Governance & compliance
Governing documents: reviews & changes
Your governing document is the rulebook your organisation has to live by, and organisations change faster than their rulebooks. When your constitution, articles or charitable purposes no longer fit what you do, we bring them back into line and handle the approvals.
Who this is for
Charities, companies, CICs and societies whose governing document has fallen out of step: purposes that are too narrow, missing powers, a structure that has been outgrown, or wording nobody has read since the organisation was founded.
Also boards that want their document checked before they rely on it.
At a glance
- A review against what you do now and plan to do next
- Amendments or a full modern restatement
- Charity Commission consent when the law requires it
- Resolutions and filings done in the right order
How we help
We review your governing document against what you do now and what you plan next, and tell you plainly whether it still works. If changes are needed, we draft them: widening your purposes, updating your powers, changing trustee or membership arrangements, or a full modern restatement.
We then handle the approvals: the resolutions your document requires, the Charity Commission’s consent if the change needs it, and the filings at Companies House or the Financial Conduct Authority. You end up with a document that fits, and a clean record of how it was changed.
Talk to us
Not sure where to start? Book an online appointment and we will point you to the right help.
Email hello@proartsplus.co.uk or call 0330 127 1414 during office hours.
How it works
- Read
We review the current document. - Options
We discuss what is not working and set out the choices. - Draft
We prepare the changes and the resolutions. - Approve
We guide you through approval and deal with the regulators.
The order of steps matters, because some changes have no effect without the regulator’s consent. We make sure nothing is done out of sequence.
Why ProArtsPlus
We change governing documents regularly for cultural and charitable organisations, and we explain each step so your board knows exactly what it is approving.
Frequently asked questions
Can we change our charity’s purposes?
Often, yes. For charitable companies and CIOs, changing the charity’s purposes is a regulated alteration that needs the Charity Commission’s prior written consent, and the change has no effect without it. We advise on your chances and apply for consent.
Which other changes need Charity Commission consent?
For charitable companies and CIOs, changes to what happens to the charity’s property on dissolution, and changes that would authorise benefits to trustees, directors, members or people connected with them. Unincorporated charities have their own rules, which also require consent for some changes. We tell you which camp your change falls into.
How do we amend our articles or constitution?
By a resolution in the form your governing document or the law requires, followed by the right filings. We draft the resolution and the amended document and make sure it is passed and recorded correctly.
Our constitution is very old. Should we replace it?
If it predates how you now work, a modern restatement is often cleaner than patching it. We advise on whether to amend or replace.
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Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you are dealing with and we will point you to the right help.