With the relaxation of Covid-19, Preston Road Community Centre started to reopen in May 2021 and operations such as taking bookings fully restarted. User groups were informed of reopening plans and returned after doing risk assessments.

The trustees started meeting physically again after meeting virtually during the previous year. Trustees completed the move to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) as advised by the Charity Commission because it affords protection for charities and trustees.

Fund Raising bingo restarted every Tuesday evening to keep hiring fees down, but this depends on people giving their time. The number of people attending has not reached pre-Covid levels, so profits have been smaller.

(Before this, there had been a lockdown in March 2020, limited reopening from September 2020, a further lockdown in November 2020 and January 2021).

At the Special General Meeting of 14th March 2019, it was agreed to complete the conversion from an unincorporated Association to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 1st May 2019. A new constitution has already been agreed upon and signed by trustees.

This aligns the Association with Charity Commission guidance on organisational structures for charities that lease buildings, employ staff or enter into contracts as part of the charity’s operation.

The change in structure affords the charity trustees similar protection from liabilities that an incorporated company would have, but with reduced reporting liabilities. This should help attract other trustees.