Board of Management elections

The Board of Management

Naace is registered as a charity and has a Board of Management to look after its affairs. They are responsible to the Charity Commissioners and to members of the Association. There are up to eleven Board members elected from the membership, and they each normally serve a term of four years (subject to the Rules).

Apart from the AGM, the Board meets a minimum of three times a year, although it usually agrees to meet more often, typically once a month. The Board of Management does meet face-to-face, but meetings are also held online to reduce overheads.

Attendance at meetings is an important obligation, and the Articles of the Association state that if a Board member does not attend for six months, their place is vacated.

The Board deals with strategic business and is responsible for the activity of the Association. The Board is responsible for the finances of the Association, sets its direction and plans for the future. To protect Board members, Naace takes out financial indemnity insurance to cover them when acting in their role. The Board monitors progress and liaises with those commissioned to undertake activity.

The Articles and Memorandum of the Association, in line with Charity Commission rules, do not allow Board members to receive any payment for their services except in exceptional circumstances. All activity is therefore voluntary, although out-of-pocket expenses are allowed, including the costs of attending meetings. Board members are offered subsidised places at Naace events where possible, and potentially at other relevant events where they are representing Naace.

Charity regulations also mean that Board members must submit to a degree of scrutiny. It is illegal, for example, for a Board member to have been bankrupt or guilty of an offence that brings their honesty into question. All Board members are asked to maintain and sign a register of interests annually and a code of practice, so that they can avoid any potential conflict of interest, and are expected to withdraw from meetings where agenda items may lead to a challenge to their integrity in a given area.

The Charity Commission provides extensive guidance for trustees, including The Essential Trustee: what you need to know. All this might seem a bit daunting, but there are many positive benefits to being a Board member. You can see who currently serves on the Board.

If you'd like to discuss what being a Board member involves before you are nominated, contact Phil Blackburn, Chair of the Board, at phil.blackburn@naace.org.uk. He will be happy to talk things through with you in confidence.

Procedure for nominations

Nominations open at noon on 16 November 2026 and close at noon on Tuesday 8 December 2026. Election documents (proposals and candidate information) should be sent to elections@naace.org.uk by 12 noon on 7 December 2026. These details will be posted on the Naace website.

Formal elections will take place electronically (details will be sent to all Naace members) between 6pm on 8 December 2026 and 6pm on 15 December 2026.

What to do next

If you are interested in standing for the Board of Management, download and complete the nomination paper below and send it to elections@naace.org.uk by 12 noon on 7 December 2026. Both a proposer and a seconder are required, and the paper must be signed by everyone concerned.

To make it easier for candidates, scanned copies from the candidate, proposer and seconder will be accepted if emailed to elections@naace.org.uk by the deadline.

In addition, email a supporting statement of no more than 400 words outlining your experience, current activity and interest in representing members, plus a photograph (JPEG or GIF), to elections@naace.org.uk before 12 noon on 7 December 2026.

If necessary, a ballot will take place online between 6pm on 8 December 2026 and 6pm on 15 December 2026, with the results announced on the Naace website.