Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The money held in the Trust came from the sale of the former village hall, which was itself held in trust (it wasn’t “owned” by the village).

As with all charitable trusts, the funds do not legally belong to individual villagers. Instead, they are held and managed by the Trustees. Trustees are legally responsible for ensuring the money is used properly and in accordance with:

• The Trust’s constitution
• Charity law
• The Trust’s registered charitable purpose

The Trust’s charitable purpose, as recorded with the Charity Commission, includes the following:

“To improve the conditions of life (with a particular focus on recreational activities) for the Inhabitants of the Village of Greens Norton or such wider area as the Trustees shall from time-to-time resolve.

(A full description of the Trust’s Charitable Purpose can be found on the Charity Commission website The Greens Norton Village Charitable Trust – 265157 .)

A helpful comparison is with any charity that supports a particular group. For example, a charity supporting deaf people exists for their benefit, but the beneficiaries do not personally own the charity’s funds. The same principle applies here.

The Trust’s primary public information source is its website:
www.greensnortonvillagetrust.co.uk

This includes:

• Information about who has received funding
• Guidance on how to apply
• Significant updates about the Trust’s work

In addition:

• All financial accounts are published via the Charity Commission website, as required by law.
• Trustee appointments and declarations are formally recorded with the Charity Commission.

Publishing accounts through the Charity Commission is the standard method by which UK charities make their financial information publicly available.

The Trust’s constitution does not require an AGM. This is normal for charitable trusts of this type.

However, in recent years Trustees have attended the annual village residents’ meeting and hope to have a presence at future meetings.

Trustee Participation in Residents’ Meetings

In recent years, Trustees have taken an active role in the annual village residents’ meeting. Their attendance provides villagers with the opportunity to engage directly with the Trust and learn more about its activities. Looking ahead, Trustees intend to continue their involvement and have a presence at future meetings.

The annual residents meeting is the main public forum where:

Questions can be asked directly to Trustees

Villagers can hear about the Trust’s activities

Trustees meet quarterly.

There is no standing public schedule of meetings. Future meeting dates are normally agreed at the end of each meeting as part of the agenda.

Trustee meetings are not generally open to the public. This is standard practice for charitable trusts because:

• Trustees hold legal responsibility for decisions
• Meetings often involve confidential matters (e.g. funding applications, financial information, or personal data)

However, Trustees are open to exploring ways to increase engagement.

Any proposal would need to be agreed collectively by the Trustees.

Details about eligibility, criteria and how to apply are available on the Trust website:

www.greensnortonvillagetrust.co.uk

If you are unsure whether your idea fits the Trust’s purpose, you are encouraged to contact the Trustees for guidance before applying.  Please do remember that the Trust is a funding body and does not have involvement in the planning or operation of any activity that is funded.