Charity Online Meetings – updated guidance from the Charity Commission

The Charity Commission has today (19th July 2024) published updated guidance for the holding of on-line meetings and is asking all charities to review their governing document to ensure it is up-to-date and allows for communication in such a manner.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, special dispensation was granted to charities to hold online meetings where their governing document didn’t specifically permit them to do so. That guidance expired some time ago now, yet groups continue to hold on-line meetings and may well be in breach of their governing constitution.

The guidance also says trustees should make sure any rules around holding meetings are up to date and practical, including updating a charity’s governing document to set out details such as how votes will be held at virtual meetings and whether all meetings will be virtual or hybrid.

The guidance also recommends that charities that wish to hold virtual meetings have a policy that says how people can ask questions, join in the debate, and what would happen to the meeting if there were technical problems.

You can see the updated guidance at: Charity meetings (CC48) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you are thinking that you need to review your governing document in light of this update then come and talk to SCVO to see how we might help. Drop us a line to: support@scvo.info