At YMCA DownsLink Group, we believe that strong governance is a central pillar of delivering meaningful, lasting impact for the young people and the communities we serve. That’s why we partnered with the Good Governance Institute (GGI) to undertake a comprehensive governance review.
The final report, delivered in March 2025, recognises the significant strides we’ve made in aligning with the National Housing Federation Code of Governance and the Charity Governance Code.
Key highlights from the review
Board effectiveness: Our Board is operating effectively, with clear roles, strong leadership and a culture of constructive challenge. The next step? Evolving into a high-performing Board through a focused development programme.
Strategic focus: We’re encouraged to spend more time looking ahead scanning the horizon and aligning our governance with long-term strategic goals.
Risk and assurance: With a robust risk register already in place, we’re now exploring the adoption of a Board Assurance Framework to enhance strategic oversight and decision-making.
Diversity and succession: We’re committed to building a Board that reflects the communities we serve – diverse in background, skills, and lived experience. Succession planning is underway to ensure continuity and inclusivity.
Committee efficiency: A review of our committee cycle is helping us streamline governance, reduce burden and focus on what matters most – our impact.
Youth voice and sustainability: We’re proud of the progress made in youth engagement, financial resilience and environmental sustainability but know there is so much more we need to do.
10 recommendations for the future
From developing a Board maturity matrix to refining our conflicts of interest policy, the report outlines ten practical, forward-thinking recommendations. Each one is a step toward embedding a culture of continuous improvement and strategic alignment.
A word of thanks
We’re grateful to GGI for their support, to our Company Secretary, Sian Stokes, whose guidance and scrutiny were instrumental throughout the process and to our Board of trustees.
As we look forward, we’re excited to continue this journey building a governance model that not only meets standards but sets them. Governance isn’t just about compliance – it’s about amplifying our mission to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be.
