charity Commission requirements and oversees programme delivery.

Full trustee details are available on the Charity Commission register.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is central to everything we do. Our workshops serve children, young people, older adults, and people with disabilities — and we take our duty of care extremely seriously.

DBS checks

All staff and volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults hold current Enhanced DBS certificates. We maintain a central register and ensure timely renewals.

Safeguarding policy

We maintain a comprehensive safeguarding policy that covers child protection, vulnerable adults, reporting procedures, and designated safeguarding leads.

Risk assessments

Every workshop, event, and growing space has a documented risk assessment. These are reviewed regularly and updated for any changes in activity or environment.

Training

All trustees, staff, and regular volunteers complete safeguarding training. This is refreshed annually and covers recognising signs of abuse, reporting procedures, and safe working practices.

Our policies

We maintain a full suite of policies to ensure good governance, legal compliance, and the safety of everyone we work with. Key policies include:

Safeguarding Policy

Child protection and vulnerable adults

Health & Safety Policy

Covering all workshops, events, and growing spaces

Equal Opportunities Policy

Ensuring our services are accessible to all

Data Protection Policy

GDPR compliance and data handling procedures

Financial Controls Policy

Budget management, authorisation, and reporting

Complaints Procedure

Clear process for raising and resolving concerns

Volunteer Policy

Recruitment, induction, support, and DBS requirements

Environmental Policy

Our commitment to sustainable practices in all operations

Copies of our policies are available on request. Please contact us if you would like to review any of our documentation.

Financial transparency

We are committed to full financial transparency. Our annual accounts are filed with the Charity Commission and are publicly available.

Annual accounts

Our accounts are independently examined and filed annually with the Charity Commission. They detail all income, expenditure, and reserves.

View on Charity Commission

How funds are used

The majority of our funds go directly to programme delivery: workshop facilitation, growing space maintenance, educational materials, and tutor costs. Administrative costs are kept to a minimum.

Questions about our governance?

We welcome enquiries from funders, partners, and the public about how we operate. Transparency is fundamental to our work.

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