The RSL is a charity governed by writers. The RSL’s board is known as its Council, and is made up of Fellows from a range of literary disciplines, as well as expert advisors. The members of Council serve as trustees and they are the only people responsible for the governance of the charity, operating in line with Charity Commission regulations and our Royal Charter.
The RSL upholds freedom of expression and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
Our Members are champions of literature. Their support makes our engagement work in schools and prisons possible and they enable us to celebrate literature in all its wonderful diversity. As a thank you, we give them all the joys of a literary festival and book club rolled into one, all year round.
