Small Charity Governance is concerned with the control and direction of charitable organisations established for the public benefit in the United Kingdom. The majority of charities in England and Wales (totaling about 190,000) have an income under £10,000, and only about 22% of charities have any staff at all. Many community groups and small voluntary organisations are not registered charities, because either their turnover is below the threshold for registration or their purpose does not fall within the definition of charitable activity. Much literature about governance is written from the perspective of the minority of larger charities; this article attempts to address the topic by focusing on the experience and concerns of the majority. Governance is the process through which a group of people make decisions which direct their collective efforts. This typically features delegation to a smaller group, which is in turn accountable to the stakeholders or owners of the organisation. Role In small voluntary organisations, those entrusted with the governance function (the governing body or board of trustees) are expected to carry out both governance functions and to also perform other roles within the organisation. Core functions are: To ensure that the charity remains true to its mission and values To determine its strategy To act as the point of final accountability for its actions and those of its representatives and staff To safeguard its assets When the organisation employs staff, the governing body undertakes the management role of hiring, firing and holding the head of staff accountable. Another role is as liaison between the organisation and the outside world: providing a conduit for information and ideas, representing it and acting as an ambassador for it. In addition to these governance functions, trustees of small charities may also be expected to: Act as a pool of expertise and advice, making this available to staff and volunteers Manage one (or more) staff, volunteers or projects (for instance, managing the work of the coordinator or production of the newsletter) Carrying out the work of the organisation: staffing a helpline, answering correspondence and so on The literature typically restricts its coverage to “pure” governance functions; it does not pay attention to these other functions which are carried out by the trustees of small charities, seen by staff, volunteers and committee members as the contribution made by them to the organisation. Governors There is sometimes a lack of clarity concerning who the