Governance & transparency
Accountable by design, transparent by default
The Trust is built on the Charity Commission's model CIO Foundation framework, with a founding board, a full policy suite, and clear public reporting.
How we're structured
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation
The Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on the Foundation model — a structure designed for charities run by a board of trustees rather than a wider voting membership. Its principal office is in England and Wales.
The trustees are the Trust's only members. They set its direction, approve its policies, and review every grant — carrying legal responsibility for keeping the Trust true to its charitable objects.
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3–9 trustees
A board of at least three and no more than nine trustees, who are also the Trust's only members.
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3+ meetings a year
The trustees meet at least three times a year to conduct business and review every active grant.
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Conflicts managed
Trustees declare interests, withdraw from conflicted decisions, and keep a standing Register of Interests.
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Unremunerated
Founding trustees serve without remuneration; any future exception would need Charity Commission consent.
The board
Founding trustees
The Trust's founding board, as named in its constitution.
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nicolas.padulapinho@nationalstudentpolicytrust.org.uk +44 0000 000000Our team
Operational leadership
The day-to-day work of the Trust is carried out by our leadership team.
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hubert.kucharski@nationalstudentpolicytrust.org.uk +44 0000 000000Policy suite
The policies that govern our work
A standing set of board-approved policies, reviewed at least annually. Full documents will be published alongside registration.
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Ethical Funding Policy
Defines excluded funding sources and the Know Your Donor checks that protect the Trust's independence and reputation.
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Grant-Making Policy
Sets the categories, eligibility, five-stage process, and conditions under which grants are made via students' unions.
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Safeguarding Policy
Protects the students the Trust supports and everyone who engages with its programmes.
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Data Protection Policy
Governs how student and donor personal data is handled, in line with UK data protection law.
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Whistleblowing Policy
Provides a confidential route to raise concerns about wrongdoing without fear of reprisal.
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Conflict of Interest Policy
Requires trustees to declare and manage conflicts, backed by a standing Register of Interests.
Transparency
How we report
We commit to public reporting from the outset — not only once we're required to.
Annual Trustees' Report
Describes how our activities provided public benefit — students supported, research produced and training funded.
Annual Transparency Report
Sets out the funds received, institutional donors (absent a legitimate anonymity agreement) and funding categories.
Ongoing review
Trustees review grant-making at every board meeting to confirm it still delivers genuine public benefit.
Conditions in every agreement
Funding Agreements require unions and think tanks to report on the use of funds and the outcomes achieved.
Questions about our governance?
We're happy to talk through our structure, policies and plans for registration.