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.
How it works
Format:
This training course will be delivered across five months via monthly live, facilitated online workshops.
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.
Each ticket purchase includes one place in either Group A or Group B. As attendees are encouraged to come as a pair (one for Group A and one for Group B), please purchase two tickets if you want to attend the Risk Leadership Programme.
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.
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.
The prices below are based on the assumption that you will be booking two individuals and joining the programme as a pair. Each pair will be one trustee plus one member of staff. If you are unable to attend the programme as a pair, but would still like to book, please contact the team for prices and how to book events@cfg.org.uk