The Chorus is run by a committee of trustees which is elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting, which is usually held in October (previously November). The Trustees meet approximately six times a year to organise and run the charity, ensuring it meets legislative requirements and has sufficient funds to fulfil its purpose as agreed with the Charities Commission. Trustees receive a Trustee Pack which includes guidance documents produced by the Charity Commission to help them understand and meet their responsibilities; some of this is reproduced below.
Any member can stand as a Member Representative on the Trustee Board, and will likely be appointed at the AGM if there is a vacancy. If more than four members stand as Member reps then a vote will take place at the AGM.
Any member of the Chorus can attend any of the trustee meetings and should inform the Chair if they wish to do this. They can take an active part in the meeting or just observe; however they may not vote. Meeting dates are listed on all agendas and minutes of previous meetings, see Committee Minutes
Trustees must do the following:
- Read the Charity Commission’s Essential Trustee Guide
- Read the Charity Commission’s Conflicts of Interest Guide
- Download, sign and hand in the Trustee Declaration of Interest
- Attend most committee meetings, preparing by reading the papers beforehand
- Check the agenda before each meeting to see if they need to declare any item that may cause a conflict of interest
It would be helpful for Trustees to:
- Look through the SPC Constitution, especially sections 12 to 25 (trustee arrangements)
- Read through the Chorus Rules (in the Members Area)
- Read the SPC Equality Diversity and Inclusion Policy
- Read the SPC Public Benefit Guidance
Trustees would be even more effective were they to:
- Familiarise themselves with meetings by reading through the most recent minutes
- Browse through the SPC website, including the Members Area
- Look through the SPC Safeguarding Policy
- Look through the SPC Risk Management Policy
The Charity Commission has created a series of short video guides for trustees, see Charity Commission 5 minute video guides
For a list of who our current trustees are, see Our Trustees