YHAgroup.org.uk

A Model Constitution

All newly established Local Groups are required to adopt a constitution and Groups are required to affiliate annually with the Association (at no charge). Below is a copy of the Model Constitution which should be adopted at an early stage by any new Group.

A Model Constitution for YHA Local Groups

1. Name

The name of the club is “_____________”.

2. Object

The object of the club shall be to:

  1. Organise a regular programme of activities.
  2. Undertake any other activities to further the objects of the club.

3. Membership

  1. Membership of the club shall be open to anyone interested in the activities and purpose of the group on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.
  2. The committee shall maintain a list of members.
  3. The Committee shall have the right to refuse, expel or suspend any person from membership of the Group at any time without stating a reason. Any such person shall have the right of appeal to the Group at an Extraordinary General Meeting called in accordance with clause 5.

4. Annual General Meeting

  1. An Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held each calendar year. The committee shall give 21 days notice of the date, time and place of the meeting to the club.
  2. The Annual General Meeting shall:
    1. Receive the Statement of Accounts
    2. Elect a Committee to hold office during the period up to the end of the next Annual General Meeting
    3. Appoint Auditors
    4. Discuss any other business connected with the affairs of the club

5. Extraordinary General Meeting

  1. An Extraordinary General Meeting of the club may be requested in writing by a quarter of the members of the group, or may be called by the Committee.
  2. In either case, the Committee shall give at least 21 days notice of the purpose, date, time and place of the meeting to the club.

6. Management

  1. The Committee shall comprise a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and such other members that Annual General Meeting agrees from time to time.
  2. The committee may fill vacancies in the membership of the committee, occurring during the year.
  3. The Committee shall be responsible for the management of the club.

7. Finance

  1. The funds of the club shall be derived from such sources as determined from time to time by the club at a General Meeting, from which funds allocations shall be made on such bases as may be approved from time to time by the club.
  2. It is deemed to be a term of every contract entered into that the funds of the club are liable only for debts, obligations or engagements incurred or entered into with the approval of the club. The committee of any members of the committee, or by a General Meeting, shall approve allocations form the funds of the club up to such limits as agreed by a General Meeting from time to time.
  3. The treasurer shall maintain a proper record of income and expenditure. The auditors appointed by the Annual General Meeting shall audit these accounts each calendar year.
  4. The funds of the club shall be held only in the name of the club.

8. Amendment of Constitution

The Constitution may be varied or amended from time to time.

9. Dissolution of the Club

  1. The club may be dissolved by a resolution of not less than three-quarters of the members of the club present and voting at a General Meeting of the club called for that purpose.
  2. In the event of the dissolution of the club any assets remaining after all liabilities have been met shall be passed to a registered charity or charities agreed by those members attending and voting at the dissolution meeting.