How we are run
Many garden openers join our volunteer teams and offer their support and experience to new gardens.
Perhaps unusually for a national charity, the NGS is still run by its volunteers. A Council of Trustees includes 5 elected representatives from our county volunteers. Council is supported a small staff at our Head Office in Hatchlands which includes the Chief Executive, the Marketing Department and our county volunteer support team.
Like many charities one of our main challenges for the future is finding new volunteers to replenish our county teams, our management team and, at a higher level to represent the charity as ambassador. Many garden openers join our volunteer teams and offer their support and experience to new gardens.
GOVERNANCE
The National Gardens Scheme exists under Royal Patronage, and is registered with the Charity Commission and governed by a Trust Deed. The aim of the NGS is to raise money for national nursing, caring and gardeneing charities by receiving donations and other support as a result of opening gardens of quality, character and interest to the public.
The Governing Body of the NGS is the COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES. Its members are trustees in accordance with the Trust Deed, Statute and the Charity Commission. They are responsible for the good management of the NGS, setting policy, agreeing the annual report and accounts, and donations to Beneficiaries.
Council elects a CHAIRMAN for a term of up to five years who, as well as chairing Council, represents NGS and maintains contact with counties, Benefciaries and associated organisations. A DEPUTY CHAIRMAN is similarly elected and supports the Chairman, acting as Chairman iin his absence.
The MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE overseas the execution of Council decisions and deals with matters delegated to it by Council. It is chaired by the Treasurer and monitors NGS's business plan and budget, the running of NGS's operations and recommends donations for beneficiary charities to Council.
The CHIEF EXECUTIVE, assisted by Head Office staff, is employed by Counil to carry out policy, support the finance and governance functions and assist the work of County Teams with information advice, supplies etc. Normally communications with Garden Owners (GOs) are through the County Organisers (COs) and other team members.
BENEFICIARY POLICY
Money raised from garden openings is donated each year to beneficiary charities nominated by Council. Donations are governed by the Beneficiary Policy, set by Council and reviewed every three years. The current policy was agreed in November 2003 and sets out the following principles:
This policy will be reviewed every three years. The
next review date is June 2009. At present, money is donated each year to the following charities:
Macmillan Cancer Support
Marie Curie Cancer Care
National Trust Careership Scheme
The Queen's Nursing Institute
Crossroads
Help the Hospices
Perennial (The Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society)
The Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund
County Nursing Associations
Additional charities nominated by owners - about 1,000 in total
We donate money only to charities selected by Council. We regret that we can not accept or acknowledge unsolicited applications for funds.