A counselling charity has proposed to limit trustee payments further after removing its former chair and deputy over remuneration concerns.
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is consulting on scrapping payments to its board members as part of changes to its articles of association after acknowledging governance failures.
BACP removed its former chair and deputy last year over concerns including an allegation that remuneration and expenses claims had “exceeded what was permitted”.
The Charity Commission opened a compliance case into BACP, which it closed in January and advised the organisation to renew its articles of association.
Under its current rules, a BACP chair and deputy can be paid “for specific representational activities” carried out on the charity’s behalf.
These could include payment for services provided to the charity separate from their trustee duties, with no specified limit.
In a statement to Civil Society, a BACP spokesperson confirmed it was planning to remove the specific provision allowing for remuneration towards its chair and deputy.
“The expectation would be that all trustees, including the chair and deputy chair, undertake their governance and representative responsibilities on a voluntary basis,” they said.
“Reimbursement would be available for reasonable expenses incurred while carrying out those duties.”
The charity added that these measures were proposed in order to reinforce the principle of trustee independence, to reduce the risk of conflicts of interest and improve transparency.
BACP members will vote on the mooted changes at its annual general meeting later this month.
A commission spokesperson said it was assured by the BACP's action to strengthen its governance and address concerns after “extensive engagement”, including a review of evidence provided by trustees.
Union opposition
These changes, however, are being opposed by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU), which argued that the new policies would be exclusionary.
“Without proper remuneration, leadership risks becoming an elite occupation reserved for those who can afford not to work,” a PCU spokesperson told Civil Society.
“In a profession where the overwhelming majority of members struggle to make a living, we cannot afford member bodies to be led and overseen by those who do not understand the material realities of their members’ lives.
“Whilst unpaid trustees are a regular occurrence in the charity sector, this does not mean it is an appropriate model for the BACP.”
Adima has since appealed her dismissal and legal proceedings are ongoing.
The charity removed its former chair Natalie Bailey and her deputy Sekinat Adima last year over governance, safeguarding and financial control concerns.
Bailey, posting to LinkedIn in April, said she was preparing litigation in response to “harm and sustained detriment” she allegedly suffered following her removal.
