Constitution
1. Name
The name of the Group is The Fairer Fostering Partnership [Fairer Fostering].
2. Objectives
The objectives of the Group are as follows:
3. Attaining objectives
The Group shall be empowered to do all things necessary which are incidental to and necessary for the attainment of the objectives of the Group.
4. Property of the Group
The Group must apply all property and income of the Group towards the promotion of the objectives or purposes of the Group. No part of that property or income shall be paid or otherwise distributed, directly or indirectly, to members of the Group, except in good faith in the promotion of those objectives, purposes or in the proper discharge their duties as agreed by the Group.
5. Powers of the Group
5.1 To acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of any real or personal property.
5.2 To open and operate bank accounts.
5.3 To appoint agents to transact any business of the Group on its behalf for reward or otherwise.
5.4 Accept donations and gifts in accordance with the objects of the Group.
5.5 Print and publish any information by any media including newsletters, newspapers, articles or leaflets for promotion of the Group.
5.6 Organise social events for Members and the promotion of the Group; and
5.7 To enter into any other contract the Group considers necessary or desirable.
5.8 The exercise of all the above powers shall require a vote of at least 75% of members who are eligible to vote.
6. Membership
6.1 Membership shall be open to any person or group of persons who wish(es) to further the interests of the Group.
6.2 Any person seeking membership shall make an application to the Group, in the prescribed form, and the members in general meeting shall determine by a majority of 75% of the members eligible to vote, whether the application is successful or not.
6.3 Each person admitted to membership shall be:
6.3.1 Bound by the Constitution and Rules of the Group.
6.3.2 Become liable for such fees and subscriptions as may be fixed by the Group, except where exempted by these rules.
6.3.3 Entitled to all advantages and privileges of membership.
6.4 Membership categories:
6.4.1 Ordinary Member: any Independent Fostering Agency that is a registered charity ‘not for profit’ organisation, co-operative, social enterprise or community interest company whose primary, but not necessarily sole activity, is fostering.
6.4.2 Associate Member: Any individual, agency or stakeholder of good standing who is interested in and seeks to promote the cause of fostering or similar child centred service. An Associate Member will not have any voting rights and will not pay membership fees.
6.5 A member may at any reasonable time inspect the records and documents of the Group.
7. Subscriptions
7.1 Subscriptions shall be paid by ordinary members in respect of the period from the 1 April to the 31 March of each year. Such subscriptions shall be set such a level as ordinary members may determine by a majority of 75% of members eligible to vote. The subscription for the following financial year shall be set in January of each year.
7.2 Subscriptions shall not be paid by associate members unless the ordinary members determine otherwise.
7.3 Subscriptions shall be paid by the 31 March in respect of the subscription due for the following year.
7.4 Members shall not be eligible to vote on any matter if, at that time, they are in arrears with their subscription.
8. Termination of membership
8.1 Any person’s membership may be terminated by the following events:
8.1.1 Resignation.
8.1.2 Expulsion.
8.1.3 A member’s annual membership fee remains unpaid after 2 months of falling due.
8.2 The members shall have the power, by a vote of at least 75% of the members eligible to vote, to suspend or expel any member of the Group for:
8.2.1 False or inaccurate statements made in the member’s application for membership of the Group.
8.2.2 Breach of any rule, regulation of the Group; and
8.2.3 Any act detrimental to the Group, after having undertaken due inquiry.
8.3 Any member who is expelled, suspended or has their membership terminated, shall have the right to appeal against their suspension or expulsion by presenting their case to a General Meeting called for such purpose and the decision of the General Meeting shall be final.
9. Officers
9.1 Officers may be elected in general meeting by ordinary members as follows:
9.1.1 Chair – whose prime duty will be to chair the meetings of the Group and to represent its interests to opinion formers, decision makers and the public generally.
9.1.2 Vice Chair – to assist and support the Chair.
9.1.3 Secretary - to manage the secretarial and financial administration of the Group.
9.2 Members in general meeting, may decide, from time to time, to pay an honorarium to officers in recognition of the duties which they exercise on behalf of the group.
9.3 Expenditure incurred by Officers in the furtherance of the business of the Group, may be reimbursed, subject to agreement of the Group.
9.4 If the Chair or Vice Chair is unable to attend, then a chairperson nominated by the meeting shall chair that meeting.
10. General meetings
10.1. General Meetings may be called at the request of the Chair or Vice Chair or at the request of the majority of members of the Group.
10.2. The Chair shall give at least seven (7) days notice, in writing, of the date of meetings to the members. Notice of meetings shall set out clearly the business for which the meeting has been called.
10.3. The quorum at the General Meeting shall be a minimum of half the members, plus one.
11. Voting
11.1 Voting powers at the General Meetings:
11.1.1 Each ordinary member present shall have one (1) vote.
11.1.2 A member voting by electronic means (e.g. email, Facebook) sent to and received by the Chair prior to or during a vote shall be deemed to be a valid exercise of that members vote.
12. Finance
12.1 All funds of the Group shall be deposited into the Group’s accounts at such bank or recognised financial institution as the members may determine.
12.2 All accounts due by the Group shall be paid by cheque or electronic means after having being passed for payment by members.
12.3 A statement showing the financial position of the Group shall be tabled at each Members Meeting by the Honorary Secretary.
12.4 The financial year of the Group shall commence on the 1st April. The accounts, books and all financial records of the Group may be audited at the request of the majority of members in general meeting.
12.5 The signatory to the Group’s account(s) shall be the Chair.
13. Alterations to the Constitution
No alteration shall be made to the Constitution except at the General Meeting called for that purpose and notice of all motions to alter, repeal or add to the Constitution shall be given to members at least seven (7) days prior to a General Meeting called for such purpose. The agreement of 75% of the members who are eligible to vote, shall be required to amend the Constitution.
14. Dissolution
If, on winding up of the Group, any property remains after satisfaction of the debts and liabilities of the Group and the costs, charges and expenses of that winding up, that property (known as residual property) , providing it exceeds £2000, shall be distributed equally among its members. If the residual property amounts to £2000 or less, it shall be distributed to:
a) Another association having objects similar to those of the group or
b) A charity involved in the provision of services to looked after children
The name of the Group is The Fairer Fostering Partnership [Fairer Fostering].
2. Objectives
The objectives of the Group are as follows:
- To focus on the needs of vulnerable children and young people;
- To put children before profit by re-investing any surplus back into the care of children and young people;
- To share news, trends and other information to ensure that members stay well informed;
- To undertake activities that will help the group as a whole. This includes:
- promoting the interests of the group member organisations to local authorities, eg fostering fortnight, statutory or regulatory changes;
- sharing best practice – where there are learning opportunities, shared training opportunities and common interests in dealing with OFSTED directives;
- setting and comparing benchmarks.
3. Attaining objectives
The Group shall be empowered to do all things necessary which are incidental to and necessary for the attainment of the objectives of the Group.
4. Property of the Group
The Group must apply all property and income of the Group towards the promotion of the objectives or purposes of the Group. No part of that property or income shall be paid or otherwise distributed, directly or indirectly, to members of the Group, except in good faith in the promotion of those objectives, purposes or in the proper discharge their duties as agreed by the Group.
5. Powers of the Group
5.1 To acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of any real or personal property.
5.2 To open and operate bank accounts.
5.3 To appoint agents to transact any business of the Group on its behalf for reward or otherwise.
5.4 Accept donations and gifts in accordance with the objects of the Group.
5.5 Print and publish any information by any media including newsletters, newspapers, articles or leaflets for promotion of the Group.
5.6 Organise social events for Members and the promotion of the Group; and
5.7 To enter into any other contract the Group considers necessary or desirable.
5.8 The exercise of all the above powers shall require a vote of at least 75% of members who are eligible to vote.
6. Membership
6.1 Membership shall be open to any person or group of persons who wish(es) to further the interests of the Group.
6.2 Any person seeking membership shall make an application to the Group, in the prescribed form, and the members in general meeting shall determine by a majority of 75% of the members eligible to vote, whether the application is successful or not.
6.3 Each person admitted to membership shall be:
6.3.1 Bound by the Constitution and Rules of the Group.
6.3.2 Become liable for such fees and subscriptions as may be fixed by the Group, except where exempted by these rules.
6.3.3 Entitled to all advantages and privileges of membership.
6.4 Membership categories:
6.4.1 Ordinary Member: any Independent Fostering Agency that is a registered charity ‘not for profit’ organisation, co-operative, social enterprise or community interest company whose primary, but not necessarily sole activity, is fostering.
6.4.2 Associate Member: Any individual, agency or stakeholder of good standing who is interested in and seeks to promote the cause of fostering or similar child centred service. An Associate Member will not have any voting rights and will not pay membership fees.
6.5 A member may at any reasonable time inspect the records and documents of the Group.
7. Subscriptions
7.1 Subscriptions shall be paid by ordinary members in respect of the period from the 1 April to the 31 March of each year. Such subscriptions shall be set such a level as ordinary members may determine by a majority of 75% of members eligible to vote. The subscription for the following financial year shall be set in January of each year.
7.2 Subscriptions shall not be paid by associate members unless the ordinary members determine otherwise.
7.3 Subscriptions shall be paid by the 31 March in respect of the subscription due for the following year.
7.4 Members shall not be eligible to vote on any matter if, at that time, they are in arrears with their subscription.
8. Termination of membership
8.1 Any person’s membership may be terminated by the following events:
8.1.1 Resignation.
8.1.2 Expulsion.
8.1.3 A member’s annual membership fee remains unpaid after 2 months of falling due.
8.2 The members shall have the power, by a vote of at least 75% of the members eligible to vote, to suspend or expel any member of the Group for:
8.2.1 False or inaccurate statements made in the member’s application for membership of the Group.
8.2.2 Breach of any rule, regulation of the Group; and
8.2.3 Any act detrimental to the Group, after having undertaken due inquiry.
8.3 Any member who is expelled, suspended or has their membership terminated, shall have the right to appeal against their suspension or expulsion by presenting their case to a General Meeting called for such purpose and the decision of the General Meeting shall be final.
9. Officers
9.1 Officers may be elected in general meeting by ordinary members as follows:
9.1.1 Chair – whose prime duty will be to chair the meetings of the Group and to represent its interests to opinion formers, decision makers and the public generally.
9.1.2 Vice Chair – to assist and support the Chair.
9.1.3 Secretary - to manage the secretarial and financial administration of the Group.
9.2 Members in general meeting, may decide, from time to time, to pay an honorarium to officers in recognition of the duties which they exercise on behalf of the group.
9.3 Expenditure incurred by Officers in the furtherance of the business of the Group, may be reimbursed, subject to agreement of the Group.
9.4 If the Chair or Vice Chair is unable to attend, then a chairperson nominated by the meeting shall chair that meeting.
10. General meetings
10.1. General Meetings may be called at the request of the Chair or Vice Chair or at the request of the majority of members of the Group.
10.2. The Chair shall give at least seven (7) days notice, in writing, of the date of meetings to the members. Notice of meetings shall set out clearly the business for which the meeting has been called.
10.3. The quorum at the General Meeting shall be a minimum of half the members, plus one.
11. Voting
11.1 Voting powers at the General Meetings:
11.1.1 Each ordinary member present shall have one (1) vote.
11.1.2 A member voting by electronic means (e.g. email, Facebook) sent to and received by the Chair prior to or during a vote shall be deemed to be a valid exercise of that members vote.
12. Finance
12.1 All funds of the Group shall be deposited into the Group’s accounts at such bank or recognised financial institution as the members may determine.
12.2 All accounts due by the Group shall be paid by cheque or electronic means after having being passed for payment by members.
12.3 A statement showing the financial position of the Group shall be tabled at each Members Meeting by the Honorary Secretary.
12.4 The financial year of the Group shall commence on the 1st April. The accounts, books and all financial records of the Group may be audited at the request of the majority of members in general meeting.
12.5 The signatory to the Group’s account(s) shall be the Chair.
13. Alterations to the Constitution
No alteration shall be made to the Constitution except at the General Meeting called for that purpose and notice of all motions to alter, repeal or add to the Constitution shall be given to members at least seven (7) days prior to a General Meeting called for such purpose. The agreement of 75% of the members who are eligible to vote, shall be required to amend the Constitution.
14. Dissolution
If, on winding up of the Group, any property remains after satisfaction of the debts and liabilities of the Group and the costs, charges and expenses of that winding up, that property (known as residual property) , providing it exceeds £2000, shall be distributed equally among its members. If the residual property amounts to £2000 or less, it shall be distributed to:
a) Another association having objects similar to those of the group or
b) A charity involved in the provision of services to looked after children