Royals Constitution
Adopted at a first meeting held on 8th November, 1993.
1. NAME
The name of the organisation is the Rainham Organisers for Youth Activity Leaders (hereinafter called “ROYALS”).
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The objects of the ROYALS shall be for the benefit of children and young persons in the Rainham Parish in the London Borough of Havering by providing or assisting in the provision of recreational activities and facilities (both outdoor and indoor) so as to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities and so that they grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and so that their conditions of life may be improved.
2(i) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire a site in Rainham and erect an all purpose building dedicated to the principal objects or ROYALS and acquire any rights and privileges necessary for the promotion of the said buildings or erections necessary for the work of the ROYALS.
2(ii) to establish branches in Rainham.
2(iii) To bring together in conference representatives of voluntary organisations. Government departments, statutory authorities and individuals.
2(iv) To promote and carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out research, surveyors and investigations and publish the useful results thereof.
2(v) To arrange and provide for or join in arranging and providing for the holding or exhibitions, meeting, lectures, classes, seminars and training courses.
2(vi) To collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the said objects and exchange such information with other bodies having similar objections whether in this country or overseas.
2(vii) To undertake, execute, manage or assist in any charitable trusts which may lawfully be undertaken, executed managed or assisted by the ROYALS.
2(viii) To cause to be written and printed or otherwise reproduces and circulated, gratuitously or otherwise, such papers, books, periodicals, pamphlets or other documents or films or recorded tapes (whether audio or visual or both) as shall further the said objects.
2(ix) To employ and pay any person or persons to supervise, organise and carry on the work of the ROYALS and make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation to or on behalf of employees and their widows and other dependants.
2 (x) To make regulations for any property which may be so acquired.
2 (xi) Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to sell, let, mortgage, dispose of or turn to account all or any of the property or assets of the ROYALS.
2 (xii) Subject to such consents as may be required by law, to borrow or raise money for the said objects and accept gifts on such terms and on such security as shall be deemed to be necessary.
2(xiii)To raise funds and invite and receive contributions and otherwise provided that the ROYALS shall not undertake permanent activities in raising funds for the said objects.
2(xiv) To invest the moneys of the ROYALS not immediately required for the said objects in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject nevertheless to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law
2(xv) To do all such other lawful things as is necessary for the attainment of the said objects.
3 MEMBERSHIP
(i) Membership of the charity shall be open to any person over the age of 18 years interested in furthering the objects and who has paid the annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee.
(ii) Every member shall have one vote.
(iii) The Executive Committee may be 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 Executive Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.
(iv) Junior membership shall be open to those under the age of 18 years who are interested in furthering the work of the ROYALS. Junior members shall not be entitled to vote.
4 PARTICIPANTS
Participation will be invited from young people who are normally resident or attend school within the London Borough of Havering and have not reached the age of 18 years. They will be selected for whatever reason is considered necessary. This age limit can be extended at the discretion of the Trustees up to an upper age limited of 18 years or 25 years. Police Officers will also have the right to introduce youths to the scheme at their discretion.
5 HONORARY OFFICERS
(i) At the Annual General Meeting hereinafter mentioned the ROYALS shall elect a Chair, and Vice-Chair, a Treasurer and Secretary and such other Honorary Officers as the ROYALS shall from time to time decide.
(ii) The Chair and the Honorary Officers of the ROYALS shall hold office until the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the ROYALS next after their election but shall be eligible for re-election PROVIDED THAT no Honorary Officer shall hold office for more than five consecutive years. On the expiration of such period three further years must elapse before any former Honorary Officer shall be eligible for re-election to the same post.
(iii) The Chair and the Honorary Officers shall be ex officio members of the said Executive Committee and of any other Committee.
(iv) The ROYALS shall appoint one or more auditors and may determine their remuneration (if any).
6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(i) Subject as hereinafter mentioned the policy and general management of the affairs of the ROYALS shall be directed by an Executive Committee (hereinafter called “the Committee) which shall meet not less than five times a year and when complete shall consist of not less than eight or more than twelve members including officers by excluding co-opted members.
(ii) The members of the Committee shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting of the ROYALS< Clause 6 hereof.
(iii) Election to the Committee shall be for one year. One third of the membership shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election, the members so to retire being those who have been longest in office since the last election but not reckoning ex officio members. As between members who have been in office the same length of time, those due to retire shall be chosen by lot.
(iv) In addition to the member so elected and to those servicing by virtue of Clause 4 (iii) hereof the Committee may co-opt up to 6 further members who shall serve until the conclusion of the new Annual General Meeting after individual co-option PROVIDED THAT the number of co-opted members shall not exceed one-third of the total membership of the Committee at the time of co-option. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Committee.
(v) Any casual vacancy in the Committee may be filled up by the Committee and any person appointed to fill such casual vacancy shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting and shall be eligible for election at the Meeting.
(vi) The proceedings of the Committee shall not be invalidated by any failure to elect or any defecting the election, appointment, co-option or qualification of any member.
(vii) The Committee shall appoint and fix the remuneration of staff (not being members of the Committee) as may in their opinion be necessary.
(viii) The Committee may appoint such special or standing Committees as may be deemed necessary by the Committee and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceeding of such special or standing Committee shall be reported back to the Committee fully and promptly.
7 MEETING OF THE ROYALS
(i) The first Annual General Meeting of the ROYALS shall be held not later than the 30th September, 1992 and one once in each year thereafter an Annual General Meeting of the ROYALS shall be held at such time (not being more than 15 months after the holding of the preceding Annual General Meeting) and place as the Committee shall determine. At least 21 clear days notice shall be given in writing by the chair to each member. At such Annual General Meeting the business shall include the election of Honorary Officers; the election of full members to serve on the Committee; the appointment of an auditor or auditors; the consideration of an annual report of the work done by or under the auspices of the Committee and of the audited accounts; and the transaction of such other matters as may from time to time be necessary.
(ii) Special General Meeting
This may be summoned at any time upon the request of the Chair of the ROYALS or by at least one third of the other members of the ROYALS. At least 21 days notice of this meeting shall be given by letter to all enrolled members of the ROYALS giving reasons for the request.
8. NOMINATIONS OF HONORARY OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Only full members of the ROYALS shall be eligible to serve as Honorary Officers or members of the Committee. Nominations for Honorary Officers or members of the Committee must be made by full members of the organisation in writing and must be in the hands of the Chair 21 days before the Annual General Meeting.
9. RULES OF PROCEDURE AT ALL MEETINGS
(i) Quorum
The Quorum at a meeting of the ROYALS shall be one third total actual membership of the ROYALS. The quorum at a meeting of the Committee or any Committees appointed under Clause 5 thereof shall be one third of the membership of the Committee. If quorum is not present, the meeting will be adjourned to a later date of which members will be notified.
(ii) Voting
Save as otherwise herein provided, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote thereat. Arrangements for proxy voting may from time to time be made by the Committee PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT no such arrangements shall be made with regard to Clause 10 and 11 hereof. No person shall exercise more than one vote except in case of an equality of votes the Chair of the meeting shall have second or casting vote.
(iii) Minutes
Minute Books shall be kept by the Committee and all other Committees and the appropriate secretary shall enter therein a record of all proceeding and resolutions.
10. FINANCE
(i) All monies raised by or on behalf of the ROYALS shall be applied to further the objectives of the ROYALS and for not other purpose PROVIDED THAT nothing herein contained shall prevent
The payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the ROYALS or the repayment to members of the Committee or of any Committee appointed under Clause 5 (viii) hereof of reasonable out of pocket expenses.
(ii) The Honorary Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the ROYALS.
(iii) The accounts shall be audited at least one a year by the auditor or auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
(iv) An audited statement of the accounts for the last financial year shall be submitted by the Committee to the Annual General Meeting as aforesaid.
(v) A Bank Account shall be opened in the name of the ROYALS with I.E., Plc or with such other bank as the Committee shall from time to time decide. The Committee shall authorise in writing the Treasurer, the Chair or the organisation and two members of the Committee to sign cheques on behalf of the ROYALS. All cheques must be signed by not less than two of the four authorised signatories.
11. ALTERNATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any alteration to this Constitution shall receive the assent of not less than two thirds of the full membership of the ROYALS for the time being attending and voting at a meeting specially called for the purpose PROVIDED THAT notice of any such alteration shall have been received by the Chair in writing not less than 21 clear days before the meeting at which the alteration is to be proposed. At least 14 clear days notice in writing of such a meeting, setting forth the terms of the alteration, shall be sent by the Chair to each member of the ROYALS. No alteration shall be made to Clause 2 or Clause 12 or this Clause without the prior written approval of the Charity Commission and provided further that no alteration shall be made which would cause the ROYALS to cease to be a charity in law.
12. DISSOLUTION
If the Committee by a simple majority decide at any time that on the ground of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the ROYALS it shall call a meeting of all members of the ROYALS who have the power to vote, of which meeting not less than 21 days notice (stating the terms of the Resolution to be proposed thereat) shall be given. If such decision shall be confirmed by two thirds majority of those present and voting at such meeting the Committee shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or on behalf of the ROYALS. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any property debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions as the Committee with the prior written consent of the Charity Commission shall decide
13. NOTICES
Any notice may be served by the Chair on any member either personally or on its appointed representatives as the same may be, or by sending it through the post in a pre-paid letter addressed to such member at his, her or its last known address in the United Kingdom, and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within ten days or posting.
14. INTERPRETATION
For the interpretation of the Constitution, the Interpretation Act 1978 shall apply as it applied to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.