Volunteer Centre Constitution
 - True worth never fails -

1          NAME OF THE ORGANISATION

The name of the organisation shall be Failsworth Volunteer Centre.

2          AIMS OF THE ORGANISATION

a.       To promote the interests of the residents and community groups in Failsworth.

b.       To provide advice, support and facilities to local groups to enable them to carry out their aims and activities effectively.

c.       To manage a community building for the benefit of the community.

d.       To act a central resource hub for local community groups.

e.       To improve the recreational and environmental facilities affecting the residents.

f.         To liaise with the council and the police (and other agencies) on matters affecting the residents.

3          STANDARD MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all constituted community groups in Failsworth, Woodhouses and Daisy Nook.

Membership will also be open to agencies and organisations whose work benefits the people of Failsworth, Woodhouses and Daisy Nook.

The management committee reserve the right to refuse or cancel membership.

Membership will be open regardless of nationality, political party, race, gender, or religious opinions.

Standard Members of the Failsworth Volunteer will not be entitled to appoint a representative to sit on the Management Committee, or vote at such meetings.

4          MEMBERSHIP FEE/SUBSCRIPTION

Members shall pay an annual association fee of £15.

Membership fees are payable annually in advance.

Relief will be given to community groups on low incomes or those finding difficulty to pay, subject to the discretion of the committee.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Community groups who are members of the Failsworth Volunteer Centre will be entitled to free use of the building and it’s office facilities such as photocopier, binders, laminators and internet ready PC’s.

Community groups will also be entitled to use the meeting room via a booking facility.

All free use will be subject to a fair use policy.

5          ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to all constituted community groups in Failsworth, Woodhouses and Daisy Nook.

Membership will also be open to agencies and organisations whose work benefits the people of Failsworth, Woodhouses and Daisy Nook.
The management committee reserve the right to refuse or cancel membership.

Membership will be open regardless of nationality, political party, race, gender, or religious opinions.

MEMBERSHIP FEE/SUBSCRIPTION
 

Associate Members shall pay an annual association fee of £365.

Association fees are payable quarterly in advance.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Community groups who are associate members of the Failsworth Volunteer Centre will be entitled to the use of an office with sole access to their group.

Associate groups will also be entitled to use the general office facilities without additional charge.

All free use will be subject to a fair use policy.

The association fee will cover all reasonable expenditure in the running of the building.

Use of the an office will be let by way of a written agreement and will include restrictions of the use of the building which will include; use for political, religious or commercial activities, and any use which would compromise the Failsworth Volunteer Centre being charitable by law.

6          THE COMMITTEE

a.       Committee shall be elected to carry out the business of the Volunteer Centre.

b.       The committee shall be made up of a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and 2 general members which will be drawn from the Associate Membership.

c.       The committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Vacancies arising through the year can be filled by elections at General Meetings.

d.       Officers shall carry out the duties given to them at General Meetings.

e.       The committee shall meet once, bi-monthly and no less than 3 times per year.

f.         Minutes of committee meetings shall be available to all members.

g.       The committee can introduce or appoint new members as required.

7          ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

a.       There shall be an Annual General Meeting held every year at which the committee will report on its work, present a statement of accounts and stand down to seek re-election.

b.       The AGM shall elect a new committee, vote on recommendations and any amendments to the constitution.

c.       The secretary will notify all committee members of the date of the meeting not less than 14 days before the AGM.

8          OTHER GENERAL MEETINGS

a.       There will be a General Meeting open to all members when required to discuss particular issues.

b.       A Special General Meeting open to all members will be held if 4 or more members submit in writing a request for such a meeting to the secretary. The secretary shall arrange for the meeting to take place within 14 days.

c.       The secretary will publicise all General Meetings at least 5 days in advance.

9          QUORUM

No General Meeting or Annual General Meeting shall take place if less than 3 members are present. No committee meeting shall take place if less than 3 members of the committee are present.

10         DECLARATION OF INTEREST

It shall be the duty of every member who is in any way directly or indirectly interested financially or professionally in any item discussed at any meeting of the Trust  (including any meeting of any Committee or Sub-committee) at which he or she may be present to declare such interest and he or she shall not discuss that item (except by invitation of the Chairman) or vote of thereon.

11         SUB-COMMITTEES

The Committee may constitute such Sub-committees from time to time as shall be considered necessary for such purposes as shall be thought fit. The Chairman and Secretary of each Sub-committee shall be reported to and be confirmed by the Committee as soon as possible. Members of the Committee may be members of any Sub-committee. The Sub-Committees shall be subordinated to and may be regulated or dissolved by the Committee.

12         EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION AND APPLICATION OF FUNDS

The Committee shall, out of the monies received by the Trust, pay all proper expenses of administration and management or of the Trust. After the payment of the administration and management expenses and the setting aside to reserve of such sums as may be deemed expedient, the remaining funds of the Trust shall be applied by the Committee in furtherance of the purposes of the Trust.  No other payment shall be made in excess of, either £500, or

one third of the current assets of the Trust, whichever is the lesser, without the consent of a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at the relevant Special General Meeting

13         INVESTMENT

All monies at any time belonging to the Trust and not required for immediate application for its purposes shall be invested by the Committee in or upon such investment, securities or property as it may think fit, subject nevertheless, where appropriate, to such authority, approval or consent by the Charity Commissioners as may for the time being be required by law or by the special trusts affecting any property in the hands of the Committee.

14         TRUSTEES

Any freehold and leasehold property acquired by the Trust shall, and if the Committee so directs, any other property belonging to the Trust, may be vested in trustees who shall deal with such property as the Committee may from time to time direct. Any trustees shall be at least three in number or a trust corporation.

Those members of the Management Committee who hold the following posts, will automatically become trustees; Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.

Trustees must

• Act in the interests of the group.
• Ensure the group does not act outside the law or charity guidelines.
• Ensure that the group is managed well

Trustees will also

• Be signatories of the groups Bank Account

15         TRUST PROPERTY

Trustees will ensure that the following property is managed and maintained;

1 Ashton Road West, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 0EQ

Trustees will also be responsible for negotiating land leases with Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council.

16         ACCOUNTS

The committee shall comply where appropriate, with their legal obligations under the Charities Act 1993  (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to:

(1)           the keeping of accounting records for the Trust;

(2)           the preparation of the annual statements for the Trust;

(3)           the auditing and independent examination of these statements of account of the Trust; and

(4)           the transmission of the statements of account of the Trust to the Charity Commission.

17         ANNUAL REPORT

The Committee shall comply, where appropriate, with their legal obligations under the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the Charity Commission.

18         CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

a.       The constitution can be altered at an AGM, or any meeting convened for the purpose of amending the constitution.

b.       Any suggested changes must be handed to the secretary 14 days before the AGM.

c.       Changes must be agreed by two thirds of the members present at the meeting.

19         DISSOLUTION

a.       The Volunteer Centre may only be dissolved at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose and must be advertised 14 days before the meeting.

b.       A proposal to dissolve the association shall take effect only if agreed by two thirds of the members present at the meeting.

c.       Funds and possessions will be disposed of according to the wishes of the meeting.

d.       The building will be donated to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, to be used for the benefit of the people of Failsworth.

e.       The lease on the land will be ended with the council.

20         AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

An association can amend their constitution at the Annual General Meeting or a special meeting. To make such changes two thirds of the association’s members should be present.

21         EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY

The association must actively seek to represent the needs and aspirations of all residents in the area represented. It must up-hold equal opportunities and work for good relations among all members of the community.

The association must not discriminate on the grounds of age, nationality, political opinion, ethnic and cultural background, religious opinion, gender, sexuality or disability.

Formally adopted in November 2006 and signed by J. McMahon, Chairman.