The Regulator for Charities in England and Wales
(Version March 2004)
The data used in this report was derived from seminars with Charity Commission staff, meetings with individuals and groups of charities and an examination of the Charity Commission’s extensive casework archive.
In addition an independent research company was commissioned to undertake a postal survey of 3000 charities in England and Wales during December 2003. The survey achieved a response rate of 50% (1508 questionnaires) which is an excellent response rate for this type of survey. This allows a confidence interval exceeding +/- 3%, which is industry standard.
The survey sample was stratified into the following income bands:
| Small | income less than £10,000 |
| Medium | income £10,000 -£249,999 |
| Large | income £250,000 - £999,999 |
| Very large | income £1,000,000 + |
Charities were asked to classify the type of activity that they undertook:
| Financial assistance | providing financial assistance (e.g. grant awarding to individuals and/ or organisations) |
| Buildings | providing buildings/ facilities/ open space |
| Services | providing services (e.g. care/ counselling) |
| Advice | providing advocacy/ advice/ information/ education |
| Umbrella body | acting as an umbrella/ resource body |
| Research | sponsoring or undertaking research |
Table 1: Number of Individual Members – by Income
|
|
Small |
Medium |
Large |
Very Large | ||
|
Total |
Under £10k |
£10k-£99k |
£100k-£249k |
£250k-£999k |
£1m or more | |
|
BASE (All with individual members) |
591 |
93 |
138 |
136 |
125 |
99 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Up to 5 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
9 |
|
6-9 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
|
10-24 |
15 |
28 |
14 |
15 |
13 |
6 |
|
25-49 |
13 |
18 |
12 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
|
50-99 |
14 |
13 |
18 |
10 |
15 |
12 |
|
100-999 |
26 |
15 |
36 |
35 |
24 |
13 |
|
1000+ |
14 |
2 |
8 |
9 |
18 |
34 |
|
Don’t know/not stated |
7 |
15 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
5 |
|
Average number of members per charity |
1972 |
232 |
426 |
342 |
1230 |
8740 |
Table 2: Number of Individual Members – by Main Activity
|
|
Total |
Financial assistance |
Buildings |
Services |
Advice |
|
BASE (All with individual members) |
591 |
66 |
70 |
141 |
146 |
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% | |
|
Up to 5 |
7 |
9 |
4 |
7 |
8 |
|
6-9 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
|
10-24 |
15 |
21 |
17 |
16 |
14 |
|
25-49 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
16 |
14 |
|
50-99 |
14 |
6 |
10 |
15 |
13 |
|
100-999 |
26 |
21 |
40 |
25 |
23 |
|
1000+ |
14 |
18 |
7 |
10 |
19 |
|
Don’t know/not stated |
7 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
|
Average number of members per charity |
1972 |
1312 |
410 |
672 |
4892 |
Note: Other columns excluded as too small for analysis
Table 3: Number of Other Members – by Income
|
|
Small |
Medium |
Large |
Very Large | ||
|
Total |
Under £10k |
£10k-£99k |
£100k-£249k |
£250k-£999k |
£1m or more | |
|
BASE (All with other members) |
300 |
35* |
51* |
67 |
73 |
74 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Up to 5 |
19 |
14 |
28 |
24 |
12 |
16 |
|
6-9 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
|
10-24 |
14 |
17 |
18 |
15 |
19 |
5 |
|
25-49 |
5 |
14 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
- |
|
50-99 |
8 |
3 |
18 |
5 |
7 |
10 |
|
100-999 |
18 |
3 |
18 |
21 |
25 |
16 |
|
1000+ |
20 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
25 |
43 |
|
Don’t know/not stated |
11 |
34 |
4 |
21 |
6 |
3 |
|
Average (number) |
5991 |
116 |
153 |
156 |
1186 |
20741 |
* Low bases
Table 4: Summary of Member types
|
Total |
Individual |
Corporate |
Other | |
|
BASE (All) |
1508 |
591 |
170 |
300 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Individual |
39 |
100 |
55 |
59 |
|
Corporate |
11 |
16 |
100 |
14 |
|
Other |
20 |
30 |
25 |
100 |
|
None |
49 |
- |
- |
- |
Table 5: Combination of Member Types – by income (excluding charities that have no members)
|
Small |
Medium |
Large |
Very large | |||
|
Total |
Under £10k |
£10k-£99k |
£100k-£249k |
£250k-£999k |
£1m or more | |
|
BASE (All with members) |
774 |
112 |
166 |
174 |
171 |
151 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Individual and corporate and other |
4 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
|
Individual and corporate |
8 |
4 |
10 |
9 |
11 |
6 |
|
Individual and other |
20 |
20 |
19 |
16 |
20 |
24 |
|
Corporate and other |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
Individual only |
44 |
58 |
54 |
47 |
37 |
32 |
|
Corporate only |
8 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
13 |
|
Other only |
14 |
10 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
19 |
Table 6: Combination of Member Types – by income (including charities that have no members)
|
Small |
Medium |
Large |
Very large | |||
|
Total |
Under £10k |
£10k-£99k |
£100k-£249k |
£250k-£999k |
£1m or more | |
|
BASE (All) |
1508 |
258 |
299 |
292 |
309 |
350 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Individual and corporate and other |
2 |
* |
- |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
Individual and corporate |
4 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
|
Individual and other |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
|
Corporate and other |
1 |
* |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
Individual only |
23 |
25 |
30 |
28 |
20 |
14 |
|
Corporate only |
4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
|
Other only |
7 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
None |
49 |
57 |
45 |
40 |
45 |
57 |
* Less than 0.5%
Table 7: Combination of member types – by Main Activity (excluding charities that have no members)
|
Total |
Financial assistance |
Buildings |
Services |
Advice |
Umbrella body |
Research | |
|
BASE (All with members) |
774 |
94 |
95 |
182 |
185 |
43* |
17** |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Individual and corporate and other |
4 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
0 |
|
Individual and corporate |
8 |
7 |
12 |
7 |
11 |
7 |
18 |
|
Individual and other |
20 |
18 |
16 |
16 |
22 |
7 |
24 |
|
Corporate and other |
2 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
Individual only |
44 |
41 |
42 |
52 |
42 |
42 |
35 |
|
Corporate only |
8 |
13 |
11 |
5 |
8 |
14 |
12 |
|
Other only |
14 |
16 |
13 |
14 |
12 |
19 |
12 |
* Low base ** Very low base
Table 8: Combination of Member Types – by Age of Charity
|
Total |
5 years or less |
6-20 years |
21-100 years |
101+ years | |
|
BASE (All) |
1508 |
258 |
299 |
292 |
309 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Individual and corporate and other |
2 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
|
Individual and corporate |
4 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
|
Individual and other |
10 |
11 |
8 |
12 |
11 |
|
Corporate and other |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Individual only |
23 |
17 |
24 |
26 |
15 |
|
Corporate only |
4 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
|
Other only |
7 |
11 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
|
No members |
49 |
51 |
49 |
44 |
61 |
Table 9: Combination of Member Types – by Main Area Worked in (including charities that have no members)
|
Total |
Education |
Medical |
Disability |
Relief poverty |
Religious activities |
Housing |
Arts |
Sport |
Environment |
General | |
|
BASE (All) |
1508 |
400 |
152 |
84 |
68 |
130 |
68 |
95 |
60 |
64 |
94 |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Individual and corporate and other |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
Individual and corporate |
4 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
5 |
13 |
|
Individual and other |
10 |
7 |
9 |
21 |
1 |
10 |
3 |
10 |
18 |
10 |
8 |
|
Corporate and other |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
|
Individual only |
23 |
22 |
26 |
30 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
26 |
25 |
17 |
|
Corporate only |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
8 |
5 |
|
Other only |
7 |
6 |
4 |
12 |
4 |
14 |
9 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
11 |
|
None |
49 |
56 |
52 |
27 |
69 |
51 |
62 |
51 |
35 |
48 |
39 |
Note: Other columns excluded as too small for analysis
Table 10: Reasons for thinking individual members useful/not useful
|
TOTAL | |
|
BASE (All with individual members) |
591 |
|
|
% |
|
Positive Responses |
81 |
|
Gives users of charity a say / influence in how it's run |
15 |
|
They help / contribute / participate |
15 |
|
Members provide diverse opinions |
13 |
|
Members' feedback is useful to committee / trustees |
9 |
|
Members ensure services remain relevant to their / customers needs |
7 |
|
We get the benefit of their experience |
6 |
|
We get the benefit of their support |
6 |
|
Ensures probity/transparency |
6 |
|
Ensures charity is democratically run |
6 |
|
Members provide financial support / contribute financially |
6 |
|
Trustees / committee elected from membership |
6 |
|
We get the benefit of their expertise and skills |
5 |
|
Charity is run by the members for the members |
5 |
|
Charity would not exist without the members |
5 |
|
Negative responses |
10 |
|
Too few attend AGMs |
3 |
|
Too few vote/participate |
2 |
Note: Many other responses were given at a lower level.
Table 11: Reasons for thinking corporate members useful/not useful
|
TOTAL | |
|
BASE (All with corporate members) |
170 |
|
|
% |
|
Positive Responses |
75 |
|
They provide financial support |
13 |
|
Provide expertise/experience |
11 |
|
Provide useful advice |
9 |
|
Oversee how the charity is run |
9 |
|
Provide support |
8 |
|
Provide connection/influence with local council/public sector |
7 |
|
Get good cross section of opinions |
5 |
|
Provides professionalism |
5 |
|
Negative Responses |
7 |
|
Too few attend AGMs |
3 |
|
Too few vote/participate |
2 |
Note: Many other responses were given at a lower level.
Table 12: Terms used to describe other members
|
TOTAL | |
| BASE (All with other members) |
300 |
|
|
% |
|
Sponsors |
13 |
|
Friends |
13 |
|
Associates/associate members |
12 |
|
Patrons |
7 |
|
Honorary members |
5 |
|
Volunteers |
4 |
|
Vice presidents |
4 |
|
Junior members |
4 |
An AGM is an Annual General Meeting, open to all members.
Charitable company means a company formed and registered under the Companies Act 1985 or one to which the provisions of that Act apply, and which is established for charitable purposes.
Charity trustees are the people having the general control and management of the administration of a charity, regardless of what they are called. For instance, in the case of an unincorporated association the executive or management committee are its charity trustees, and in the case of a charitable company it is the directors who are the charity trustees.
The Companies Act means the Companies Act 1985 as amended.
Corporate members include companies, local authorities and other public bodies or organisations for which a nominated representative holds a right to vote at the charity’s annual general meeting on behalf of the organisation that they represent. This category would also include any unincorporated charities and other not-for-profit organisations for whom a representative is a voting member of another charity.
An EGM is an Extraordinary General Meeting (occasionally referred to as a Special General Meeting (SGM) by unincorporated charities) and is any general meeting of members other than an AGM.
Governing document means any document that sets out the charity's purposes and, usually, how it is to be administered. It may be a trust deed, a constitution, memorandum and articles of association, rules, conveyance, will, Royal Charter, Scheme of the Commissioners or, in relation to an appeal, the published terms of the appeal inviting donations.
Individual Member is an individual with the ability to affect the governance of a charity by voting at the charity’s annual general meeting and who meets all other criteria for a member as set out in the charity’s governing document. Trustees, directors and any other person who is on the governing body are excluded from this definition of a member.
A quorum is the minimum number of people entitled to attend and vote who must be present at a meeting to make valid decisions at that meeting. A quorum can be a fixed number or a percentage of those entitled to attend and vote. The number of people required to form a quorum is usually stated in the governing document.
Fiduciary duties are those that must be carried out for the benefit of the charity’s beneficiaries.
The Charity Commission for England and Wales
Responsibility for charities is split between our three offices. Further information can be obtained from the Commission at:
|
London Harmsworth House |
Liverpool 12 Princes Dock |
Welsh Office 8th Floor |
Taunton Woodfield House |
Tel: 0870 3330123
Minicom: 0870 3330125
Arbitration and Conciliation Service (ACAS)
ACAS is an organisation devoted to preventing and resolving employment disputes
Head Office
Brandon House
180 Borough High Street
London SE1 1LW
Tel: 020 7210 3613
Website: www.acas.org.uk
Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO)
ACEVO provides good practice resources and information on sector issues.
83 Victoria Street
London
SW1H OHW
Tel: 0845 345 8481
Email:info@acevo.org.uk
Website: www.acevo.org.uk
Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF)
ACF promotes and supports the work of charitable grant-making trusts and foundations.
2 Plough Yard
Shoreditch High Street
London
EC2A 3LP
Tel: 020 7422 8600
Website: www.acf.org.uk
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
CEDR is widely regarded as a leading provider of alternative dispute resolution services.
Exchange Tower
1 Harbour Exchange Square
London E14 9GB
Tel: 020 7536 6000
Website:www.cedr.co.uk
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
CAF helps non-profit organisations in the UK and overseas to increase, manage and administer their resources.
Kings Mill
West Malling
Kent ME19 TA
Tel: 01732 520 000
Website: www.cafonline.org
Charity Trustee Networks
This charity offers mutual support by encouraging and developing self-help trustee network groups proving cost effective, peer to peer consultancy and mentoring.
PO Box 633
Godalming
GU8 5ZX
Tel: 01428 682252
Email: info@trusteenetworks.org.uk
Directory of Social Change (DSC)
The Directory promotes positive social change and provides a wide range of resources for trustees.
|
London 24 Stephenson Way |
Liverpool Federation House |
Tel (books): 020 7209 5151
Tel (training and events): London 020 7209 4949 & Liverpool 0151 708 0117
Website: www.dsc.org.uk
Electoral Reform Society
The Electoral Reform Society is a membership organisation which campaigns for improvements in democracy, particularly through the use of better voting systems.
6 Chancel Street
London SE1 0UU
Tel: 020 7928 1622
Website: www.electoral-reform.org.uk
Ethnic Minority Foundation (EMF) and the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO)
EMF and CEMVO develop resources for black and minority ethnic organisations, these include networking and training opportunities and a trustee register.
Boardman House
64 Broadway
Stratford
London E15 1NG
Tel: 020 84320 307
Email: enquiries@emf-cemvo.co.uk
Website: www.emf-cemvo.co.uk
HM Customs and Excise
For information relating to VAT queries refer to your local telephone directory for the contact details. General information is available from:
Tel: 0845 0109000
Website: www.hmce.gov.uk
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA)
ICSA provides information and good practice guidance on governance issues affecting the sector. They also have a trustee register available to charities needing new trustees.
16 Par Crescent
London W1B 1 AH
Tel: 020 7580 4741
Email: info@icsa.co.uk
Website: www.icsa.org.uk
Institute of Fundraising
The Institute of Fundraising aims to promote the highest standards of fund-raising practice.
Market Towers
1 Nine Elms Street
London SW8 5NQ
Tel: 020 7627 3436
E-mail: enquiries@institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
Website: www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
Mediation UK
Mediation UK is a national voluntary organisation dedicated to developing means of resolving conflicts in communities.
Alexander House
Telephone Ave
Bristol BS1 4BS
Tel: 0117 904 6661
Website: www.mediationuk.org.uk
National Association for Councils for Voluntary Service (NACVS)
The NACVS network provides a wide range of information and support for charities.
National Association for Councils for Voluntary Service
3rd Floor Arundel Court
177 Arundel Street
Sheffield S1 2NU
Tel: 0114 278 6636
Email: nacvs@nacvs.org.uk
Website: www.nacvs.org.uk
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Information available on fund-raising and governance issues and a range of general support services. The NCVO plans to publish a Good Membership Guide later this year.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations
Regent’s Wharf
8 All Saints Street
London N1 9RL
Tel: 020 7713 6161
E-mail: ncvo@ncvo-vol.org.uk
Website: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk, www.askncvo.org.uk
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
WCVA supports charities and the voluntary sector in Wales.
Baltic House
Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff CF10 5FH
Tel: 029 20431700
E-mail: enquiries@wcva.org.uk
Website: www.wcva.org.uk
Charity Finance
3 Rectory Grove
London
SW4 0DX
Website: www.charityfinance.co.uk
Subscriptions tel: 020 7819 1200
E-mail: rcoley@charityfinance.co.uk
Charities Management
Mitre House Publishing
The Clifton Centre
110 Clifton Street
London EC2A 4HD
Subscriptions tel: 020 7729 6644
Charity Times
Website: www.charitytimes.com
Subscriptions tel: 020 7426 0496 / 0123
The Guardian / Society
The Society section in Wednesday’s edition of The Guardian is particularly useful.
Website: www.SocietyGuardian.co.uk
Third Sector
Website: www.thirdsector.co.uk
Subscriptions tel: 020 8606 7500
Email: subscriptions@haynet.com
Adirondack. S et al., (2001) The Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook, 2nd Ed. Directory Of Social Change. London
Rt. Hon. Blunkett, David, MP., Home Secretary (June 2003), “Civil Renewal: A New Agenda”, Speech made at the CSV Edith Kahn Memorial Lecture. London
Bremridge.T., (2003) Outsourcing the servicing of supporters. Charities Management Autumn 2003
Cabinet Office, (2002) Private action, Public Benefit: A Review of Charities and the Wider Not-For-Profit Sector
Canavon. M., and Smith. P., (2001) Representing the People – Democracy and Diversity. LGA Publications. London.
Charity Commission, (2003) The Charity Commission and Regulation
Charity Commission, (2002) Charities and Commercial Partners (RS2)
Charity Commission, (2003) Collaborative Working and Mergers (RS4)
Charity Commission, (2000) Charities and Meetings (CC48)
Charity Commission, (2003) Model Memorandum and Articles of Association for a Charitable Company (GD1)
Charity Commission ,(1998) Model Constitution for a Charitable Unincorporated Association (GD3)
Charity Commission, (2000) The Recreational Charities Act 1958 (RR4)
Charity Commission, (2002) Responsibilities of Charity Trustees (CC3)
Charity Commission, (2002) Trustee Recruitment, Selection and Induction (RS1)
Charity Commission, (2000) Users on Board: Beneficiaries who become trustees (CC24)
Deakin. N., (2001) In search of Civil Society. Palgrave. London
Hayes. D., and Slater. A., (2003) From "social club" to "integrated membership scheme": Developing membership schemes strategically. International Journal of Non Profit and Voluntary Sector Marketing. Volume 8 No 1 February 2003
Jas.P., et al (2002) The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac. NCVO Publications. London
Morris. D., (2003) Disputes in the Charitable Sector. Charity law Unit, University of Liverpool.
NCVO (in partnership with the Centre for Effective Resolution) (2003) You’re not listening to me. NCVO. London
Pharaoh. C., (2003) Charity Trends 2003 24th Ed. CAF, London
Picarda. H., (1995) The law and practice relating to charities, 2nd Ed., Butterworths, London.
Powell. F., and Guerin. D., (1999) Civil Society and Active Citizenship: The role of the voluntary sector. Association for Voluntary Action Research in Ireland.
Travers.T., (2003) A trip down memory lane. Public Finance July 18-24
Warburton. J., (1995) Tudor on Charities, 8th Ed., Sweet & Maxwell. London.
Warburton. J., (1992) Unincorporated Associations; Law & Practice 2nd Ed. Sweet & Maxwell. London
WCVA, (2002) Faith and hope don’t run charities (trustees do): a practical guide to voluntary members of management committees. Cardiff.
Wilson. A., (1993) Friendly Societies – A Guide to the New Law (1993) Butterworths, London.
We would like to thank all the charities who gave their time to contribute to the research for this report. Special thanks also to Dr Helen Cameron and Professor Jean Warburton for their help and valuable insights.