1 Name
The charity’s
name is Hill and Valley Area Community
Enterprise [HaVACE ]
2 The purposes of the
charity are:-
In the Hill and Valley Area being the area
currently comprising the ecclesiastical parishes of Hurstbourne Priors Longparish
St Mary Bourne and Woodcott
(1) to promote,
support and assist community enterprise and community entrepreneurial activity
(2) to
encourage the goodwill and involvement health and well being of the wider
community
(3) to foster community spirit and encourage civil
pride in a benevolent and charitable manner
by working together as residents of the area irrespective of
age, sex, ethnicity, ability, religion or political views
3 Trustees
The charity shall be managed by a
committee of trustees who are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of
the charity.
4 Carrying out the purposes
In order to
carry out the charitable purposes, the trustees have the power to;
(1) raise funds, receive grants and donations
(2) apply funds to carry out the work of the charity
(3) co-operate with and support other charities with similar purposes
(4) do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes
5 Membership
The charity
shall have a membership. People who support the work of the charity and are
aged 18 or over, can apply to the trustees to become a member. Once accepted by
the trustees, membership lasts for 3 years and may be renewed. The trustees
will keep an up-to-date membership list.
The
trustees may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best
interests of the charity. The member has the right to be heard by the trustees
before the decision is made and can be accompanied by a friend.
6 Annual General Meeting -
AGM
(1) The AGM must be held
every year, with 14 days notice given to all members telling them what is on
the agenda. Minutes must be kept of the AGM.
(2) There must be at least four
members present at the AGM.
(3) Every member has one
vote.
(4) The trustees shall
present the annual report and accounts.
(5) Any member may stand for election as a
trustee.
(6) Members shall elect between 3 and 10
trustees to serve for the next year. They will retire at the next AGM but may
stand for re-election.
7 Trustee meetings
(1) Trustees must hold at
least 3 meetings each year. At their first meeting after the AGM they will
elect a chair, treasurer and secretary. Trustees may act by majority decision.
(2) At least 3 trustees must
be present at the meeting to be able to take decisions. Minutes shall be kept
for every meeting.
(3) If trustees have a
conflict of interest they must declare it and leave the meeting while this
matter is being discussed or decided.
(4) During the year, the
trustees may appoint up to 2 additional trustees. They will stand down at the
next AGM.
(5) The trustees may make
reasonable additional rules to help run the charity. These rules must not
conflict with this constitution or the law.
8 Money and property
(1) Money and property must
only be used for the charity’s purposes.
(2) Trustees must keep
accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anybody on request.
(3) Trustees cannot receive
any money or property from the charity, except to refund reasonable out of
pocket expenses.
(4) Money must be held in
the charity’s bank account. All cheques must be signed by 2 trustees.
9 General meetings
If the Trustees
consider it is necessary to change the constitution, or wind up the charity,
they must call a General Meeting so that the membership can make the decision.
Trustees must also call a General Meeting if they receive a written request
from the majority of members. All members must be given 14 days notice and told
the reason for the meeting. All decisions require a two thirds majority.
Minutes must be kept.
(1) Winding up - any money or property remaining after payment of debts
must be given to a charity with similar purposes to this one in the same area.
(2) Changes to the Constitution - can be made at AGMs or General
Meetings. No change can be made that would make the organisation no longer a
charity.
(3) General Meeting - called on written request from a majority of
members.
(4) Trustees may also call a
General Meeting to consult the
membership
10 Setting up the charity
This constitution was adopted on 12th October 2011 by the people whose signatures are registered on the original document. They are the first
members of the charity and will be the trustees until the AGM, which must be
held within one year of this date.
