We’re pleased to share that Home-Start Reading have recently undergone an external review of their governance as a charity and successfully been awarded a renewal of their Safe and Sound Good Governance Award for a further three years! Well done to the whole team. In this article we took the opportunity to interview Catherine Troup (Chair of Trustees) and Kelly Dadd (Manager) on their experience and what the charity has gained from this accreditation.
Tell us a little about the charity and what inspired you to get involved with the charity
Catherine – Home-Start Reading supports families with young children who are going through challenging circumstances. Through trained volunteers, we provide practical and emotional support in the home, helping parents to build confidence and create stable, nurturing environments for their children.
I was drawn to the charity because I know how much difference the right support at the right time can make. I was fortunate to have support around me when raising my own family, and I am very aware that not everyone has that. Without that network, challenges can quickly feel overwhelming, and the effects can have a lasting impact on both parents and children.
What encouraged you to apply for Safe and Sound?
Catherine – Safe and Sound gave us the opportunity to step back and look carefully at our governance against a recognised local standard. As trustees, we take seriously our responsibility to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the charity and the families we serve. The award process helped us test ourselves, sense-check our systems and identify where we could strengthen further.
What benefits can you see for your charity from going through Safe and Sound?
Kelly – The process involved reviewing our key policies and procedures – from safeguarding and volunteer management to financial controls and data recording. We pulled together evidence, refreshed documentation where needed and reflected on how well our systems support day-to-day delivery. It was thorough but extremely supportive, and it gave us reassurance that our operational practice is aligned with good governance.
What benefits can you see for your charity from going through Safe and Sound?
Catherine – Achieving Safe and Sound gives the trustee board confidence that strong foundations are in place. It supports good decision-making, strengthens accountability and demonstrates commitment to high standards. Above all, it reinforces trust – with families, volunteers and funders – that the charity is responsibly run.
What were the highlights for you this past year? Are there any future plans or events for the charity that you’d like to tell us about?
Kelly – This has been a demanding year, with families facing increasingly complex challenges. I’ve been particularly struck by the dedication of our staff and volunteers. Even when stretched, they remain thoughtful, compassionate and committed to providing consistent, high quality support.
Looking ahead, our focus is on sustainability – strengthening our volunteer network, supporting our staff team well, and securing the financial stability that will allow us to continue delivering early support to families in Reading.
Safe and Sound has given us confidence that the foundations of our charity are strong, so we can focus on supporting families in the best ways possible.
(Photo: Herjeet Vass presenting the Safe and Sound Good Governance Award certificate to Kelly Dodd and the team at Home-Start Reading offices)
Further information
- If this article has inspired your organisation to consider Safe and Sound Good Governance accreditation, take a look at our resources here. These are free of charge for local charities delivering services in Reading, kindly funded by The Earley Charity.
- Did you know that the revised Safe and Sound materials now include Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) as cross-cutting themes? Ensuring that Reading’s charities maintain a good standard of EDI in how we work and the services we deliver and we have found that this is extremely helpful when evidencing your commitment to EDI in funding applications as well as to various other stakeholders.
- If you are looking for a stepping stone approach, why not consider First Steps towards Safe and Sound. You can find out more here. Specifically designed with smaller charities and community groups in mind.
- You can find out more about our Advice Service here – a free, confidential advice service on a wide range of legal and governance topics for those running charities and community groups in Reading.
- If you have any questions, contact Herjeet Vass, RVA Advice Manager, at herjeet.vass@rva.org.uk.