Governance
Lancashire Women is a charity (Registered Charity Number: 1100976) and company limited by guarantee (Company Number 4777720) and is regulated principally by the Charity Commission, the Companies Acts, the Fundraising Regulator and the Office of the Information Commissioner.
The Board recognises the value of diversity (in all its forms) on the Board and in its trustee recruitment process seeks to identify imbalances and gaps in expertise and experience to make sure that the Board best reflects the interests and needs of LW’s stakeholders, its charitable objects, and of wider society. It is committed to removing or reducing practical obstacles to trusteeship in terms of accessibility of meetings and information flows; payment of reasonable expenses; and the recruitment process.
Read about our impact in our latest annual report
Annual Report 2024 – 2025
Read our previous annual report.
Annual Report 2023 – 2024.
View our most recent accounts.
Click here.
Read about The Charity Code of Conduct.
Click here.
Lancashire Women Trustees
Lynette Harwood
Chair
Lynette is an independent health and social care consultant who has been part of the National Maternity Transformation Programme with NHS England and led on the implementation of several Maternity Programmes for Greater Manchester.
She worked for the NHS for 27 years prior to this and has experience in senior management, commissioning and public health. She has commissioned mental health, substance misuse and children’s services across East Lancashire.
Maggie Lishman
Vice Chair
Maggie represents the ward of Briercliffe as their Liberal Democrat councillor. She is retired from the NHS where she worked as a senior manager.
Maggie is also vice chair of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS. She enjoys the role of Vice Chair and the challenges that brings in these uncertain times.
Laura Brown
Trustee
Laura is a social justice professional with over 20 years of experience in programme design, funding and management, strategic planning and capacity strengthening in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Laura is also a creative trainer and facilitator and has extensive experience in external representation and network co-ordination.
She has specific technical expertise in women’s rights and gender justice programming with women’s rights organisations including projects to end violence against women and girls, women’s participation and leadership and strengthening feminist movements.
Charlotte Barrow
Trustee
Charlotte has been an academic at the University of Central Lancashire since 2001. Involved in the University’s work around equality, diversity and inclusion, she is Co-Chair of the University’s Women’s Network, and her specialism is around inclusion in education.
Charlotte was a volunteer for the past Red Box project in Preston, and is currently a school governor. A qualified yoga teacher, Charlotte has taken huge pleasure in sharing wellbeing practices in early years settings and the workplace and is also a Mental Health First Aider.
Howard Hamilton-Smith
Trustee
bio coming soon
Amelia Lee
Trustee
Amelia is Regional Director at Charity People, a B-Corp certified and employee-owned recruitment company specialising in the charity sector, where she serves on the commercial board. Amelia supports charities to recruit senior leaders and fundraisers, always working through the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I). She is an advocate for lived experience, working with boards to increase representation and ensure diverse voices have genuine influence and power.
Pauline Geraghty MBE
Trustee
Pauline is a registered social worker, currently working as an independent consultant. She has worked in children’s social care and children’s rights for 38 years both in statutory and voluntary organisations. Prior to this she was a teacher.
Pauline has experience of working in leadership roles, strategic development, risk management and also has many years as a practitioner in frontline services. In 2011 she was awarded the MBE from the Queen for services to children and young people. She is also currently the chair of trustees for a Lancashire domestic abuse charity.
Rob Dickinson
Trustee
Rob Dickinson is Head of Fundraising at The Scar Free Foundation and a Consultant with Warren Larkin Associates. With over 15 years of experience in the charity and health sectors, he specialises in income generation, strategy and trauma-informed practice. Rob has held senior roles at The Children’s Society and Child Action Northwest, and previously served as a trustee of Khulisa. He is also a committee representative for the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. Rob is passionate about helping charities build financial independence through strong, sustainable fundraising.
The role of a Trustee
The Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for Lancashire Women’s compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The conduct of the Board is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Lancashire Women. The Board has a Chair elected by the trustees who shares collective responsibility and authority.
- To be committed to the mission of Lancashire Women and a willingness to provide leadership to help the organisation deliver its purposes most effectively for the public benefit.
- To have commitment to the values of the organisation.
- To understand roles and legal responsibilities as a Trustee.
- To have commitment to good governance and a desire to contribute to the organisation’s continued improvement.
- To be willing to challenge, and be challenged, in a constructive way.
- To work cooperatively with others; have a willingness to take time to understand each other’s motivations and to build trust within the Board
- To use experience and intelligence to make effective business decisions and recommendations.
- To have high ethical standards and sound practical sense.
- To be an ambassador for the organisation, representing Lancashire Women to individuals, the public and other organisations
- To look for opportunities to bring their relevant network to the organisation, in furtherance of Lancashire Women’s objectives
- To contribute to the organisation through participating in fundraising, supporting events, and/or volunteering.
Governance FAQs
All you need to know about Charity Governance!
What is charity governance?
Governance refers to how a charity is directed, controlled, and held to account. It includes oversight by the board of trustees, policies, compliance, and decision-making processes.
Who governs this charity?
Our charity is governed by a board of trustees (also called directors), who are responsible for overseeing strategy, compliance, finances, corporate risk and overall performance.
The board is chaired by one of the trustees elected by the rest of the board. There is a vice-chair, a treasurer and up to 8 more trustees.
There are some specific roles that enhance the board, for example, a safeguarding lead and a lead for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
How are trustees selected or appointed?
Trustees are appointed based on their skills, experience, and alignment with our values and mission. They may be nominated by existing trustees or recruited through an open application process. Periodically there is a review of the board’s composition to identify if there are any gaps in skills and experience so we can make sure the board is as effective as possible.
How long do trustees stay on the board?
Trustees are appointed for a specific time frame and at the end of this period they stand down. They can be formally reappointed by consensus of the other trustees to serve for a further defined period. This is usually done in the Annual General Meeting.
Do trustees have to undertake induction and training?
All trustees undertake a comprehensive induction and mandatory training that equips them to fulfil their role. Additional training is made available to ensure trustees can update their skills and knowledge.
Is individual trustee performance reviewed?
Annually there is a review of the chair’s performance and the chair undertakes reviews of the other trustees.
Are trustees paid?
No, our trustees serve on a voluntary basis and are not paid, except for reimbursement of legitimate expenses.
How often does the board meet?
The board typically meets quarterly and holds additional meetings as needed to make urgent or strategic decisions.
There are 3 sub-committees that support the board’s work:
Governance
Finance
Human Resources
Can staff, volunteers and those who use services engage with trustees?
Trustees make every effort to engage with staff during the year to learn more about the work taking place, hear about people’s new ideas and get feedback to inform strategic planning. This can take place in staff and volunteer away days and other events.
Co-production with service users is an important strategy for Lancashire Women and the trustees, alongside staff and volunteers always want to find ways to make this possible.
What is an Annual General Meeting?
Each year Lancashire Women holds an Annual General meeting where the annual report and accounts are presented. It is also used to tell people about our services and impact they have had through the year. At this meeting new trustees can be elected or those who are standing down re-elected.
What policies does the charity follow for good governance?
We align with the Charity Governance Code which guides our practices on leadership, integrity, decision-making, EDI and accountability. This is reviewed annually. A trustee can be removed from office if they breach the code. We also follow a range of governing policies, including:
- A conflict of interest policy
- A code of conduct for trustees
- Financial controls and anti-fraud measures
- Safeguarding and data protection policies
- Clinical Governance policies
- Risk assessment frameworks
Is the charity regulated?
Yes. We are registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and comply with all relevant laws, reporting obligations, and best practices. Our charity registration number is 1100976. We are also registered at Companies House as we are a charitable company limited by guarantee. Our company number is 4777720.
As a charity, we rely on fundraising to generate income to support our work for women and families across the county of Lancashire. We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and adhere to their fundraising code of practice.
How can I see Lancashire Women’s annual reports or financial statements?
You can view our latest annual report and financial statements at www.lancashirewomen.org or directly via the Charity Commission or Companies House
How do you ensure transparency and accountability?
We publish annual reports, financial statements, and impact summaries. The board also conducts regular reviews and external audits where appropriate.
What happens if something goes wrong?
We have a risk management framework and clear whistleblowing and complaints procedures. Any serious issues are escalated to the board and reported to regulators if necessary
How do you manage conflicts of interest?
Trustees must declare annually any conflicts of interest, which are recorded and managed according to our conflict of interest policy. Any additional conflicts during the year will be declared. At meetings where there is a conflict of interest with an item to be discussed the trustee will withdraw from the meeting and will not vote on the matter.