The Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (acevo) has launched a major enquiry into third sector governance.

Led by Rodney Brooke CBE, chair of the General Social Care Council, the enquiry will assess the views of chief executives in the charitable sector in an attempt to raise board performance levels and instil greater accountability.

According to acevo chief executive Stephen Bubb, “there is a shameful apathy in the sector” that urgently needs addressing with a more professional approach to governance.

Research reveals that just 27 per cent of voluntary organisation boards in the UK have introduced appraisal processes and 81 per cent of larger charities currently rely on word-of-mouth when recruiting.

The enquiry will look to evaluate the robustness of third sector governance, deliberate on the impact of initiatives such as the Code of Governance, consider the role of regulatory framework and identify areas where new schemes could make an impact.

“High standards of governance are essential to success,” said Mr Brooke, former chief executive of Westminster Council. “The third sector is currently enjoying unprecedented levels of attention from all the main political parties.

“To confirm that they merit this attention, organisations must take a tough look at their governance procedures,” he concluded.

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