This was slightly different from most AGM’s. True we had a report from the co-chairs and a Finance Report.
The main discussion however was on the future of SPN and in particular whether SPN should become a social enterprise or seek charitable status, the AGM voted unanimously that SPN should become a charity. It adopted the governing instrument set out in the formal language required by the Charity Commission and an application for registration has now gone forward.
The advantages of charitable status are that it improves the prospect of securing grants ( the majority of grant-giving bodies require charitable status for applications), it is more flexible than the formal company status required for social enterprises,and it enables SPN to maintain the mix of activities as at present. It was felt that there would be a bigger cultural shift required to become a social enterprise with a much higher priority having to be given to income generating activities.
SPN will now recruit a group of Trustees who will be charged with the responsibility for finance and ensuring the organisation meets its objects allowing the larger executive Committee to be a more informal body. The inaugural Trustees elected at the AGM were Alleyn Wilson (Chair), Rowena Harding (Acting Secretary) and Peter Cohen( Acting Treasurer).
We also had an excellent presentation from Sue Baker , Director of Moving People. The £18 million pound programme is hugely ambitious in aiming to change the way the public views mental health problems but everybody has a part to play in what is a medium term strategy
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