Strengthening Governance to Support the Next Phase of Growth

Introduction

SYA delivers youth services across two counties in England, supporting more than 100 youth clubs. Alongside direct youth work delivery, SYA provides infrastructure support to other youth services, delivers youth worker training and operates as an alternative curriculum provider. Following a period of growth and a move into new, state‑of‑the‑art facilities funded by the Youth Investment Fund (YIF), the organisation wanted to review its governance arrangements and develop its Board to ensure it was fit for the next stage of organisational life.

Central Support Offer – Identifying the Need

As the SYA prepared for a changing funding landscape and increasing complexity in its operating model, it recognised the need for a stronger, more aligned Board. While initial conversations focused on recruiting new Trustees and filling perceived skills gaps, there were mixed views among trustees about the role, purpose and level of involvement expected from Board members. Before expanding the Board, SYA identified a need to clarify how the Board should function, what value it should add, and how trustees should work together effectively.

Support Provided

Through the YIF Central Support Offer, PG Collective delivered a comprehensive governance review and Board development process.

PG Collective is a values‑led consultancy supporting charities, community organisations and social purpose ventures through periods of transition and change. They provide practical, plain‑English support across governance, organisational development and strategy, helping organisations strengthen foundations while staying true to their purpose.

Following an initial discovery call with the CEO and Chair, PG Collective worked with the organisation to widen the scope of the project beyond trustee recruitment. The focus shifted to reviewing and refining the purpose, role and effectiveness of the Board as a collective, creating a strong foundation for future development.

The support included:

• A desk‑based review, one‑to‑one discussions with the CEO and Chair, and a survey of all Trustees
• A facilitated Board discussion to explore findings, surface key issues and agree next steps
• Ongoing support to implement recommendations, embedding changes into practice

PG Collective produced a detailed governance review, including five key proposals, all of which were adopted by the Board.

The Result and Impact

As a result of the review, SYA achieved greater clarity and alignment around the role and purpose of its Board. Rather than moving immediately into trustee recruitment, the Board developed a shared understanding of how it works together and where it can most effectively add value. This created a stronger platform for future decision‑making and leadership.

Additional Impacts

The governance review resulted in a range of practical outputs, including:

• An updated Trustee Welcome Pack and Trustee Terms of Reference
• New Terms of Reference and membership criteria for thematic sub‑committees
• Improved working practices and templates, including a risk register
• A Trustee Recruitment Pack, ensuring future recruitment is intentional and aligned to organisational need

What They Said

“Thank you so much for your help and support… you pretty much nailed it! I very much appreciate your clarity and drive with the project — you have helped us enormously.”
 SYA Chair of Trustees