Our Annual General Meeting takes place on Thursday 26th November 2026 at 7.00 pm in the Market Hall, Knutsford. Every Friend of The Heath is warmly invited, and this year it really matters that you come.
- When: Thursday 26th November 2026, 7.00 pm
- Where: Market Hall, Knutsford
- Questions beforehand: sec.foth@gmail.com
A big decision for the Friends
The committee proposes that Friends of The Heath becomes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO): a registered charity with its own legal identity, regulated by the Charity Commission.
Why? Grant funders expect a registered charity, especially for larger projects. A CIO can sign agreements, hold money and open bank accounts in its own name. And at present the committee members are personally responsible for the group’s agreements and debts; a CIO protects the volunteers who run it.
For Friends, very little changes. You would remain a Friend, free of charge, with no legal responsibility. There would be an open meeting every year to hear the trustees’ report, see the accounts and give your views, and the trustees would be required to give due consideration to what Friends say.
Why the Friends must vote on it
Friends of The Heath is run under a constitution, and a change this important cannot be made by the committee alone. Our current constitution says it must be decided by the Friends at a general meeting, through a formal resolution. To pass, the resolution needs the support of two-thirds of those voting.
The resolution asks the Friends to agree to set up the CIO on the proposed constitution, to transfer our money and equipment to it once it is registered, and then to wind up the present association. Nothing moves until the Charity Commission registers the CIO, which can take up to six months. If registration does not happen within 12 months, Friends of The Heath simply carries on as it is now.
Please come and vote
- Every Friend registered before the meeting has one vote. Please sign in when you arrive.
- For the meeting to go ahead, at least eight Friends must attend.
- Friends will receive the full papers by email from Thursday 12th November: the agenda, the minutes of last year’s AGM, the resolution, a short explainer, the proposed constitution, our current constitution, the accounts and our trustee vacancies. If you are a Friend and have not received them, please email sec.foth@gmail.com.
Not a Friend yet? It is free to join through our membership page. Join before the meeting and you will be able to vote.
Could you help run Friends of The Heath?
We are looking for up to three new trustees, especially a Secretary and a Treasurer. If you would like to find out more, please email sec.foth@gmail.com by Wednesday 25th November.
We look forward to seeing you on the 26th.
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