The Way Forward

The three charities which between them have for many years been involved with Highgate Cemetery have become one. Trustees of The Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust (FoHCT), the Highgate Cemetery Trust (HCT) and the Highgate Cemetery Charity (HCC) met regularly following FoHCT’s AGM in April 2009 to consider bringing together the governance and management of the Cemetery under a single charity. Such a move would not only secure ownership of the Cemetery land; it would consolidate the human and financial resources of all three charities in the Cemetery’s best interests.

Throughout their discussions, the three sets of trustees enjoyed the sound advice and invaluable oversight of the Charity Commission, who in effect generated the whole process when they expressed their view that -

"...a single charity (at Highgate Cemetery) is more likely to deliver a coherent programme for the management of charitable activity consistent with the effective use of resources.”

More recently, the trustees employed a top legal firm specialising in charity law to draft the various resolutions and terms which would lead to FoHCT becoming the only charity responsible for all aspects of the Cemetery.

Ultimately, any proposed changes needed to be approved by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery who, since 1975, have worked tirelessly to keep the Cemetery open. Resolutions effecting the necessary changes were put to them in March 2010, and the resulting ballot approved the proposed merger, with more than 98% of the votes cast in favour.

Tom Richardson
Chair of FoHCT