CONSTITUTION

• To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the public, living in Leicester, Leicestershire, and the East Midlands Region. (‘the Beneficiaries)
• To improve the quality of life of the Beneficiaries by providing educational, economic, sport, social and cultural activities to enable the Beneficiaries to develop their natural talents and resources better and to contribute to the improvement of the East Midlands.

Powers

• Promote and carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out feasibility studies, research, surveys, evaluations, and investigations and publish the results thereof
• Arrange and provide for or join in arranging and providing for the holding of exhibitions, meetings, lectures, seminars and training courses
• Collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the aims and objectives and exchange such information with other bodies having similar purposes
• Procure to be written and print, publish, issue and circulate gratuitously or otherwise, such papers, books, periodicals, pamphlets or other documents or films as shall further the aims and objectives.
• Open bank accounts and take out standing orders, etc relevant to running the organisation.
• To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Management Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law
• To buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the aims and objectives and to maintain and equip it for use
• To employ staff to achieve the aims and objectives
• To co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice to them
• To establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects
• To do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects

Membership

• Membership shall be open to all who support the interests of the Group subject to ratification by the Management Committee. No person shall be denied membership of the organisation on the grounds of race, sex, disability, religion or sexual orientation
• In the event of membership being refused a person has the right to meet with the Management Committee to put forward their case. The decision of the Management Committee is final
• The membership will be set annually at each Annual General Meeting
• The Management Committee may by unanimous vote and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual – provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Management Committee before a final decision is made

Honorary Officers

Management Committee

• The Management Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) members nor more than nine (9) members including the honorary officers. If the committee wish to have more than nine (9) the power of co-option may be used
• A committee member is deemed to have vacated their office if they have failed to attend three (3) consecutive meetings without giving prior apologies, or if they have been removed on grounds by a vote of 70% of the management committee, provided always that they have had the opportunity to present their case prior to that vote.
• The Management Committee shall hold at least four (4) meetings each year. Any special meetings shall be called at any time by the Chairperson or by any two (2) members of the Management Committee upon not less than seven (7) days notice being given to other members of the Management Committee
• There shall be a quorum when at least three members of the Management Committee are present at the meeting
• Voting will be by a simple majority on the show of hands. In the event of an equality of votes the chairperson will have a second or casting vote
• At every AGM, one third of the Management Committee, or if their number is not a multiple of three (3), the number nearest one-third shall retire from the office
• The members of the management Committee who retire shall be those who have been longest in office since their election. A retired members shall be eligible for re-election

Annual General Meeting

• There shall be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at least once every year
• The Management Committee shall call every AGM. The Secretary shall give at least 21 days notice of the AGM to the members in writing
• The Management Committee shall present to each AGM the reports and accounts for the previous year
• Nominations for election to the Management Committee shall be in writing to the Secretary. Should nominations exceed vacancies, elections shall be by ballot
• There shall be a quorum when there are at least 25% members present
• If there is no quorum the meeting shall be adjourned for one (1) week to re-convene when those present shall be recognised as a quorum
• Other than those specified here-within items shall be passed by simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson will have a second or casting vote.

Special General Meeting

Accounts

• The funds of the group including all donations, contributions and bequests shall be paid into an account operated by the Management Committee. All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two (2) members of the Management Committee
• The funds belonging to the group shall be applied only to further the aims and objectives

Notices

Alterations to the Constitution

Dissolution