- Alcester Office +44 (0)1789 765522
- Bedford Office +44 (0)1234 400000
- Birmingham, New St. Office +44 (0)121 270 5666
- Birmingham, Newhall St. Office +44 (0)121 703 2606
- Bristol Office +44 (0)1454 275 190
- Cardiff Office +44 (0)29 2240 8700
- Evesham Office +44 (0)1386 425300
- Gatwick Office +44 (0)1293 602890
- Harrow Office +44 (0)20 8907 4366
- Leicester Office +44 (0)116 255 9911
- Leigh Office +44 (0)1942 673311
- Lichfield Office +44 (0)1543 414426
- Luton Office +44 (0)1582 720175
- Northampton Office +44 (0)1604 233 200
- Redditch Office +44 (0)1527 406363
- Solihull Office +44 (0)121 705 2255
- Stopsley Office +44 (0)1582 453 366
- Sutton Coldfield Office +44 (0)121 355 6118
- Tunbridge Wells Office +44 (0)1892 553090
- Walkden Office +44 (0)161 790 1411
- Walsall Office +44 (0)1922 720000
- Warrington Office +44 (0)1925 632267
- Westhoughton Office +44 (0)1942 816515
- Whitefield Office +44 (0)161 796 7920
- Wigan Office +44 (0)1942 244294
Altering Governing documents
If you represent an unincorporated charity, you may now change the ‘administrative powers and procedures’ – the parts of your governing document that concern the general running and administration of your charity – without the Charity Commission’s prior approval.
If your charity is a company, you can already make certain changes to your governing document without obtaining the Charity Commission’s prior approval.
Charitable companies wishing to change their governing document must follow the requirements set out in that document, and the requirements of the Companies Acts. However, they will need the Commission’s consent only for specific amendments that concern the essential character of the charity.
This updated power retains an important safeguard for charities that are unincorporated associations with a body of members distinct from the trustees. For these charities, the members of the charity must hold a meeting to approve a resolution of the trustees. At that meeting, the resolution must be approved by a two-thirds majority on a vote or by a decision taken without a vote and without any expression of dissent.
Trustees must also remember to keep the Charity Commission register entry for their charity up to date with any changes made to their governing documents under this power.
If you wish to make changes to your governing document, our Charity Team can discuss the necessary changes and whether you will need consent from the Charity Commission before executing them.