The Power of Pro-activity
The Stapleford Village Hall Fund was set up after the sale of Stapleford Village Hall: The decision was taken locally not to build a new village hall and this charity was set up with the proceeds (£15,000) from the sale of the old village hall to the Local Education Authority. The charity may provide financial support to organisations in the area of benefit who apply to them for a grant. This charity came to Support Cambridgeshire partner Cambridgeshire ACRE’s attention after a search on the Charity Commission website which identified organisations are overdue with their annual returns. Cambridgeshire ACRE contacted the trustees to see if they could offer any support to bring their organisational records up to date.
It was clear from initial telephone conversations and a subsequent meeting that this charity has not been running in accordance with the governing document for some time.
Cambridgeshire ACRE are now working with the charity to get legal advice and support from the Charity Commission. This case is ongoing as the charity trustees now have two options on a route forward.
These are to run the charity in accordance with their governing document and seek an exemption from the annual return as their annual income and expenditure is low OR formally close the charity and distribute the funds with the assistance and permission of the Charity Commission.
Support Cambridgeshire partners pride themselves on a level of pro-activity. Stapleford Village Hall would never have come into contact with the support and advice offer provided to Village Halls if Cambridgeshire ACRE had not reviewed the Charity Commission website to remind Village Hall charities to complete their annual returns.
If you require any information, support or advice as a Village Hall Trustee then please contact Lisa.Chambers@Cambsacre.org.uk.
Village Hall Trustees can attend any Support Cambridgeshire training or networking event free of charge (of which there are 22 in each year).
For more information visit our Training and Events page on the Support Cambridgeshire website.
