WPUK have released a financial statement showing money received by source and how it is spent

[OvaHere]

womansplaceuk.org/2020/11/28/wpuk-financial-statement-2020/

Perhaps we can quit with the 'dark money' narrative now.

I was a little surprised to see a grant from Lush Charity Pot in there. Perhaps as a company they aren't a total write off after all.

, to cover the distinct whiff of desperation of some on this thread.
Personally im not bothered by speakers being paid, all of the speakers at the meeting I attended had obviously put time and effort into the talks they presented, I was happy to pay the ticket price plus one for my mum and I trust wpuk to spend that as they see fit.
Might be nice if they could use some of the money to fund tickets for less well off women as filia do, if they dont already.

No assumptions, just a point if view.

I'm not sure why you are assuming that any of the speakers received a fee at the meeting you attended @MoonPomme

That speakers fees appear in a list of expenditure items associated with meetings doesn't mean that they are paid routinely, only that they have been paid at least once.

I think it's quite an ask for a campaign run by volunteers to also administer a fund for free tickets (which are priced at £5 so fairly accessible) but there's nothing to stop anyone buying a ticket on the behalf of someone else via Eventbrite.

Im not assuming anything, just stating that I wouldn't be bothered if the speakers I heard were paid.
No idea if they were or not.
Maybe my bad wording.
I think filia do sponsored tickets.
Im not criticising anything wpuk have or haven't done, I really enjoyed the meeting I went to and was inspired by the women I met there.
Just a suggestion, £5 is out of reach to some women unfortunately.
Id be happy to sponsor tickets for women that cant afford it if it was an option thats not too labour intensive to set up.

jj

I'm sure you will be asking the anonymous organisers of this crowdfunder the same questions.

uk.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund

An organisation set up by a former civil servant who campaigned against tax evasion and avoidance during a very active trade unionist period (and is married to a well known thorn in the government's side) is unlikely to be trying to swindle HMRC. Presumably the scrutiny would be significant.

I’m comfortable with speakers being paid, they’re giving their time, money and expertise, and in the current climate are likely to lose other work for opining on this topic. They earn it.

When I bought my ticket to the last one I either paid for another for someone who couldn’t afford it, or made a donation, can’t remember which. I do recommend that women organising these events are never shy to ask people to do this, as I’m completely happy to get my hand in my pocket to enable someone to attend who wouldn’t otherwise be able to.

I have no issue with women asking to be paid for their time and effort to give a speech that hundreds of women are willing to pay for tickets to listen to.

In order to set up a bank account for not-for-profit organisation you have to show the organisations constitution to the bank.
WPUK are not trading, they’re carrying out the activities as defined by what constitution they adopted for the benefit of their members and are therefore of no interest to the HMRC.
Try as people might to disparage them, there is nothing amiss here.

Just out of interest, because of past fears of money laundering etc., I didn't think it possible to open a bank account as an unincorperated association anymore!

I did this very recently. The bank was very happy to help and provide free banking.

This:

In my experience women are often not compensated for speaking so I’m pleased to see WPUK do it on occasion

jj1968, thanks for reminding me. I haven't donated to WPUK this year, so that's another £100 for them.

Have you never been a part of a club or association? You don't pay tax on donations or grants for projects.

Is there any point at which TRAs will drop the wilful ignorance and lies and accept material and HMRC reality?

I'm intrigued to know what tax liability people think WPUK has. No employees so no NICS. No profit so no corporation tax. Presumably WPUK pays VAT on supplier invoices where applicable. No investments or property.

It never stops, does it?

It never stops, and not having the faintest idea what they’re talking about never inhibits these armchair critics from weighing right in 😂

(I mean the smearers)

@Aesopfable

Just out of interest, because of past fears of money laundering etc., I didn't think it possible to open a bank account as an unincorperated association anymore!

I did this very recently. The bank was very happy to help and provide free banking.

Yup. I switched one (community dance org) from Lloyds to Barclays last year. They were very happy to have us (despite not making them any money, because we don’t do anything that incurs fees).

Been running for over a decade and some years have had have a turn over of a similar amount to WPUK. Never made more than 5k profit in a year though, and any individuals/venues paid for services (equivalent of visiting speakers) pay their own taxes, so the government isn’t interested in us.

Anyone familiar with organising community groups will be aware of this kind of structure. Charitable status is a massive and unnecessary ball ache if you aren’t grant chasers.

jj1968

How many organisations trying to evade paying tax publish their income and outgoings statements online and publicly available? Think it through.

Why on earth shouldn't a front line activist get paid for preparing and giving a talk?

I'm impressed at how thrifty WPUK seem to be, they've got some good value for the things they've paid for.

And someone pointed out that they have money in the bank. (aka "profit"). Well that's good, we don't know what's coming next, good that they have money to organise the next part of the campaign/ events when allowed/ legal challenges/ research etc. Should the need for WPUK disappear there seems no end of worthy causes they could donate whatever is left to.

@Deltoids1

In order to set up a bank account for not-for-profit organisation you have to show the organisations constitution to the bank. WPUK are not trading, they’re carrying out the activities as defined by what constitution they adopted for the benefit of their members and are therefore of no interest to the HMRC. Try as people might to disparage them, there is nothing amiss here.

£50,000 in ticket sales sounds a lot like trading to me.

@AlwaysTawnyOwl

jj1968

How many organisations trying to evade paying tax publish their income and outgoings statements online and publicly available? Think it through.

I don't think they are trying to evade taxes. I think they are trying to evade accountability by not having named directors/trustees.

Jj you are an embarrassment.
Honestly I feel quite sorry for you.

"Why won't a group that is attacked, threatened with violence and called fascists list the details of their team so it is easier to attack, threaten with violence and call them fascists as individuals?".

evade accountability ???

I was very happy to pay for a ticket to one of their events, and I'm very happy for their speakers to be paid.

@jj1968

Wow, that's quite a turnover for an unconstituted organisation that's clearly trading. I wonder how they are registered with HMRC when they don't seem to have any formal structure.

And when you see proof that they are... what will you sling at them next?

Pshaw!

And when you see proof that they are... what will you sling at them next?

They probably kick puppies and kittens or sumfink...