Governance Overview

Legal Structure & Founder Leadership

Dyslexia in Defence is operated by Dyslexia in Defence CIC (company number 17285330), a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales. It was established and is led by its founder, who is currently the CIC's sole director. A Community Interest Company is a type of limited company that exists specifically for community benefit rather than private profit, with legal restrictions on how its assets can be used, known as an asset lock.

The initiative remains volunteer driven and early stage, with a clear public interest purpose.

As sole director, the founder bears responsibility for the direction, content, and conduct of the initiative. As the network matures, governance structures will be reviewed and adapted proportionately.

Dyslexia in Defence CIC is a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales, Private Limited by Guarantee. Company number: 17285330.

Social Enterprise Status

Dyslexia in Defence CIC is a registered Community Interest Company and a certified Social Enterprise UK member. This reflects our commitment to using our work for public benefit, supporting dyslexic people across the Defence community, and keeping lived experience at the heart of what we do.

Independence

This independence is fundamental to the initiative's credibility and its ability to serve the community without external influence or obligation.

• No organisational affiliation governs the initiative's content or direction
• No employer has editorial control over any material published
• The initiative does not represent any official position of any organisation
• All views expressed are those of the initiative and its contributors, not of any employer or institution

Non Profit Intent

Dyslexia in Defence operates on a non profit basis. As a Community Interest Company, its assets and any surplus are locked to its community purpose. The initiative does not generate revenue for personal gain, and any financial support received is directed entirely toward sustaining and improving the network's services.

At this stage, the initiative is self funded by the founder. Should external funding or sponsorship be accepted in the future, this will be disclosed transparently in line with the Sponsorship Principles.

Current Governance Model

The current governance model reflects the early stage of the initiative. It is intentionally simple and proportionate:

• Founder oversight — The founder is the sole decision maker for strategic direction, policy, and content. This reflects the founder's formal role as sole director of Dyslexia in Defence CIC, not an informal arrangement outside a legal structure
• Defined policies — A suite of published policies governs conduct, privacy, safeguarding, and sponsorship
• Community expectations — Community spaces operate on clear behavioural expectations, with action taken on anything flagged
• Transparency — Governance decisions and policies are published openly on this website
• Accountability — The founder is accountable for the initiative's conduct, and the CIC is accountable to the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies and Companies House

Governance Evolution

Governance will evolve as the network grows. The founder is committed to developing governance structures that are proportionate to the initiative's scale and impact.

Future considerations may include:

• Establishing an advisory group drawn from the community
• Appointing additional directors to the CIC board if and when appropriate
• Introducing independent review of key policies
• Expanding moderation and safeguarding capacity

Decision Making Authority

At this stage, all decisions regarding the initiative's direction, policies, partnerships, and content rest with the founder. This includes:

• Strategic direction and scope of activities
• Content published on the website and across community channels
• Moderation decisions and enforcement of the Code of Conduct
• Acceptance or refusal of any sponsorship or partnership
• Data handling and privacy decisions
• Changes to governance policies

Community input is welcomed and valued, but final authority rests with the founder until such time as governance structures are formally expanded.

Related Policies

This Governance Overview should be read alongside the following policies, each of which addresses a specific area of the initiative's operations:

• Founder & Purpose — Mission, scope, and boundaries of the initiative
• Code of Conduct — Behavioural expectations for all participants
• Safeguarding & Support — Limits of responsibility, crisis signposting, and safeguarding procedures
• Privacy Notice — How personal data is collected, used, and protected
• Sponsorship Principles — Framework for ethical sponsorship and financial transparency
• Transparency Commitment — Commitment to openness, reporting, and ethical operation