How we are governed
A student-led charity, run transparently
NSEMM is a student-led non-profit governed by a volunteer board of trustees. Founded in 2021 by co-founders Adrian Angol-Henry and Socks Ansell during their sixth form studies, we operate in line with the Charity Governance Code to ensure the highest standards of accountability and transparency.
5
Trustees on the board
100%
Student-led governance
2021
Founded during sixth form
Our trustees
NSEMM is governed by a volunteer board of five trustees, who are legally responsible for setting our strategy, safeguarding our mission, and ensuring we meet all our legal, ethical, and financial obligations. Our Student and Parent Ambassadors provide valuable community insight but are not involved in the day-to-day running of the charity.
How decisions are made
Student-led innovation, collective decisions
Our unique governance model combines the energy and innovation of student leadership with responsible charity governance. Decisions are made collectively at quarterly board meetings, with our co-founders bringing years of experience running NSEMM alongside fresh trustee perspectives from diverse academic backgrounds. We hold board meetings throughout the year, conducting regular risk assessments and reviewing our performance to keep our governance robust and accountable.
Our governance principles
- Safeguarding excellence – policies, regular training, and expert oversight led by our Level 3 safeguarding-trained Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Financial stewardship – responsible management of charitable funds, with our full accounts publicly filed with the Charity Commission.
- Risk management – regular risk assessments at board meetings to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Board performance – annual board performance evaluation, ensuring trustees remain effective and accountable.
- Authentic student voice – genuine connection to current educational challenges through our student-led structure.
- Inclusive leadership – representing learners across all educational levels, from college through university.
- Data protection – GDPR-compliant policies safeguarding all personal information, detailed in our policy documentation.
A note on financial reporting
Why we don’t lead with an “overhead ratio”
Many charities publish a single “percentage spent on the cause” figure. We deliberately don’t lead with one.
- The sector has moved on – major charity evaluators publicly disowned the overhead ratio as a marker of quality over a decade ago.
- It can penalise good charities – a low ratio often means under-investing in the systems, staff and evaluation that actually make a charity effective (the “nonprofit starvation cycle”).
- The regulator agrees – the Charity Commission itself cautions against judging charities this way.
- One number is easily skewed – at our scale, a single insurance renewal or software subscription can move it, telling you very little on its own.
Our full accounts are filed with the Charity Commission and available on request, so anyone who wants the real detail can see it.
Standards & commitments
We align ourselves with national standards and ethical frameworks that reflect our commitment to inclusivity, transparency, and integrity.
Achieved
Current accreditations
- Disability Confident Committed – committed to inclusive employment and recruitment practices.
- The Halo Code Signatory – supporting natural hair acceptance in education and the workplace.
- Fundraising Regulator – registered for ethical fundraising practices with the UK regulator.
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Member – part of the national voluntary sector community.
Achieved
Best practice commitments
- NSPCC Safeguarding Assessment – biannual self-evaluations against national safeguarding standards.
- Charity Governance Code – aligned with recommended sector best practice for trustee boards.
- Fair Employment Practices – paying tutors above minimum wage at the Real Living Wage.
In progress
Development goals
- NCVO Trusted Charity Standard – actively working towards full certification.
- Living Wage Employer Status – committed to achieving the formal accreditation.
- Disability Confident Level 2 – advancing inclusive recruitment beyond our current Level 1 status.
Safeguarding & protection
Our safeguarding promise
Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We conduct NSPCC safeguarding self-assessments every six months and maintain up-to-date policies that are regularly reviewed by our board. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Adrian Angol-Henry, who holds Level 3 Safeguarding Adults and Children training, the health-sector Intercollegiate Document standard, and leads our policy development, training, and incident response. Socks Ansell, our Chief Academic Officer, is Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. Every interaction with NSEMM should be positive, safe, and empowering for young people.
Governance documents
Access all our governance documents, policies, and transparency records. We believe in complete openness about our operations, decisions, and impact to ensure accountability to our community and stakeholders.
Our comprehensive policy documents include equality, privacy, and operational procedures that guide our daily operations and strategic decision-making. View our policies.
Our foundational governing document outlining our charitable objectives, governance structure, and operational framework as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. View the Constitution.
Our safeguarding pathway exists to make safeguarding at NSEMM understandable and easy to navigate for everyone, staff, volunteers, students and families alike. Our full safeguarding policy can be accessed through it. Visit our safeguarding pathway.
Our comprehensive annual report including financial overview, reinvestment strategy, and board performance evaluation demonstrating our impact and accountability. View the Impact Report.
Official charity registration details, annual returns, and regulatory compliance information from the UK Charity Commission. View our Charity Commission entry.
Charity registration
The National Society for Education, Mentoring and Media (NSEMM)
Registered charity in England and Wales. Charity Number: 1209673. The Charity Commission monitors NSEMM’s compliance with charity law and ensures we operate solely for charitable purposes.
NSEMM HQ: Suite 74, Unit 6 Sneinton Market, Gedling Street, Nottingham, NG1 1DS.
Get in touch with our governance team
If you have questions about how NSEMM is governed, or would like further information about our trustees, policies, or governance procedures, we are here to help. Community feedback is essential to our governance: your input helps us maintain the highest standards and continuously improve how we serve young people across the UK. We welcome questions, suggestions, and constructive feedback.