Governance and administration
Good governance is essential to our continued success and enables us to manage our risks appropriately, cultivate a positive working environment and culture for our people, and deliver our charitable activities in compliance with all relevant legislation. Legal structure Imperial Health Charity is an independent charity and a charitable company limited by guarantee. It is registered with Companies House and with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The charity was registered as a UK charity on 1 April 2016 (no. 1166084) and as a Charitable Company on 11 February 2016 (no. 9999900). The charity’s governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Charitable purpose and objects The objects of Imperial Health Charity are restricted specifically to: •
any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the National Health Service or for the general or specific purposes of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust; and
• the relief of sickness and preservation of health of people living in the UK for the public benefit.
Although we are independent of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, our work focuses on enhancing and improving the quality of patient care beyond that which can be achieved by routine NHS funding and on health initiatives for the wider community. Our work also includes focusing on opportunities to boost income through fundraising, enabling further support for our charitable activities within and beyond the Trust’s hospitals. Governance and management Board of Trustees Our Board of Trustees is legally responsible for the governance, strategic planning and leadership of the charity. The board currently comprises nine trustees: six independent members and three representing Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the chair must be one of the independent members. Trustees are appointed as company directors for a renewable term of three years and can serve no more than three consecutive terms.
Statement of public benefit We provide public benefit by helping to improve the quality of care and hospital experience for patients at the five hospitals of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and in the wider community of north west London. In reviewing our aims and objectives and planning future activities, our trustees have taken into account the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and always ensure that our activities are in line with our charitable purpose and objects.
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GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
