The objectives of the BOG are to

• Promote inter-branch communication and co-operation, to the benefit of branch members
• Consider and recommend ways to help the BCS voluntary community operate more effectively, using the combined skills of several branches to refine and confirm its proposals.
• Provide feedback to HQ, Branches Congress and the Branches Management Committee in the form of papers and presentations.

Success of the BOG is defined as working on at least one substantive project each year which will result in either a proposal to BMC/Congress or a conclusion that the project is not worth pursuing.

The BOG is issue-driven.

Proposals are received from within the BOG membership, member branches or from outside (for example, BCS Head Office or the BMC).

When the BOG decides to pick up a proposal, one member of the BOG (the “owner”) agrees to take ownership of the issue and co-ordinate the production of a working paper.

The issue owner forms a subcommittee of those BOG members with the interest, skill and time to contribute to the working paper.

Non BOG members may be co-opted to the subcommittee as appropriate.

The subcommittee works on its proposal using electronic communication and/or face-to-face meetings as it sees fit.

The final report is presented to the full BOG which decides how to take the recommendations forward.

Formal meetings are chaired by the sponsoring branch for that meeting. This branch also takes responsibility for recording the minutes of the meeting, and communicating with other BOG members.

Membership of the BOG is drawn from the committees of the constituent branches and a regional representative. Other volunteer members of the BCS may be co-opted.

The BOG works as much as possible using electronic communications.

Recognising that face-to-face contact is still essential for establishing and maintaining working relationships, physical meetings will be held at least three times a year.

The BOG welcomes participation from BCS Head Office staff in its meetings.

The BOG was initially formed to consider proposals from BCS Head Office, who funded its meetings.

When the BOG works on a proposal submitted to it by another body (for example, Head Office or the BMC), the BOG will look to that body to fund the relevant meetings.

Currently, The BOG is funded by each member branch, with a commitment for each branch to fund a single meeting each year. Other expenses of BOG attendees are the responsibility of their own branch committees. This commitment is reviewed on an annual basis.