Risk Management for Charities

A Practical Guide for Irish & UK Trustees & Staff

By: Joe Houghton

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Are you prepared to navigate the high-stakes world of charity governance? In an era of intense public scrutiny, good intentions are no longer enough.

Across the UK and Ireland, charities operate in a landscape of increasing pressure and distrust. High-profile scandals have shaken public confidence, and the legal and regulatory obligations on trustees have never been more stringent. For board members, staff, and volunteers, the weight of responsibility can be immense. A single misstep in finance, governance, or safeguarding can erase years of hard work and destroy the trust you depend on.

Risk Management for Charities – A Practical Guide for Irish & UK Trustees & Staff is the essential, no-nonsense handbook for protecting your organisation and fulfilling your mission with confidence. Written by experienced charity governor and consultant Joe Houghton, this book demystifies risk management, transforming it from a bureaucratic chore into a powerful strategic tool for building resilience.

Inside this practical guide, you will find:

• Real-World Lessons from Major Scandals: Go behind the headlines of the failures at Console, Kids Company, Central Remedial Clinic (CRC), Oxfam, and more. Understand what went wrong and how to prevent it from happening in your organisation.

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Your Legal Duties: Master your obligations under the Irish Charities Regulator and the UK Charity Commission. This book provides a crucial breakdown of trustee duties and personal liability – essential reading for anyone on a board.

• The Complete Risk Management Toolkit: Learn how to build a robust framework from the ground up. This guide provides clear, actionable steps for creating a risk register, developing a risk management policy, and defining your risk appetite.

• A 360-Degree View of Charity Risks: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the threats you face, including governance, financial, operational, safeguarding, and reputational risks.

• A Focus on the UK & Ireland: With tailored content and resources specific to the regulatory environments in Ireland and the UK's devolved nations, this guide is perfectly aligned with your local context.

Written in an accessible, conversational style , this book is not about avoiding risk—it’s about managing it intelligently so you can act boldly, innovate, and deliver on your promises for the long term. Equip your board, empower your staff, and safeguard your mission.

Protect your charity’s future. Buy this book today.