In the Wikimeet thread, Gordon said:
Here is my question in advance: when will WMUK become a registered charity, and what will you do to accelerate that process?
As if reading Gordon's mind, the Charity Commission sent us a letter yesterday. This was in response to our lawyers' letter to them of some weeks ago.
The Commission's reply was more positive than previously and suggested specific areas in which our current Objects could be changed to enable us to become a charity. They also asked more questions about how our activities fit in with charity law.
We will now, with our lawyers, answer those questions and begin working on a revised set of objects which we hope to agree with the Commission in the coming weeks. When this is concluded, this will require an EGM to approve the amended objects.
The changes to the Objects will very likely be quite technical - i.e. they will be aimed at clarifying our claim to charitable status under English law, rather than changing our actual nature as an organisation.
What involvement the Chief Executive has in this process depends on how quickly we make progress with the Commission (and how quickly they respond to letters is down to them, not us) - but hopefully the Chief Exec will be appointed towards the end of the process.
Regards,
Chris Wikimedia UK Board
On 06/09/2011 08:50, Chris Keating wrote:
In the Wikimeet thread, Gordon said:
Here is my question in advance: when will WMUK become a registered charity, and what will you do to accelerate that process?
As if reading Gordon's mind, the Charity Commission sent us a letter yesterday. This was in response to our lawyers' letter to them of some weeks ago.
The Commission's reply was more positive than previously and suggested specific areas in which our current Objects could be changed to enable us to become a charity. They also asked more questions about how our activities fit in with charity law.
We will now, with our lawyers, answer those questions and begin working on a revised set of objects which we hope to agree with the Commission in the coming weeks. When this is concluded, this will require an EGM to approve the amended objects.
The changes to the Objects will very likely be quite technical - i.e. they will be aimed at clarifying our claim to charitable status under English law, rather than changing our actual nature as an organisation.
What involvement the Chief Executive has in this process depends on how quickly we make progress with the Commission (and how quickly they respond to letters is down to them, not us) - but hopefully the Chief Exec will be appointed towards the end of the process.
Regards,
Chris Wikimedia UK Board
I assume that most Members are likely to support these type of changes, for a smooth passage.... LOOKING GOOD!
Interesting to read that a change of objects (company "rules") is needed, when I assumed that the company limited by guarantee (WMUK) was formed to allow a quick and painless transition to registered charity status.
You may also recall that I suggested a while back that the company could be formed as a registered charity at inception.... but reflecting I recall that that path was delayed by the law not being enacted (although it was in a Bill?).
I will have to look that up....
Gordo
On 6 September 2011 09:52, Gordon Joly gordon.joly@pobox.com wrote:
I assume that most Members are likely to support these type of changes, for a smooth passage.... LOOKING GOOD!
I agree, I don't anticipate any real controversy.
Interesting to read that a change of objects (company "rules") is needed, when I assumed that the company limited by guarantee (WMUK) was formed to allow a quick and painless transition to registered charity status.
The objects are just one tiny bit of the rules. It's the bit that says what the purpose of the company is. I don't believe any of the procedural stuff is changing.
You may also recall that I suggested a while back that the company could be formed as a registered charity at inception.... but reflecting I recall that that path was delayed by the law not being enacted (although it was in a Bill?).
I will have to look that up....
"Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)" is what it was going to be called, if memory serves. The law was passed, but it hadn't come into force last time I checked. They were still going through various consultation processes to work out the details. I haven't checked recently, though. It was supposed to be done in such as way that it would be easy to transition from a Company Limited by Guarantee to a CIO, so if it has/does come into force, it is still an option. It would reduce the amount of paperwork, primarily (you only need to file with the Charity Commission, not the Charity Commission and Companies House).
Being a CIO wouldn't make it any easier to get Charity Commission approval, as far as I know. It might well mean you can't do anything until you get it, though, which would be a bit of a problem!
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