Cycling UK Forum

I joined CTC, one because of its campaigning for cyclists and two because of the third party insurance/legal help in an accident. My question is would any of this change if the Club became a Charitable Trust ?

Also, on the AGM voting paper there is a call for an increase in subscription, but if there are more members than ever now surely that means there is more money in the coffers anyway and an increase should not be necessary?

My question is would any of this change if the Club became a Charitable Trust ?

One would hope so, otherwise it's a lot of effort just to maintain the status quo.

The question is: in what way will it change? alas, opinions are violently divided upon this - the only way to make up your mind is to laboriously pick your way through the FAQs (linked by the threads at the top of this section), The SaveTheCTC website (linked to in a number of posts in this section), and then read the discussion in this section and ask questions of your councillor if need be. I'm afraid that there is no easy answer, and even after doing the research that I suggest you may still end up quite baffled, like many of us.

Ontherivet77 wrote:I joined CTC, one because of its campaigning for cyclists and two because of the third party insurance/legal help in an accident. My question is would any of this change if the Club became a Charitable Trust ?

Also, on the AGM voting paper there is a call for an increase in subscription, but if there are more members than ever now surely that means there is more money in the coffers anyway and an increase should not be necessary?

Don't forget the Club is giving the Trust £½million 'subvention' (otherwise known as a donation) each year to balance its books. That's on top of £400,000+ paid for services provided by the Trust.

I'd have thought that if the supposed tax advantages of the merger were real then the sub should be going down not up.

I must admit that I've not followed too closely the various threads about the changes (so you may think I should read up and answer my own question). Nonetheless, are there ANY advantages for the ordinary member or is it all head office power-play and chest beating.

mw3230 wrote:I must admit that I've not followed too closely the various threads about the changes (so you may think I should read up and answer my own question). Nonetheless, are there ANY advantages for the ordinary member or is it all head office power-play and chest beating.

In my opinion, NO. And I've spent a long time working in charities...

irc wrote:I'd have thought that if the supposed tax advantages of the merger were real then the sub should be going down not up.

What you say is true for a member's club but not for a charity.

So I think you have stumbled across a very relevant manifestation of the proposed change.

The Charity is for others so they get the benefit of the tax break, it is not for the benefit of the members who are GIVING to the charity.