The New Charity Governance Code 2025: What Your Charity Really Needs to Know

If you’re a trustee or charity leader, you may have already seen that the new Charity Governance Code was published on 3 November 2025. It’s the first big overhaul since 2017, and while it’s still voluntary, the code is the go‑to benchmark for what “good governance” should look like.

Here’s the friendly, plain‑English version of what’s changed and why it matters.

What’s new?

1. The code is clearer and more modern

The Code is now built around eight principles, such as purpose, leadership, ethics, culture, and how the board works together day‑to‑day.

Several parts have been reshaped:

• Integrity, Openness, and Accountability have been rolled together into Ethics & Culture.
• Diversity has been widened to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
• The old catch‑all “decision‑making, risk and control” has been split into two clearer parts: Decision‑making and Managing Resources & Risks.

It is also set out so it’s easy to read and is visually easier to absorb.

2. It tells you what ‘good’ looks like

Each section now includes handy “when you know it’s working” indicators. In other words, examples of what good governance should actually look or feel like

For many trustees, this will be a huge help. It gives you something a bit more concrete to reflect on, rather than trying to interpret broad principles on your own.

3. One Code for everyone

The old split between large and small charities has gone. There’s now a single Code, with extra expectations simply flagged where relevant (e.g. if you have paid staff). It makes life simpler and removes the idea that governance isn’t as important for smaller organisations.

Why the code matters

The big message running through the new Code is that governance isn’t about paperwork, it’s about how your board behaves.

Policies and the right documentation are really important, but culture, attitudes, and how trustees handle disagreement or uncertainty are what make a board strong or weak. The Code now leans into that reality, focusing far more on behaviours, attitudes and leadership style.

And with funders and the public increasingly interested in transparency, ethics and decision‑making, this feels like exactly the right moment for a refresh.

What do you need to do?

• Read the Code together –  a shared discussion is far more powerful than everyone quietly skimming it at home.
• Pick out 2-3 areas to work on as a priority and move through it, not all areas in one go. .
• Talk about behaviours, not just policies.
• Add a short statement to your annual report on how you apply the Code (or what you do instead).

An updated interactive website is due in 2026, which should make it even easier to navigate.

The new Code isn’t something to fear or another piece of compliance; it’s a genuinely helpful tool to get boards talking about the things that really matter: purpose, culture, trust and the way decisions are made.

For more information, please contact our Charities and Not-For-Profit team here.