Further consultation on proposed change to the objects of the charity

Further to the consultation published earlier in 2025, the Trustees of Salford Lads and Girls Club are seeking the views of anyone with an interest in the Club on their proposals to amend the objects of the charity to reflect modern day circumstances and the ways in which the charity has evolved over the years.

Since the previous consultation, the Charity Commission for England and Wales has indicated that it could provide consent to amend the objects of the charity to the following:

1. To advance in life and relieve needs of young people through the provision of support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to realise their full potential and participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.
2. To promote the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving conditions of life.
3. For the benefit of the public, to preserve, repair and maintain Salford Lads and Girls Club as a building of historical importance and architectural value, and to educate the public about the history and heritage of the club by establishing and maintaining a museum on the site.

The second and third objects are to be carried out only so far as they do not undermine the charity’s primary object: to advance in life and relieve needs of young people.

Background

The current objects of the charity date back to 1903 and are worded to reflect the culture and society of over a century ago. Therefore, the objects need to be updated, which requires the consent of the Charity Commission.

The first of the proposed new objects reflects the original purpose for which the charity was established in 1903 – to be a youth club. It is the way the charitable objects of youth clubs are written nowadays. You can compare this with the original, rather archaic wording below.

The second of the proposed objects seeks to recognise that some users of the club’s facilities are local community and voluntary groups who support the wider community – not only young people – in a manner very similar to that of a community centre. This reflects the wider importance of the club in Salford and its links in supporting the community at large. The proposed object follows how charitable objects for community centres are usually written.

The third of the proposed objects reflects the importance of the heritage of the charity, the building and its history, including its connections with the popular music scene in Salford and Greater Manchester. Since 1903, the listed building has become one of the city’s most iconic buildings. It is thought to be the most complete example of this rare form of social provision to survive in England.

The Club’s rich heritage equally encompasses its central role in the history of the city and in the folklore and history of popular music, through close associations with The Smiths and Morrissey and other acts. The Club featured in a photograph on the inside sleeve of the 1986 Smiths album “The Queen Is Dead”. As well as being a vibrant youth club, the building has become a visitor attraction, with thousands of visitors from across the world who come every year to see the club’s archives and memorabilia.

The trustees want to ensure that the charity’s purposes embrace and protect this important heritage, safeguarding the building as a club for many more generations of young people and the wider community in Salford – and a heritage site for all.

The Trustees are confident that the proposed new charitable objects will in no way interfere with the operation of the site as a youth club or with the services the charity provides for the young people of Salford.

The only change since the previous consultation is that the words at the end have been added at the request of the Charity Commission to ensure that the charity can only carry out the second and third objects if doing so would not undermine the first object, which is identified as the primary object of the charity.

Have your say

Before the trustees can change the objects, they are again inviting views on their proposal from anyone with an interest in the Club.

If you have any comments on the proposed new objects, please send them by email to comms@salfordladslcub.org.uk by Friday 22nd August, letting us know who you are and what your interest is in the Club.

Original 1903 objects of the charity

The object of the institution shall be to promote the welfare of poor and working boys, [girls]* and young men, more especially between the ages of 13 – 18 years in the following ways:

• by promoting various forms of recreation and particularly the practice of gymnastic exercises and drilling and all athletic games and exercises and physical culture in every form;
• by providing rooms for reading and quiet games and providing books, periodicals, journals, newspapers, chess and draughts and other games of an instructive and innocent character;
• by providing practical instruction in any useful handicrafts which the Committee may from time to time deem suitable;
• by providing instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, shorthand, bookkeeping and any other branches of education that the Committee may from time to time deem suitable;
• by forming classes for cultivation of music both instrumental and vocal and providing such instruction therein as the Committee may from time to time deem suitable;
• by providing moral and religious instruction of a Christian character to be given by such means and in such manner as the Committee shall decide, but only with the consent of the Trustees;
• by holding concerts, entertainments and lectures;
• by providing a Savings Bank for the use of those resorting to and using the Institution;
• by doing all things (whether of the character or nature before specified or not) which may be in any way conducive to the furtherance and attainment of the objects of the Institution.

*[Girls were added to the objects in August 1998]