IPSWICH OPPORTUNITY GROUP Reg. Charity No.1012778
CONSTITUTION FOR IPSWICH OPPORTUNITY GROUP
Adopted July 1992 Amended March 2009
- NAME
The name of the Group shall be the “Ipswich Opportunity Group”, hereinafter called “the Group”.
- OBJECTS
The Group is established to advance the education of pre-school age children who have special needs by reason of their additional need particularly by the provision of safe and satisfying group play facilities.
a) run a playgroup enabling children with additional needs to mix with their peer group. b) foster mutual help and co-operation between the parents and/or carers of children with additional needs.
c) raise adequate funds for the achievement of the foregoing objects and invite and receive contributions from any persons by way of subscriptions, donations and otherwise, provided that the Group shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for its charitable objects.
d) hire premises, provide equipment, engage staff, admit children and require such payments to be charged as are referred to below (in clause 7).
e) expend money received from any source.
f) to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of such objects.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Group shall be open to all parents or guardians of children currently or previously on the attendance register of the Group’s playgroup, and to other individuals interested in and sharing the aims and objectives of the Group. Such membership shall be irrespective of political party, nationality, religious opinion, sex, sexual orientation, race, or colour.
Membership shall also be available to voluntary organisations interested in or sharing the same aims and objectives; such membership shall be offered to one representative from each organization.
Members of the Group shall be entitled to attend, and to vote, at General Meetings of the Group.
A register of members shall be maintained.
4. MANAGEMENT
The management of the Group shall be vested in the Committee, which shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, and shall consist of the principal Officers, (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) and no less than 4 and no more than 9 other members. There shall be provision for additional (supplementary) Officer posts, as required, appointed by and from the Committee.
The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy on the Committee, by appointment of a replacement from within the membership of the Group, and it shall also have the power to co-opt up to 3 further Committee members with special knowledge, experience, or interest appropriate to furtherance of the aims and objectives of the Group.
All Committee members shall vacate office at the A.G.M., but may then offer themselves for re-election.
No Officer may be elected for a sixth consecutive year in the same post.
The Committee additionally shall be required to invite on to the Committee:
a) a Representative of the local Social Care Department, and
b) Representatives of other statutory organisations as required, and as agreed by a General Meeting of the Group. Such Representatives shall be non-voting.
The Quorum for the Committee shall be 5.
The Committee shall meet not less than 3 times a year.
5. GENERAL MEETINGS
a) The Annual General Meeting, (A.G.M.) shall be held once in each calendar year, and not longer than 15 months after the previous A.G.M. The business shall include:
i) Receipt of the Chairperson’s Report, (and of Reports from other Officers or Staff where appropriate).
ii) Receipt of the Treasurer’s Report, and consideration for approval of the audited Statement of Accounts of the Group for the preceding financial year.
iii) The appointment of an independent Auditor.
iv) The election of the Officers and the Committee Members, and notice of the named Representatives referred to in clause (4).
v) Consideration of any other business notified in the Agenda for the meeting.
b) An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called by the Chairperson, to take place no later than 28 days hence, if requested by the Committee or if demanded in writing by at least 10 members of the Group. Such written demand must specify the business to be included on the agenda.
c) Members shall be given at least 14 days notice of any General Meeting; such notice must be accompanied by the agenda for that meeting.
d) The Quorum for any General Meeting of the Group shall be 10 members, or one-tenth of current membership, whichever is the greater.
6. VOTING AND MINUTES
Voting at all meetings shall be by a show of hands, unless otherwise directed by the Chairperson, and motions shall be carried by a simple majority of those present and voting, (except for Dissolution, and Changes to the Constitution – see Clauses 8 and 9).
In the event of an equal number of votes for and against a motion the Chairperson will be entitled to a second or casting vote.
Votes by proxy may be provided, and shall be accepted only if written authority is lodged with the Secretary prior to the commencement of the meeting at which they are to be used
Minutes shall be kept of all meetings.
7. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Committee may refer any part of its business to a sub-committee or working party, at least 75% of the membership of which shall be Group members; provided that all proceedings of such sub-committees are reported back to the Committee fully and promptly. The Group’s Officers shall be ex-officio members of such sub-committees or working parties.
The day to day business of the Group shall be conducted by the Officers, on behalf of, and responsible to the Committee. In extreme cases the Chairperson shall be empowered to take action on behalf of the Officers but shall in each case report the use of such action to the Committee.
The Treasurer shall keep proper records of all income and expenditure, and shall provide a financial report to each committee meeting, and as required by the Chairperson. The Treasurer shall prepare, and submit for audit, an annual Statement of Accounts at the end of each financial year.
The Committee shall have the power to raise, hold and dispose of funds, within the terms of the objects of the Group, and to appoint, dismiss, and fix the remuneration of such staff as in its opinion may be necessary.
No Officer or Committee Member shall receive either directly or indirectly any payment for services rendered to the Group, other than for reasonable, out of pocket expenses legitimately incurred in the execution of his/her duties as an Officer or Committee Member.
The Committee shall have the power to open a bank account, and to authorise signatories. Withdrawals of any kind must be signed by at least two of the authorised signatories, who must be members of the Committee.
The Committee shall have the power to fix and to revise fees charged, for attendance at the playgroup, or for other activities.
8. DISSOLUTION
The Group may be dissolved by a Resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days’ notice shall have been given (to the members). Such resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Group, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Group but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Group as the Group may determine and if and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision then to some other charitable purpose.
9. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Alterations to this Constitution shall receive the assent of two-thirds of the members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. A resolution for the alteration of the Constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Group at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least 14 days’ notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed.
Provided that no alteration to clause 2 (Objects), clause 8 (Dissolution), or this clause shall take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained; and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Group to cease to be a charity in law.