Key committee roles
The best committees have clearly defined roles and responsibilities that are understood by all members. Some typical roles include the ones below, but you can adapt them to best suit your group.
- Chair: is responsible for making sure discussions and decisions are achieved.
- Treasurer: manages the finances of the group and advises on financial matters.
- Secretary: keeps people informed about group matters and takes minutes at meetings.
Holding meetings
Committee meetings should be regular, have an agenda and a designated chair. Minutes should be taken so decisions and actions are noted and can be updated at the next meeting.
Public meetings should have a similar structure to a committee meeting with additional focus on topics which engage the community.
Topics should be specific to the purpose of the public meeting (e.g. at an AGM you should include annual summaries rather than general updates).
To encourage high attendance at your public meeting, think about:
- accessible venues and times
- incentives (e.g. refreshments)
- advertising prior to the meeting (e.g. social media, local posters)
More guidance
See our other resources for help setting up your group.
- Resource Centre: Roles of officers
- UK Gov: How to write your charity’s governing document