Commission updates COVID guidance

[IN JANUARY the Charity Commission updated its guidance for charities operating in the COVID pandemic. The guidance recognises that it should now be possible for charities to move to back to face-to-face meetings and hold any outstanding AGMs or other meetings.

However, the commission says, the coronavirus continues to have an impact on charity events and trustees may still need to consider how and if they can hold meetings.

For instance, trustees should check if their charity’s governing document allows them to hold meetings online, by telephone or on a hybrid basis – with some people meeting face to face and others joining virtually. If the governing document does not allow online, telephone or hybrid meetings they should consider if there is any power they can use to amend the rules to allow those types of meetings.

For some charities, trustees may consider that holding a virtual or hybrid AGM or other required meeting is not a viable solution. It may also not be possible for them to move immediately back to face-to-face meetings. In these circumstances trustees may consider they have no choice but to cancel or postpone. If they do consider such a decision is necessary, they should follow any rules in the charity’s governing document that allow for postponement or cancellation.

The guidance states: “If your governing document does not allow you to postpone or cancel meetings you should use any power (usually in your governing document) to amend the rules to ensure you can hold meetings in a valid format. You should update the governing document and approve any previous decisions as soon as possible.”

Trustees should regularly consider the wider risks and implications of holding meetings remotely or postponing or cancelling meetings if this is not allowed by the charity’s rules, and if they plan to do something that is not in accordance with the rules in the charity’s governing document, the Charity Commission may be able to give advice or authorise the trustees’ actions. They should contact the commission about their plans as soon as they reasonably can.

The commission states: “Since the start of the pandemic we have generally been understanding and taken a proportionate approach if trustees have decided to hold meetings on a remote or hybrid basis or postpone or cancel a required meeting where: • There are no rules allowing this in your • governing document • The circumstances meant the trustees • could not reasonably make prior changes • to the governing document to allow this • The trustees can show that they have • considered all relevant factors and • possible alternatives – such as, if • postponing or cancelling, holding the • meeting on a remote or hybrid basis • The trustees follow all the other rules on • meeting governance

“We will continue to take this approach in the short term as restrictions are lifted, provided that trustees can show their decision is in the best interests of the charity having taken all the circumstances into account. However, others affected by those decisions may take a different approach, so you should take advice and fully understand the implications of any decisions you make.” q

[LEGACIES ARE VITAL to the animals of Oak Tree Animals’ Charity: they would not have been able to move to their current home at Oak Tree Farm, Carlisle in 1982 without generous gifts through wills. All donations, regardless of size, provide a lifeline to the animals at Oak Tree. More than half of the work carried out there is paid for by legacy gifts, and they couldn’t help the number of animals they do without them.

Choosing to leave a gift in a will is an exceptionally personal way to help. One supporter who chose to leave a legacy to Oak Tree explained her decision: “My lifelong love for animals and the knowledge that my gift will help support and rehome unwanted animals at Oak Tree Animals' Charity in the future gives me a great sense of happiness. I wish more people would support animal charities like Oak Tree and be part of their incredible work. I want to help Oak Tree Animals' Charity continue its wonderful work for many years to come. It is comforting knowing that I will still be able to support animals long after I am gone.”

To find out more about Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, or to enquire about leaving a gift in your will, visit www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk or email fundraising@oaktreeanimals.org.uk. q

[THE YEAR IS 1983 and it is the coldest winter for 20 years. Many stories about horses and ponies being abandoned by their owners on Rainham Marshes in Essex were hitting the headlines.

Paula Clark, who was involved in raising money for a number of sanctuaries, was sitting at home in tears after reading the story of those poor horses. When her husband Ernie returned home from work, Paula showed him what was happening and they vowed to take action and help the animals that needed them.

Some of the horses were already dead and others were starving when the couple got to the marshes. They weren’t having their basic needs met; they had no water or food. Paula and Ernie took tanks of water to them and bales of hay and feed. They even got a vet to examine some of them. No-one was looking after the horses’ basic needs – let alone enriching their lives.

Paula and Ernie embarked on fulfilling their dream and the story of Hopefield Animal Sanctuary began. They began taking horses with the intention of fostering. They would bring them back to health and then find them nice homes.

The first horse they fostered out was Pye. Soon after they heard that the fosterers were trying to sell him, so Ernie took them to court at a cost of £4,000. Ernie finally got Pye back in a terrible state, so both Paula and Ernie promised they would never rehome again – the animals had a home for life.

As Paula and Ernie found fostering animals didn’t work out they decided to provide homes for life to their animals. One beneficiary is Juliette, a thoroughbred horse who arrived in a terrible condition.

Because of her home for life at Hopefield, and the daily care and attention she receives, she is now physically transformed.

Paula and Ernie have both now sadly passed away. Since their passing the work has been taken over by new trustees and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers look after the resident animals, old and new. Many animals arrive in a terrible condition and are completely transformed by living at the sanctuary.

The sanctuary has now been running for 35 years – it has over 50 regular volunteers, a huge amount of local and loyal support and over 20,000 followers on Facebook.

CEO Dave Schlaich explained: “We have continued to rescue horses and farm animals, but have found that over the years the type of animals we are having to help has greatly changed, with people getting more and more into exotic species through the pet trade.”

The sanctuary is now open the public from Friday to Monday each week. It has become a visitor attraction with a small tea room. All activities generate funds that go directly to the animals, making the future more secure.

Said David: “You can support us by becoming a regular donor, visit us, sponsor an animal or leave us a legacy in your will, knowing that your donation goes towards providing a home for life for one of our animals.” q