Can you buy drinks/snacks for a PTA AGM out of PTA funds?

[snail1973]

Someone told me this was against charity commission rules and that if you want to offer people drinks or snacks at your AGM then committee members would have to donate them, this seems a bit harsh! Anyone got any experience?? Thank you

AGM expenses are a permitted expense
so long as they are not excessive - we did danish pastries one year - roped lots of new people in !

We always do it.....

Blimey, we were skinflints! We'd provide wine but ask for a 'donation.' Any chance to fundraise.

I don't know what the charity commission rules are, but I wouldn't be comfortable using our school's PTA funds for this, and I'd expect the PTA members to contribute.

I wouldn't necessarily disapprove of another PTA using money to provide a modest refreshment, but I wouldn't do it myself.

Absolutely no problem to provide modest refreshments at a PTA meeting that is open to all.

All of the parents are members of the PTA automatically.
It needs to seem welcoming to new "active" members
free food is a good way to do that.
We also always held back a few bottles of tombola wine for when a chair retired as a thankyou (we all drank them together though)
if you do not make people feel valued they will not put in the hours

that and the leavers bash always lost money - as it was a thankyou to parents who had helped out in some cases for 15 years

I think it depends on whether it is a PTA or a Friends of Blah Blah School type set up.

Nothing wrong with hospitality expenses as far as I'm aware especially for an AGM.

Thanks everyone