My role

As someone with extensive experience of working with national and international charities, I advise on restructures, mergers and internal governance. Often working alongside boards and chief executives, I advise and mentor them through difficult changes aiming to make them as simple and as positive as possible.

I have a particular responsibility for charities, including churches, with a Christian foundation, and also regularly work with health and social care charities and those working in the arts, such as theatres. I am also responsible for Anthony Collins Solicitors trainees, ensuring that the training they receive with the firm is of the highest possible standard, as well as being enjoyable and challenging.

My experience

I have extensive experience of advising and establishing all types of charities – unincorporated, trusts, charitable companies limited by guarantee, charitable incorporated organisations etc. On a regular basis I deal with asset transfers; establishing trading subsidiaries and social enterprise companies; group structures; advising on payment of trustees; contracts; grant agreements; and liaising with the Charity Commission concerning all aspects of charity regulation. This includes registration, serious incident reporting, altering charitable objects, and charity investigations. I enjoy training trustees on their duties and potential liabilities.

My passion is to help faith-based charities achieve their goals and vision. Doing so, I am also a member of the Ecclesiastical Law Society, and am married to the pastor of a black majority church in Handsworth, Birmingham.

My specialisms

  • Charity governance structures
  • Mergers and take overs
  • Asset transfers
  • Contracts and trading
  • Grant agreements

My latest articles

Charities and mergers

To merge or not merge? That is the question. Could a merger help you to best achieve your charitable purpose? Edwina Turner explains.

Social investment for charities: too complicated or misunderstood?
Social investment for charities: too complicated or misunderstood?

So what is social investment and is it really relevant to charities especially those that do not have millions of pounds turnover? Social investment can take many forms, examples of which are: loans – interest-free/paid back with interest; an investment in exchange for shares in your organisation; social impact bonds; and yes, it can be reward-based crowdfunding.

Are you preparing your Modern Slavery Act Statement?
Are you preparing your Modern Slavery Act Statement?

The Act applies to all organisations with a turnover or group turnover - that is, the total turnover of a company and its subsidiaries - of £36 million or more which are either incorporated in the UK or carry on a business in the UK.

Charities and Commercial Partnerships
Charities and Commercial Partnerships

This is becoming more common as charities are called upon to do activities and services that may have been previously filled by, for example, local authorities.

Intellectual Property and Churches – the Essentials
Intellectual Property and Churches – the Essentials

Introduction Many churches (and indeed other charities) do not realise that they potentially own a valuable asset in the form of intellectual property and that they are often not free to simply give it away – it has to be used to benefit the church, fulfilling its charitable purposes.

Trustee training with a difference
Trustee training with a difference

1. What makes the training you deliver for Thera Trust directors different from other client training? The training aims to engage everyone regardless of their previous legal knowledge, education or learning style.

Voluntary registration of charities
Voluntary registration of charities

Although the Charities Act 2011 provides for the voluntary registration of such charities until now, the Commission has refused to accept such applications on the grounds of a lack of resources.

I have been recognised for the work I do
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