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Our Annual General Meeting
Mary Frances Trust is made up of a Board of Trustees, paid staff, volunteers - and most importantly, the people we support.
We are a Membership organisation which means we have structured our organisation so that it is our Members who elect the Board of Trustees, who then take responsibility for the strategic development of the charity.
As a Registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee, it is a legal requirement that we hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) every year so our Members and other interested stakeholders can find out more about the organisation’s financial statement from the preceding year, presented as part of our Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), as well as hear about our services and various projects we’ve been working on. It is during the AGM that our Members elect our Trustees, vote to approve our financial accounts and any other resolutions that we may present them with.
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When is the next AGM?
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Our 2025 AGM will take place on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at Bookham Barn Hall. Everyone is welcome to attend. You can register to attend, become a Member or both from 8 Sept. Watch this space!
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What is a Member?
As part of our AGM process, we have to draw up a register of Members of Mary Frances Trust.
Members are people who register as such before our AGM or anytime during the year.
Registered Members are invited to vote on the Annual Report and Accounts of the previous financial year and any resolutions posed at the AGM, and throughout the following year. Most importantly it is the registered Members of Mary Frances Trust who appoint the Board of Trustees. Each year at least one third of the Board will step down for re-election.
Please note it is possible to attend the AGM without becoming a Member. You’re welcome to come along to find out more about our charity but you won’t be able to take part in the voting which is for Members only.
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Members' Roles and Responsibilities
What Members can expect from us and what we expect from our Members
By becoming a Member of MFT, you will receive:
- An invite to our Annual General Meeting (AGM)
- Documents that you will be voting on at the AGM 14 clear days before the AGM
- Our newsletters
- Invites to events/forums
- Information about Co-Production at MFT and the work of our Advisory Group
- Information about joining our Advisory Group.
By becoming a Member of MFT, we expect you to:
- Sign up for Membership of MFT annually
- Attend our AGM if possible
- Vote at our Annual General Meeting to oversee our accounts and approve our Trustees (either by voting in person at the AGM or by proxy).
- Support us when we want to hear from you about developments throughout the year
- Spread the word about our services and becoming an ambassador of MFT.
For an informal chat to find out more, please contact us at:
📧 info@maryfrancestrust.org.uk
📞 01372 375400
📱 07929 024722 (SMS service)To a full list of roles and responsibilities, please read our Membership Rules below.
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How do I become a Member?
Anyone can become a Member of Mary Frances Trust if they meet the following criteria:
- Are 18 years or older
- Have experience of emotional or mental health issues, either currently or in the past, or are caring for someone with emotional or mental health issues
- Live in the UK
You do not need to have used our services previously. Clients and volunteers are not automatically made Members, but they are welcome and encouraged to register.
You will have the opportunity to register as a Member of MFT when we publish and send our Notice of AGM each year (via our newsletter distribution list, our website and social media) where you will find an AGM Online Registration form.
Membership of Mary Frances Trust lasts one year. If you registered as a Member at last year’s AGM, you will need to register again for this year’s to have voting rights and stay involved.
Outside of AGM season, you can still register your interest in becoming a Member of MFT, by contacting us at:
📧 info@maryfrancestrust.org.uk
📞 01372 375400
📱 07929 024722 (SMS service) -
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Proxy vote
You can still become a Member and vote at the AGM using a proxy voting form. When you register, let us know your preference, and we will send the proxy form to you by email or post.
Please ensure you:
- Fill in your details
- Indicate whether you are voting For or Against each item on the agenda
- Sign the form before returning it to us by the deadline
Incomplete proxy forms cannot be counted. If you have any questions, please contact us at:
📧 communications@maryfrancestrust.org.uk
📞 01372 375400
📱 07929 024722 (SMS service)Even if you don’t attend the AGM, there will be other opportunities for you as a Member to engage with our work. Becoming a Member is still a great way to stay involved! For more information, see our Membership Rights and Privileges in the Membership Rules.
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