Governance

The Board of Trustees has ultimate control over and responsibility for the charity’s management and administration. The Board meets six times a year to oversee the administration and management of the charity, set strategies and policies and approve all major expenditure programmes. Trustees serve for a period of three years and are then eligible for re-election to a further two terms of three years.

The Board comprises the following:

• nine Directors appointed by the Board for their specific skills
• at least four Directors are Cats Protection Volunteers
• at least three Directors are external to Cats Protection

New Trustees are familiarised with the workings of the charity and its policies through induction training, visits to branches and adoption centres and meetings with the Chairman, other Directors and the Chief Executive. Ongoing training and support for all Trustees is provided through formal and informal briefings from the Chief Executive, Executive Management Team, third-party specialists or external courses as appropriate.

The Board has three sub-committees:

• The Investment Committee assists the Board in safeguarding the charity’s financial assets and in determining investment policy. It meets at least twice annually with investment managers, advisers and relevant staff.
• The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its obligations to ensure effective financial reporting, systems and internal controls are in place. It meets at least twice annually and comprises three Directors, at least one Cats Protection volunteer and at least one external independent member, both with relevant skills
• The Nominations Committee undertakes the recruitment process for new Trustees on behalf of the Trustee Board and recruits members for Connect, the charity’s volunteer consultative body. The Nominations Committee meets at least twice annually and consists of three Trustees, two members of Connect and an external adviser.

Management

The implementation of policies, control of approved financial programmes and day-today operations are the responsibility of the Chief Executive, who is assisted by an Executive Management Team.

Regional staff are responsible for developing the activities of volunteer-run branches and establishing new ones in areas of need. As part of our commitment to supporting local branches, some of our management is located away from the National Cat Centre and nearer to our branches and centres across the UK. This gives more focus and support for the branches and helps provide an integrated service across branches and adoption centres.

Our work in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is managed centrally and under the same integrated governance and management structure.

Downloads

Click document title to begin download

• Cats Protection Rules - PDF - View
• Connect Regulations - Terms of Reference - without transitional provisions - PDF - View
• Nominations Committee Terms of Reference - PDF - View