Current Options

Wider Britain Yearly Meeting context:

Area Meetings coming together to support each other in simplification in various ways is happening across Britain Yearly Meeting. Wales, Scotland, London, the South East, Yorkshire and of course us ‘Crossing Boundaries’ – AMs in the North of England.

Crossing Boundaries Objectives:

- For the below listed Meetings to become a single charity with one Trustee group:

  • Cumberland Area Meeting
  • Kendal and Sedbergh Area Meeting
  • Lancashire Central and North Area Meeting
  • Northumbria Area Meeting*
  • Pendle Hill Area Meeting
  • Swarthmoor Area Meeting
  • Teesdale and Cleveland Area Meeting*
  • Wensleydale and Swaledale Area Meeting*
    (The AMs involved constitute 40 Local Meetings and over 1000 members)

- To simplify our structures and the burden they place on Friends in order to become sustaining and even thriving communities


(* These AMs are not at the stage of joining the process now but may well wish to join in later along the way so the proposal should be considered as though they will be a part of it for the time being)


What would the Single Charity be responsible for?

  • Money (in a way we can determine as part of the process)
  • Property
  • Employment of staff
  • Centralising Safeguarding (and other relevant policies and procedures)
  • Whatever else Friends discern it should be responsible for

Why simplify?


I am a great believer in not reinventing the wheel and as such I have turned to Friends in Wales and Yorkshire who are ahead of us in this process for what they felt were the reasons to undertake this work:

Need for Simplification and re-invigoration

(Written by David Olver for Yorkshire Friends also going through this discernment)


The circumstances which have led to these proposals are well rehearsed:

  • Slowly ageing and declining membership
  • Challenge of trying to find Friends willing to undertake the roles needed at all levels; Relatively small numbers of new visitors and attenders
  • Differing needs of young people
  • Some meetings are struggling to survive – whilst others are doing relatively well
  • Ongoing significant needs of properties, including burial grounds
  • More effort now needed to satisfy regulatory requirements (safeguarding in particular).

In order to reinvigorate and simplify there is a need to return to the core of Quakerism:

  • Worship, is central to us
  • Through our shared testimonies we aim to translate faith into action in spirit led daily living
  • We seek to be an inclusive, diverse, supportive community at all stages of life
  • We aim to be non-judgmental, listening to and learning from each other, especially when we sense difference
  • We aim to support Friends called to witness their faith, in the wider world
  • We want to give service with joy.


Challenges Facing Us

(Written by Friends in Wales as part of the report on their work)

  • The Nomination of Friends who are willing, able and competent especially as Trustees and Treasurers
  • The management and upkeep of our extensive property portfolio
  • Increased demand for compliance in many areas but particularly in financial recording and reporting for the Charity Commission with increased demands imposed by the Banks ‘for security reasons’
  • There is a need to reduce the burden of administration.

What has gone before us which can inform us?


Yorkshire Quakers ‘Proposals for a Yorkshire Quakers Charity’ which can be found linked here: https://quakersinyorkshire.org.uk/governance/
Symud Ymlaen – Report written by Quakers in Wales, in particular ‘Report Summary’ which can be found here: https://cardiffquakers.com/symud-ymlaen/


Forming a single charity - What will this process look like for us?


AMs appoint 2 representatives to a committee to begin undertaking the work.
The first things the committee will do are:

  • Decide on nominating arrangements from within itself as tasks will need to be undertaken by small groups
  • Produce a ‘data set’ for all participating AMs
  • Develop a website for shared information and progress updates
  • Considering and undertaking work towards fellowship across all the AMs

Work together on:

  • A draft Constitution
  • Broad Memorandum of Understanding
  • Property Memorandum of Understanding

Once we have these three documents, AM Trustees will be consulted for their feedback.
At the same time as Trustees are being consulted on the above, the committee is also working on:

  • Financial Procedures proposals
  • Policies
  • Communities and Communication/Fellowship


Throughout these stages Friends from all AMs will be invited to regular meetings to ask questions and raise concerns as well as being given the opportunity at AMs throughout the process too.


After consultation with Trustees, Friends in the AMs will have the finalised Constitution document, MOUs and anything else shared with them and if the participating AMs are happy, this will be the point where we are clear we are becoming a single charity.


Administration of the move from several charities to one is undertaken by the committee


Trustees are appointed to the charity according to the policy adopted on this (for example 1 or 2 from each AM)


R. Swancott – Crossing Boundaries Convenor
March 2025