* GCA Constitution - TERMS OF REFERENCE (1994)
Being the democratic mandate of the full membership of the Gregson Community Association as voted on the Annual General Meeting 1994
The membership believes that the Association Committee in its role as the management committee of the Gregson Community Association Ltd. and appointed representative of the members should undertake its responsibilities within the constitution with regard to the following guidelines from this meeting.
1. The committee should be a monitoring, enabling and facilitating committee not a manipulating body i.e. it should direct its energies where possible into encouraging and helping others within the community to further the objects of the charity as per the common effort referred to in clause 2(a) of the constitution.
With respect to this consideration and with reference to clause 6(b) of the constitution the six representatives of the individual members should be appointed where possible to the roles and areas of responsibility described below. Their role where possible should be to liaise with interested parties and groups in specific areas of concern.
It is envisaged that with the exception of the honorary officers that, where appropriate, more than one role might be taken by one committee member or the responsibilities of one role divided amongst two or more committee members.
2.
The committee should encourage the involvement of local organisations/groups/community representatives within the Gregson. A "Local Involvement Officer" should be appointed to oversee this role and as a minimum requirement seek to involve, local religious establishments, local schools and local councilors in the community centre.
3.
The committee should seek to promote the welfare of the local community and a "Local Welfare Officer" should be appointed to oversee this role. Areas including the following should be of concern: Parent&Toddler activities; Senior Citizens; Issues of sexuality: The differently abled; Neighborhood security and fear of crime; Youth activities; Sports; Environmental Issues.
4.
The committee should seek too aid the management of the Gregson Community Centre in a constructive and positive sense whilst upholding their duty to observe and guarantee the correct management of the centre with respect to the constitution and contract as agreed. A Management liaison officer should be appointed with this responsibility for this role.
5.
The committee should seek to raise funds to further the aims and objectives of the charity as well as raising the profile and appreciation of the Gregson within the local community. A fund raising and promotion officer should be responsible for overseeing this role.
6.
The Gregson centre should be an important centre for information exchange for both regular users of the centre and the local community as a whole. An information officer should have responsibility for overseeing such activities e.g. the Gregson Newsletter, regular bulletin board etc.
7.
A proper record of the affairs of the committee is essential and the taking of minutes is demanded be the constitution: the committee should consider having a Minutes Secretary to relieve the Honorary
* GREGSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION
As adopted at the 1994 A.G.M. of the Gregson Community Association and amended by Special General Meetings on 16 May 2000 and 4 March 2001
1.
Name
The name of the association shall be THE GREGSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
2.
Objects
The objects of the association shall be:
(a)
To promote the benefit of inhabitants of the area defined on the attached map (called the "area of benefit") without distinction of race, gender or sexuality, or of political, religious or other opinions by associating the local authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of the social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving conditions of life and the said inhabitants.
(b)
To establish and secure for the future a community centre (hereinafter called the centre) and to maintain and manage the centre or arrange for its maintenance and management by appointing agents such as a Centre Manager for activities promoted by the Association in furtherance of the above objectives.
The Association shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion. The Association shall, at the discretion of the Association Committee, affiliate to the National Federation of Community Organisations and to other organisations with similar charitable objectives.
3.
Membership
Membership of the Association shall be open, irrespective of political party, nationality, religious opinion, race, colour, gender or sexuality to:
(a)
All persons over 18 years of age living in the area of benefit who shall be called Full Members.
(b)
Persons under the age of 18 may be admitted into Junior Membership as and when, and subject to such conditions as the Association Committee may decide.
(c)
Persons over 18 living outside the area of benefit, who shall be called Associate Members.
Associate members shall not exceed thirty per cent of Full Members.
(d)
Local Statutory Authorities, such as voluntary organisations as operate in the area of benefit, and such Sections as may, with the permission of the Association Committee be formed from among the individual members for furtherance of a common activity, shall be eligible to become Group Members and to have the right to appoint one representative of each to the Association Committee (which shall have the power to determine the Constitution, terms of reference and duration of any such Sections).
The Committee may at its discretion confer Honorary Life Membership. Life Members, regardless of area of residence, shall have the rights and privileges of a full member.
Only full members shall have the right to vote at Members' Meetings.
An individual's membership shall commence 48 hours after acceptance of a membership application.
4.
Subscriptions
All members shall each pay such subscriptions as the Association Committee may from time to time determine.
5.
Termination of Membership and Suspension of Membership
The Association Committee shall have the right for good and sufficient reason to terminate the membership of any member. Membership may only be terminated following a vote at an Association Committee meeting. The member shall be notified in advance of any motion to terminate his/her membership and shall have the right to address the Association Committee prior to any vote.
The Association Committee shall also for good and sufficient reasons at its sole discretion have the right to suspend a member for such period as it sees fit.
Any member being barred from the premises by the Licensees shall have their membership and all rights of entry to the Centre suspended automatically for the duration of the ban. The Committee has the right to scrutinise any such ban.
Standards of conduct expected by members may be contained within a code of conduct. The definitions and procedures of any code of conduct will be decided at the discretion of the Association Committee.
6.
Association Committee
(a)
General:
the policy and general management of the affairs of the Association shall be controlled by the Association Committee. The Association Committee may delegate powers of management concerned with daily management of the centre (for example security, cleaning, general maintenance and decoration, bookings, receipt and disbursement of income, opening and closing the centre, publicity of centre activities) to properly appointed agents such as a Centre Manager, provided that these arrangements advance the objectives of the Association, and that the actions and proceedings of those persons to whom the powers of management as aforesaid have been delegated shall be fully and regularly reported to the Association Committee, and that these arrangements do not conflict with the charitable status of the Gregson Community Association, and that those persons appointed as agents as aforesaid shall not incur any expenditure except in accordance with the terms of their contract or budget previously determined by the Association Committee.
(b)
Committee Membership:
(i)
The Association Committee shall consist of the Honorary Offices and six additional representatives of the individual members plus one appointee from each group member established under clause 3(d).
(ii)
If vacancies occur among the Officers or members, the Association Committee shall have the power to fill them from among its own members and those of the Association.
(iii)
In Addition the Association Committee may co-opt further members who shall be members of the association provided that the number of co-opted members shall net exceed one third of the total membership of the committee as defined at clause 6(b).
(c)
Voting rights:
All committee members - elected or co-opted - shall be entitled to vote on all issues at all committee meetings unless excluded under clause 10(a)(iv) or (v).
7.
Honorary Officers
The Annual General Meeting shall elect an Association Chairperson (who shall also be chairman of the Association Committee), a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other Officers as it may from time to time determine. The Officers and committee shall take office immediately following the Chair of the Annual General Meeting declaring the Annual General Meeting closed.
8.
Annual General Meeting
Once in each year, by the end of the month of July, the Association Committee shall convene an Annual General Meeting of the Association for the purpose of receiving the annual report of the Association Committee and the Statement of Accounts ; of electing the Honorary Officers; of electing representatives of individual members to serve on the Association Committee; of appointing auditors; and of voting, whenever necessary, on proposals to amend the Constitution.
9.
Special General Meeting
The Association Chairperson may at any time at his/her discretion, and shall on the instruction of the Association Committee or on receipt of a written request so to do signed by at least twenty full members giving reasons for their request, call a Special General Meeting giving at least 28 days notice and not exceeding 40 days notice for the purpose of altering the constitution (in accordance with clause 14), or for any other purpose.
Notice shall be deemed to have been given when notices are posted on the cafe window, the bar notice board and the general notice board notwithstanding that such notices may have been subsequently removed by unauthorised persons).
10.
Rules of Procedure
(a)
Voting
(i)
Subject to the provision of clause 14 and excepting questions arising to the dismissal of a paid employee or employees or the Association, all questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and voting. In the case of a question arising as to the dismissal of a paid employee or employees of the Association the question shall be decided by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
(ii)
For the purposes of this constitution persons abstaining in any vote shall be deemed to be present and not voting.
(iii)
No person shall have more than one vote notwithstanding that he/she may represent more than one interest.
(iv)
The Chairperson shall not be entitled to vote save in the case of an equality of vote when he/she will have a casting vote.
(v)
Any permanent employee of the Association shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting. Any person who may be employed from time to time by the Association on a casual or fixed term basis shall not be entitled to vote on any matter from which he/she may derive financial benefit or might in some way affect the Terms and Conditions of their employment.
(b)
Quorum
One third of the members shall form a quorum at meetings of the Association Committees and all other committees. Twenty five members or one third of the members, whichever is less, shall form a quorum at General Meetings of the Association.
(c)
Minutes
Minutes shall be kept by the Association, the Association Committee and all other committees and the Secretary shall be responsible for recording all other proceedings and resolutions.
11.
Finance
All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purpose.
The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association and shall maintain bank accounts in the name of the Association. Withdrawals from accounts shall require for authorisation the signatures of the treasurer and one other Honorary Officer.
The Accounts shall be audited at least once a year by a qualified auditor, and shall be available for inspection by the members and secured creditors of the Association.
12.
Trust Property
The title to all real or personal property which may be acquired by the Association shall be vested in a Corporation lawfully entitled to act as Custodian Trustee or in not less than three and not more than six individuals (not being members of the Association Committee). The trustees may when authorised by thereto by the Association Committee hold, purchase or take lease on land or buildings and may when authorised as aforesaid, sell, exchange, mortgage, lease or build upon the land (with power to alter or pull down buildings and again rebuild). The Trustees may when authorised thereto by the Association Committee obtain advances of money, for the purposes of the Association, on the security of mortgages on the property of the Association (upon such terms as to interest and as to the time and manner of the repayment of principle) as the Association Committee may determine.
13.
Dissolution
If the Association Committee by a simple majority decides at any time that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Association it shall call a meeting of all members of the Association who have the power to vote and of all inhabitants of the area of benefit aged 18 and above. At least 21 days notice shall be given. Notices stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed shall be posted in conspicuous places in the area of benefit and advertised in a newspaper circulating in the area of benefit and given in writing to the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales and the Secretary for the National Federation of Community Organisations. If such decisions shall be confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting at such meeting the Association Committee shall have power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Association. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be applied towards charitable purposes for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit as the Association Committee may decide and as may be approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
14.
Alterations to the Constitution
Any proposal to alter this Constitution must be delivered in writing to the Secretary of the Association not less than 30 days before the meeting at which it is first to be considered. Any alteration will require the approval of a two-thirds majority of full members present and voting at a General Meeting. Notice of each such meeting must be made in accordance with clause 9 hereof and give the wording of the proposed alteration.
15.
Alterations to the "Terms of Reference (1994)"
Alterations to the "Terms of Reference (1994)" or its form as subsequently amended at any Special General Meeting or Annual General Meeting shall be subject to the same rules as those which govern amendments to the constitution. A copy of the "Terms of Reference (1994)" or any amendment thereof shall be lodged with the copy of the constitution held by the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales.
NO AMENDMENT SHALL BE MADE TO THIS CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD CAUSE THE ASSOCIATION TO CEASE TO BE A CHARITY AT LAW
* Gregson Centre Mission Statement
“To promote and encourage discussion and participation in
arts and community events, issues, activities and groups
in order to improve the quality of life for the whole community.
To excite, engage, stimulate and fulfil.”
Adopted by the Gregson Community Association Board of Trustees January 2003
The Gregson Mission Statement and General Policy Statement are intended acknowledge the important role of the Gregson for engaging with residents, and providing a venue for the discussion of issues etc. These issues are seen as additional and complementary to the aims of promoting and encouraging arts, events, activities and groups.
* Gregson Centre General Policy Statement
The Gregson is a Community Centre which believes that all of its facilities and arts and events programmes should be totally accessible to all members of the community.
We will achieve this goal through the AIMS, IMPLEMENTATION and ASSESSMENT strategy laid out in this document:
AIMS
· To present a broad range of events and activities to excite, engage with, stimulate and intellectually challenge our users.
Arts
· To encourage music, drama, dance, literary and all other arts events and activities which will improve the quality of life for the community as a whole.
· To provide "safe-housing" for small scale groups, performers, musicians, composers, artists and writers for them to perform, workshop or display their work.
· To encourage creative risk taking, to ensure that all valuable work in the centre can be experienced by the widest possible audience.
Community
· To promote and encourage use of the centre by a wide and varied range of community groups within the aims of the constitution.
· To work together with local authorities, other voluntary groups, organisations and inhabitants of community in order to ensure maximum use of the centre.
· To encourage activities that promote equal opportunities, health, race relations, law and order, environmental and other worthwhile community issues.
· To support the discussion of community issues
IMPLEMENTATION
The board of Trustees will meet quarterly to meet with the Administrators of the Gregson Centre in order to provide a mechanism for quality assessment, a review procedure to safeguard the Gregson Centre Policy and a means towards encouraging expansion and development of programmes and activities in the centre.
The administrators will be required to provide a detailed report to these meetings which will form the basis of assessment of the success of the Gregson Centre according to the Criteria of Assessment and Expectation determined annually by the Board of Trustees and subject to review and amendment at the Quarterly Meetings.
ASSESSMENT and EXPECTATION
The success of the Gregson Centre will be reviewed with with regard to the following criteria of assessment:
· Financial security
· Administration of the Centre
· Quantity of activities, events and individual use of the Centre
· Variety of activities, events and individual use of the Centre
The Board of Trustees will review the policy on an annual basis, setting 'milestones of expectation' for the forthcoming twelve months. For the next twelve months these milestones will be to:
Seek to encourage and develop use of the centre by the following community groups
· Family use of the centre
· Parent & Toddler Group
· Senior Citizens activities
· Womens Theatre group
· Community touring groups
· Resident groups
· Community enterprises
· Voluntary organisations
· Youth groups
Seek to develop the following entertainment programmes
· Literature
· World Music
· Jazz
· New Music
· Young peoples music and theatre
· Whole centre festivals: workshops, forums, performances
Seek to increase audience & community awareness
· Working with disabled organisations
· News and Media links to be developed
· Marketing strategy to be improved
· Communication with membership
Infrastructure
· Disabled access
· Community office
· Expansion and development of centre
· Review of existing facilities
· Information technology
· Maintenance
· Committee training, strategic planning and development
* The Gregson Community Association - Charity Information
Registered Charity 513783
Registered in England & Wales company number 05676887
The Charity which owns and supervises goings on at the Gregson Centre is called the Gregson Community Association Limited (GCA). It was formed in 1983 and became a registered company limited by guarantee in November 2007 and continues to operate as a charity with the following mission statement adopted in 2003:
“To promote and encourage discussion and participation in arts and community events, issues, activities and groups in order to improve the quality of life for the whole community. To excite, engage, stimulate and fulfil.”
The Charity is run by a committee of six Trustees/Directors (The GCA Board of Trustees), elected annually and upholding the constitution while observing specific terms of reference (see above). The Board of Trustees also has the constitutional authority to co-opt further members on to the Board.
The current GCA Board of Trustees/Directors are:
Billy Pye: Billypye64@aol.com (Chair)
Will Medd: (Secretary)
Olive Bell
Graham Bell
Pascal Desmond
Sue Paylor
Jez Reay
Graham Whalley
John Whitelegg
