Policy influence
Influencing national and local policy.
2026 European Supported Employment Conference
2026 European Employment Conference
2026 European Supported Employment Conference
2026 European Employment Conference
The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) is a national membership charity that exists to promote, protect and strengthen the Supported Employment model.
This page explains how BASE is governed, how decisions are made, and how members contribute to shaping our policy work, quality frameworks and employer engagement.
BASE works across policy, practice and systems to ensure disabled, neurodivergent and disadvantaged people can access good-quality employment with the right support.
Influencing national and local policy.
Promoting quality and model fidelity.
Supporting inclusive recruitment in action.
BASE is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, regulated by the Charity Commission, governed by its Articles of Association and accountable to its members through democratic processes.
Our constitutional documents set out how BASE is run and how members participate in decision-making.
Information from formal meetings is shared with members to support openness and accountability.
BASE holds an AGM each year where members receive reports from the Chair and Treasurer, review accounts and governance updates, and vote on NEC appointments and resolutions.
BASE is a membership association. Members play a central role in how BASE operates and how priorities are set.
Deliver or facilitate Supported Employment, advice, guidance or training.
Individuals or organisations with an interest in Supported Employment.
Membership categories, fees and responsibilities are set out clearly in our Membership Terms and Conditions.
BASE facilitates regional networks to support peer learning, engagement and democratic participation.
Creating a clear route for regional participation.
Supporting peer learning, engagement and democratic participation.
Ensuring member voice feeds into BASE governance.
Regional Officers play a formal role in BASE governance.
The National Executive Committee, or NEC, is BASE’s board of directors and has responsibility for governance, strategy and oversight. NEC members act collectively as charity trustees and directors, with legal duties under charity and company law to act in the best interests of BASE and to further its charitable purposes.
Oversees finances, risk and compliance.
Oversees policy, quality and employer priorities.
Approves membership applications and terminations.
Employs and supervises staff.
Acts in line with BASE’s Articles of Association and applicable charity law.
Sets BASE’s strategic direction.
BASE employs a small paid staff team to deliver the Strategic Plan, support members and regions, coordinate policy, quality and employer work, and manage communications, systems and partnerships.
Staff work under the direction of the NEC and within agreed delegations.
Inclusive Trading CIC is BASE’s trading affiliate.
This structure supports financial sustainability while safeguarding BASE’s independence and charitable purpose.
Learn about training and consultancy →BASE’s governance exists to support impact and accountability.
Our board, membership and regional structures directly underpin policy positions and responses, quality frameworks and assessment models, and employer engagement and system leadership work.
Our policy positions and responses.
Our quality frameworks and assessment models.
Our employer engagement and system leadership work.
BASE keeps its governance arrangements under regular review and takes account of Charity Commission guidance and recognised sector good-practice in charity governance.
Our governance approach reflects the size, purpose and membership-led nature of BASE, applying established governance principles in ways that are proportionate, practical and effective.
Become a BASE member, find your regional network, explore policy and quality work, or work with BASE.