Online Training: Multi-session programme

The Risk Leadership Programme

Managing risk in charities isn’t just about avoiding threats or completing compliance reports. It’s about safeguarding people, stewarding funds responsibly, protecting data, navigating donor expectations, and still having the confidence to innovate.

The Risk Leadership Programme supports charity staff and trustees to approach risk strategically – moving beyond tick-box compliance in order to focus on stronger decision-making, accountability, and impact. Participants in this course will explore how organisational culture, incentives, and governance shape risk thinking and leadership.

What the programme covers:

Topics will be shaped by cohort interests and may include:

• Risk and governance in practice – what makes risk different in the third sector and who “owns” risk
• Practical decision-making tools – including approaches such as Risk Plus and Objective-Centred Risk Management
• Risk and compliance – protecting funds, people, data and reputation without paralysing programmes
• Risk partnerships with funders – moving beyond static compliance towards proportional risk sharing
• Organisational culture and risk – understanding how culture influences everyday decisions

Course outcomes:

• Practical tools and templates to use in board and senior leadership discussions
• A shared language for talking about risk with colleagues, trustees, and funders
• A six to 12-month personal action plan to strengthen risk oversight without adding bureaucracy
• Access to the Risk Leadership Programme alumni community for ongoing learning and support.

You can find out more more about the programme and how it will be delivered here.

How it works

Format:

This training course will be delivered across five months via monthly live, facilitated online workshops from 12pm - 2pm.

Session dates and times:

Session 1 – Wednesday 17 June 

Session 2 – Wednesday 15 July 

Session 3 - Wednesday 16 September 

Session 4 - Wednesday 21 October 

Session 5 – Wednesday 18 November 

Follow up session in February 2027 (date TBC)

Time: 12:00 – 14:00 UK time

All sessions hosted online

Between sessions:

• Small “risk pods” for ongoing peer support
• Light touch engagement and monthly challenge opportunities to apply learning
• Additional bespoke support as identified throughout the programme

Risk Cohorts

CFG and The Risk Collaborative are launching a five-month learning programme to help charity leaders identify, assess, and manage risk in the real world. Each risk programme cohort will comprise of two groups coming as pairs from the same organisation.

• Group A – Staff
• Group B – Trustees

Each group (Group A Staff or Group B Trustees) meets once a month for two hours over five months, plus one follow-up session in February 2027 to help keep the momentum going. We are keeping each group to no more than 25 participants per group (50 people in the full risk programme cohort) to keep sessions practical and interactive.

Group A – Staff

For: CEOs, directors, senior managers, heads of function, and programme and grants leads.

Focus: Making risk a practical, everyday tool rather than a compliance chore.

Group B – Trustees

For: Charity trustees, board and committee chairs, and non-executive directors.

Focus: What good risk oversight looks like in board papers, discussions, and decisions.

Reserving a place: 

You are invited to book as an individual for one of the above groups, but to get the most from the course, we strongly encourage you to book two tickets (one for Group A and one for Group B) and join the programme as a pair. The course will provide opportunities for staff and trustees to learn together, to develop a shared understanding and language.  

If you are unable to attend the programme as a pair, but would still like to book, you are very welcome to book one individual place only.

About CFG events and membership 

Becoming a CFG member gives you access to exclusive benefits including event discounts, so find out more about CFG Membership before you book. Association of Independent Museums members can register for free CFG membership through our partnership. 

CFG events, training and members' meetings can count towards your continuous professional development (CPD), and this event could provide you with up to 10 hours of CPD. For more details contact your association or email events@cfg.org.uk.