governance

Board of Trustees

The Board's role is to provide an oversight of the financial dealings and the stability of the organisation. The Board offers guidance and support to management and staff and provides an assurance of stability and continuity to the stakeholders.

While Trustees are elected to serve for a period of three years, the Board as an entity exists independent of individuals so long as The Village Square Trust and its rationale continues to exist.

The Trustees are committed to maintaining a ‘well balanced’ Board in the context of skills, community roles, age, gender and social diversity. The Board is responsible for determining which specific skills and areas of expertise will best fulfil its governance responsibilities and, with Trustees serving three-year terms, it regularly plans for renewal within the Trustee group.

In 2017 the Board introduced an Apprentice Trustee programme, which provides the appointee with board-level experience in governance for a term of one year.

Policies & Procedures

The policies and procedures in place within The Village Square Trust and its service divisions provide a framework for the consistent delivery of good practice and excellence in service delivery.

Health and Safety is a key focus for The Village Square Trust's Board of Trustees in its governance capacity. All of The Village Square’s divisions have well established Health and Safety policies and procedures. The Village Square meets and exceeds all Health and Safety standards set by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development within its Early Childhood Education and Programmes for Children divisions.

Funding

The Village Square Trust is a not for profit organisation, operated as a social enterprise.

The Trust's profit-making operations, including Early Childhood Centres and Programmes for Children, help fund or subsidise community initiatives undertaken by the Trust. Key funding is received each year from the Trust's contract with Auckland Council to manage and provide services at Parnell Community Centre and Epsom Community Centre. Various other grant money and funding, received from Auckland Council, Waitemata Local Board and other funding bodies, assists with rental payments and special projects.