Quorum

Quorum is one of those governance words that only matters when it goes wrong — at which point it matters a lot. If a board or members’ meeting is not quorate, the decisions it makes can be challenged or treated as invalid, which is a serious problem for something like approving accounts.

A charity’s quorum is set in its governing document, and decisions taken when fewer than the required number are present may be invalid. (Source: GOV.UK, Charity Commission guidance on trustee decision-making; your charity’s governing document, accessed 9 July 2026.) Quorums are often written as a fixed number or a proportion of trustees, whichever is greater.

Watch the interaction with conflicts of interest: a trustee who withdraws may not count towards the quorum for that item. Plan agendas accordingly, and see the Trustee & Governance Handbook.