Closure Support
Closing a charity is one of the hardest responsibilities a Board will ever face. It often arrives suddenly, under pressure, and with significant consequences for staff, service users, funders and partners. Trustees must make serious decisions quickly while meeting their legal duties and protecting the charity’s assets and reputation.
Most Trustees and leaders will never have managed a closure before. The rules are complex, the financial risks can escalate quickly, and the emotional pressure on the Board and staff team can be intense.
Interims for Impact provides specialist support to help charities navigate this process responsibly, legally and with clarity.
Closure Training
Many closures go wrong because Boards and leaders do not understand the risks or complexities early enough.
Our charity closure training, designed and delivered by experts in the field, helps Trustees and leaders reach an overarching understanding of closure considerations. The training costs £90 (VAT inclusive) per person, and is available here.
This self-led course, led by Interims for Impact Director Felicia Willow and with key sections delivered by experienced experts Liz Harding, Nicola Upton, Lucy Moore and Davinia Batley, takes you through all the key areas you need to be aware of when considering or facing a charity closure.
Sections include:
1. What does closure mean?
2. How do you know when it’s time to close?
3. Governance, accountability and legal duties
4. An overview of charity insolvency
5, People and HR responsibilities with Liz Harding
6. Financial considerations during a closure
7. Stakeholders and communication with Nicola Upton
8. Service users and ethical exit with Lucy Moore
9. Bringing it all together – your project framework with Davinia Batley
10. Reflections
Interim leadership during closure
An interim CEO can provide experienced hands on leadership to guide the charity through its final phase.
This can help to stabilise the organisation, support staff and stakeholders, and ensure the closure process is managed professionally.
Interim leaders also support the Board to make informed decisions while maintaining day to day operational control.
Co-pilot support for CEOs and Boards
Not every organisation requires a full interim appointment. Many Boards or leaders benefit from having an experienced, hands on co-pilot to work alongside them during the challenging process of closure.
Co-pilot support provides a sounding board, expert advice and hands on support to help move the charity to closure.
Board advice and support
Closure decisions often happen in a small number of critical Board meetings. We can attend meetings to provide independent advice, help Trustees structure discussions and ensure the Board is considering the right legal and financial issues.
Closure planning and financial oversight
Closure generates costs that Trustees often underestimate. Redundancy payments, legal advice, contract termination and final accounts can all place pressure on the charity’s finances.
We help Boards plan closure budgets, assess financial viability and map the timeline from closure decision to final deregistration.
A responsible approach to closure
Closure is sometimes the most responsible decision a Board can make. When handled well it protects service users, honours commitments to staff and ensures remaining funds are used in line with the charity’s purpose.
We partner with The Decelerator and recommend their hotline for all Boards facing this challenging time. If you need hands on help and support, the expert team at Interims for Impact is here to help.
If your charity is beginning to face difficult questions about its future, we can help you understand the options and plan the next steps.