We forgot to run our AGM this year, what are the implications?

Annual General Meetings (AGMs) provide the opportunity to inform your members on the achievements of your work and make informed plans for next year. They also provide a platform to elect the Committee or Board for the next year and make any changes to the constitution.

The Charity Commission states in Charities and Meetings (CC48)

An AGM provides charity trustees and/or officers the opportunity to explain their management of the charity to the members. It also provides the members of the charity with an opportunity to ask questions before voting on business items on the agenda.

A charity's AGM is held once a year and members of the charity can attend and vote. The governing document will state when it must be held. This may be in a particular month or within a certain period after the end of the financial year.

The business that must be considered by the AGM will usually be specified in the governing document or by underlying legislation. However, the charity trustees can include any other additional items of business they feel appropriate.

Charity trustees are only bound to act on decisions taken by the members where the governing document directs that those matters have to be decided at such a meeting. It is important that charity trustees are clear about the status and purpose of the AGM and that this is clearly communicated to those
attending.

Not all charities need to hold an AGM. You should check your governing document or articles of association to see if an AGM is stipulated in its terms.