Governance

Practical, trusted governance support you can rely on

Good governance is essential to the effectiveness of any organisation, regardless of its size or sector. This is particularly true for charities and other not-for-profits, where there are additional legal requirements and a strong moral or values-driven purpose.

We provide clear, practical advice tailored to the charity and social enterprise sector - cutting through complexity so you can focus on making a difference.

Why Governance Matters

Good governance is more than compliance.

It’s about:

  • Building trust with funders, regulators and communities.

  • Giving trustees the clarity and confidence to lead.

  • Ensuring structures and policies are fit for purpose.

  • Managing risks before they become problems.

When governance is strong, your board spends less time firefighting and more time focusing on strategy and impact.

  • Fixing structures or constitutions that no longer fit for purpose.

  • Preparing for and implementing collaborations, partnerships, mergers or major organisational change.

How We Help

With increasing media and regulatory scrutiny, few organisations can afford poor governance. Many fail because of governance weaknesses that expose the board (trustees and/or directors) to significant personal risk.

  • Registration, incorporation, and setting up a group structure or trading subsidiary, including choosing the right legal structure.

  • Board recruitment, induction and training, and helping boards develop the culture, clarity and confidence they need to succeed.

  • Navigating complex Charity Commission, CIC Regulator and Companies House requirements and implementing effective risk management arrangements.

  • Establishing, reviewing and updating your policy framework and constitution, articles of association, trust deed or similar.

  • Guiding boards through implementation of collaborations, mergers or complex change.

Our Approach

Review

Understand your context, structures and goals.

Recommend

Provide clear, prioritised actions your board can own.

Strengthen

Deliver practical follow-through, training and support.

Julian Lomas, our Director, is an Affiliate Member of The Chartered Governance Institute, having gained a distinction in their Charity Law and Governance Certificate course. He also holds a foundation qualification in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  • "Clear, patient guidance that made a complex incorporation process simple..."

    “Julian was a superb choice to steer us through the incorporation process. He provided a clear timetable, draft documents and advice on all governance and finance aspects to fit our specific characteristics as a charity. He responded swiftly, fully and patiently to my many queries.”

    – Sarah Tyreman, Group Analytic Society International –

  • "Calm, incisive advice that brought clarity and confidence to a challenging governance review..."

    “Almond Tree Consulting worked with Healthwatch Essex in guiding us through a potentially difficult governance review. I’m pleased to say that Julian was an exemplary consultant throughout this work. He brings a remarkable depth and breadth of knowledge and a close attention to detail, but always provided his advice, guidance and written outputs in a succinct and accessible manner. He worked to time and to budget in delivering the review, and was always willing to ‘go the extra mile’ when necessary. I couldn’t recommend Almond Tree more highly.”

    – Tom Nutt, Healthwatch Essex -

  • "Julian’s practical advice strengthened our governance and boosted trustee confidence...."

    “Almond Tree Consulting performed a governance and policy review for Buckingham Canal Society CIO, enabled by a grant identified through Community Impact Bucks. We were extremely satisfied at all stages of the process and by the services that were delivered to us. The Trustee board gained enormously in its governance understanding and approaches from the practical contributions suggested in Julian’s report.”

    – Terry Cavender, Buckingham Canal Society -

  • "Expert, efficient support that saved us time and money during registration..."

    “It is truly a pleasure to commend the work of Julian Lomas and Almond Tree Consulting.  Julian arranged for the two organisations that I lead – an Anglican Church and a City Centre Chaplaincy – to become registered charities. He did this with great expertise, consummate ease and amazing efficiency. As a result, the work was done more quickly and we were not charged as much as we expected!”

    – Revd Paul Morris, Derby City Centre Chaplaincy and St Peter’s in the City, Derby -

  • "Julian has been of great assistance to me in my capacity as Churches Together Partnership Development Officer...."

    “Julian has been of great assistance to me in my capacity as Churches Together Partnership Development Officer. In the first instance he helped Churches Together set up Camberley Street Angels as a voluntary project and then on 3 occasions since has been instrumental in setting up 3 Charities. The latest of these is The Hope Hub, through his knowledge and experience of the Charity Commission process we set up this Charity in weeks rather than the anticipated months which we felt was a real blessing - thanks Julian”

    – Karen Kendall, Churches Together in Camberley and Hope Hub. -