CHARITY REGISTRATION

A special meeting was held at the Clubhouse on 1st February 2007 to hear the case - presented by Alan Lee and Ray Feldwick - for Helsby Golf Club Powered Wheelchair Appeal to register as a charity in its own right. The main driver was a change in legislation - the new Charities Act which came into effect in November 2006 - requiring any organisation raising funds of £5,000 or more to be registered with the Charities Commission. However, a number of other advantages were also put forward and the proposal received a unanimous vote in favour. The existing PWA committee members were voted in as officers and trustees of the new charity and a copy of the constitution is available for download.

HGC PWA completed its registration as a charity - number 1118150 - with the Charity Commission in March 2007. Although the Appeal has been very successful over the years, this is a further significant and important step forward. HGCPWA raises a substantial amount annually and this registration brings it in line with the requirements of the law. It also adds further credence to its already robust reputation and, perhaps most significantly, enables it to recover income tax on many of the donations received from supporters. Helsby, as far as clubs affiliated to the Peter Alliss Masters Golfing Society (PAMGS) are concerned, became the first to be registered as a charity in its own right. However, this in no way affects its relationship with the PAMGS charity, of which it continues to be a full member.