VSO is governed by VSO Ireland's Board of Directors. They set the direction and purpose of the charity and ensure alignment with VSO International. We are commited to best practice in our governance and transparency.
Structure
VSO Ireland is constituted as an independent entity. It is a company limited by guarantee registered in Ireland and an Irish registered charity (Charity Number CHY 15048). VSO Ireland is a subsidiary of Voluntary Service Overseas, an international development organisation, registered in England and Wales (Registered charity 313757). VSO Ireland's governing document is the VSO Ireland Constitution. The Constitution provides that its charitable purpose is to advance education and to aid in the relief of poverty in any part of the world and for this purpose to;
• Send volunteers to other countries to share and develop their skills and understanding and to share their experience with others on return.
• Educate the public concerning the nature, causes, and effects of poverty and limited education in other countries, to conduct and pursue research concerning these matters and to publish or otherwise make the results of such research available to the public.
Governance
The governing body for VSO Ireland is the Board of Directors. The Board of VSO Ireland has three directors - Geoff Skingsley, Siobhan Cahalan and Aidan Barry. Siobhan and Aidan are both Irish citizens.
Directors are non-executive, serve on a voluntary basis and receive no remuneration for services. Directors take part in an induction programme. The Board of Directors is legally responsible for the governance of and oversight of activities of VSO Ireland.
VSO Ireland abides by the Code of Practice for Good Governance for the Community, Voluntary and Charity Organisations in Ireland.
VSO Ireland is compliant with the Dochas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages, a signatory of the Comhlimh Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Agencies, and provides training on the appropriate use of images and messages to outgoing volunteers. VSO Ireland is compliant with the Irish Charity Tax Reform Group's Guiding Principles for Fundraising and adheres to the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR requirements. VSO Ireland prepares and presents its Financial Statement using the latest Charities SORP 2019 and is in line with the new Companies Act 2014. VSO Ireland is fully compliant with the CRA regulations and reporting requirements.
To fulfil its obligations, the board of VSO Ireland generally meets three times a year. The Board approves an annual budget, work plan and risk register, and is informed on progress against these plans by regular executive report. The Board of VSO Ireland provides reports on progress to VSO's International Board, and on how this progress contributes to the overall plan for VSO.
VSO Ireland holds an Annual General Meeting each year which approves and authorises the statutory accounts and other statutory reports for VSO Ireland.
Trust and Transparency
• Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which outlines our commitment to ensuring that people who work with our organisation are free from abuse or exploitation.
• Our Global Preventing Criminal Practices Policy which outlines our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of openness, integrity, and accountability, and to eliminate any criminal activity, such as bribery, fraud, theft, and modem slavery.
• Our Global VVhistleblowing Policy which requires all VSO people to report any wrongdoing or suspected wrong-doing and set the different ways it can be done including through VSO's whistleblowing email address where people can report their concerns anonymously. Any concern raised is investigate by VSO Internal Audit team.
• Our Global Procurement Policy which requires all staff and volunteers to follow the procurement principles of fairness, transparency, ethical behaviour, compliance and ensuring value for money.
• Our Code of Good Practice which sets out the standards and expectations of employees' and volunteers' behaviour.
• Our Data protection policy to follow EU and other applicable laws on data protection and privacy.