Administration
The Downlands Trust is run by a small committee elected by Trust members that ensures that the Trust acts in accordance with its published constitution, the rules governing its charitable status and also in the best interests of its membership. All trustees are volunteers.
Although the Trust is closely linked to its partner, the Downlands Partnership, it is an entirely separate and independent organisation.
Our Trustees
The Downlands Trust is run by a small committee elected by Trust members that ensures that the Trust acts in accordance with its published constitution, the rules governing its charitable status and also in the best interests of its membership. All trustees are volunteers.
Although the Trust is closely linked to its partner, the Downlands Partnership, it is an entirely separate and independent organisation.
Our Trustees
- Peter Wakeham (Chairman)
- Roger Findlay (Honorary President)
- Geof Haseler (Treasurer)
- Pamela Mascall (Grants Coordinator)
- Sarah Milan (Membership Secretary)
- Elspeth Pringle (Newsletter Editor and Social Media)
- Noreen Siba (Marketing)
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Proposed Change to the Constitution of the Downlands Trust
The Trust was founded in 2008 and our constitution is set out in two documents, the Memorandum of Association and the Articles of Association. We are registered as a charitable trust with the Charity Commission and as a charitable company with Companies House. Charitable company status protects both Trustees and Members from any significant personal liability for contracts, debts, or legal claims. We are therefore governed by a mixture of charity law and company law and administratively there is a significant amount of duplication in dealing with these two regulatory bodies. Companies House has recently introduced a number of measures aimed at stopping economic crime and preventing fraud and these have increased our workload as a charitable company.
In 2013 a constitutional framework more suited to the needs of charities became available, that of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), specifically designed for the voluntary sector. The Trust has the option to convert to a CIO and this would offer several distinct advantages, primarily centred around simplifying compliance, reducing costs, and streamlining governance. A CIO is regulated only by the Charity Commission and provides the same legal protection that we currently enjoy as a charitable company under Companies House. The Trustees have considered the merits of converting the Trust to a CIO and have concluded that this course of action offers a number of advantages and presents no identifiable disadvantages. They have therefore formally approved the conversion and are recommending conversion to our Members.
A new CIO constitution has been drafted that closely follows the model constitution provided by the Charity Commission and it may be viewed here. Members’ comments are invited on the principle of conversion and on the detail of the new constitution. Suggestions for additions or edits will be considered and a final draft will be put to members for approval at the AGM on October 13th. Following Members’ approval, we will formally request the Charity Commission to commence the conversion process.
Proposed Change to the Constitution of the Downlands Trust
The Trust was founded in 2008 and our constitution is set out in two documents, the Memorandum of Association and the Articles of Association. We are registered as a charitable trust with the Charity Commission and as a charitable company with Companies House. Charitable company status protects both Trustees and Members from any significant personal liability for contracts, debts, or legal claims. We are therefore governed by a mixture of charity law and company law and administratively there is a significant amount of duplication in dealing with these two regulatory bodies. Companies House has recently introduced a number of measures aimed at stopping economic crime and preventing fraud and these have increased our workload as a charitable company.
In 2013 a constitutional framework more suited to the needs of charities became available, that of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), specifically designed for the voluntary sector. The Trust has the option to convert to a CIO and this would offer several distinct advantages, primarily centred around simplifying compliance, reducing costs, and streamlining governance. A CIO is regulated only by the Charity Commission and provides the same legal protection that we currently enjoy as a charitable company under Companies House. The Trustees have considered the merits of converting the Trust to a CIO and have concluded that this course of action offers a number of advantages and presents no identifiable disadvantages. They have therefore formally approved the conversion and are recommending conversion to our Members.
A new CIO constitution has been drafted that closely follows the model constitution provided by the Charity Commission and it may be viewed here. Members’ comments are invited on the principle of conversion and on the detail of the new constitution. Suggestions for additions or edits will be considered and a final draft will be put to members for approval at the AGM on October 13th. Following Members’ approval, we will formally request the Charity Commission to commence the conversion process.