CONSTITUTION OF THE AFRICAN BOARD FOR CONFLICTS RESOLUTION 1.0 NAME 1.1 The Name of the Group shall be African Board for Conflicts Resolution hereafter known as AB4CR. It is an initiative of the African living in Wakefield to take their responsibilities in various ways to integrate in their host country and avoid potential conflicts with other communities. 2.0 AIMS & OBJECTIVES 2.1 The aim of the Group shall be: Promote inter-cultural dialogue between communities. Build trust and understanding between communities. Empower communities to engage peacefully with each other. Provide help to communities which have been affected by conflicts. 2.2 The group shall seek to achieve these aims by: Organising social events, seminars and conferences. Setting up African drumming club. Organising and running workshops on multicultural society. Running an advice centre to help migrants and people who have been affected by conflicts to integrate smoothly in the UK. Set up homework support groups to help migrants and families in deprived areas to get affordable education support. Organising and running workshops on African healthy cuisine. Organising community sport events. 1/6
3.0 COMMITTEE 3.1 The group shall have a Management Committee to oversee and administer the day-to-day workings of the Group at the consent of the Group. 3.2 The management committee shall comprise: Chair Vice chair Treasurer Vice Treasurer Secretary 3.3 Management Committee members can serve no more than three years before having to resign and stand for re-election (See 6.8). 4.0 MEMBERSHIP 4.1 Applications for membership of the group can be made by: 4.2 Any person that supports the aims and objectives of the group; 4.3 Acceptance of membership is determined by the Management Committee. 4.4 Membership details will be held by the Secretary. 4.5 Any member shall cease to be a member if they: Resign in writing to the management committee; Cease to meet any of the qualifications for membership (see 4.1); Fail to attend a group meeting in a twelve-month period; Is removed from membership by a majority vote of the Members in a General meeting for conduct prejudicial to the group, provided that any member so be removed shall have the right to make representation to the meeting where the decision is to be made. 4.6 Any member who ceases to be a member is entitled to reapply for membership should they so wish. 5.0 POWERS & PROCEEDINGS AT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS 5.1 No business shall be transacted at a Management Committee meeting unless a quorum is present. 5.2 A quorum where relevant shall consist of 50% (rounded down) or three members of the Management Committee, whichever is the greater. 2/6
5.3 Any voting shall be by simple majority. 5.4 At any meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands a secret ballot is demanded by the Chair or at least two Management Committee Members. The secret ballot shall be dealt with in such a manner as the Chair shall direct. 5.5 Each Management Committee member present in person shall have one vote. In the case of an equality of votes the status quo shall be maintained. 5.6 The Chair of the Management Committee shall be entitled to preside upon meetings. The Management Committee present shall choose one of their number to be Chair of the meeting in the Chair's absence. 5.7 The Management Committee shall be entitled to appoint sub-groups to deal with matters which the committee determines. The terms of reference of any sub-group shall be a matter for the group. 5.8 The Secretary of the Group shall be responsible for producing minutes of each meeting. These minutes shall be signed by the Chair of the Group. Once minutes have been signed by the Chair they shall be deemed to constitute an accurate record of the proceedings of the meeting. 6 POWERS & PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS 6.1 The Group shall in each year hold an Annual General Meeting at such a time and place as the Group shall determine. Not more than fifteen months shall elapse between the date of one Annual General Meeting and that of the next. 6.2 Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Group shall be given by the Secretary fourteen days before the meeting is held. 6.3 The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include: The election of officers Consideration of the annual accounts of the Group The appointment where necessary of an auditor 6.4 The Group shall within twenty-one days of the Secretary receiving a request signed by at least two members of the Group and stating the purpose of the request, call an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Group. 6.5 At least fourteen days notice of each general meeting and any extraordinary general meeting shall be given in writing to each member of the group together with details of the business to be discussed, 3/6
provided that accidental failure to notify any member shall not invalidate the meeting. 6.6 At each General Meeting the members shall choose one of their number to be Chair of that meeting, whose function shall be to conduct the business of that meeting in a fair and orderly manner. 6.7 At each General Meeting the members shall choose one of their number to take minutes of the business of that meeting. Once these minutes are signed by the Chair of the meeting they are deemed to constitute an accurate account of that meeting. 6.8 At every Annual General Meeting, one-third of the elected Management Committee members shall retire from office. In the event that the numbers are not divisible by three, then the portion to retire shall be the nearest to one-third. The Management Committee members to retire shall be the longest in office since their last election. Where there are Management Committee members who have been in office the same length of time then, in absence of agreement, those to retire shall be selected by lot. Retiring Management Committee members shall be eligible to stand for re-election. 6.9 No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present. 6.10 A quorum where relevant shall consist of five group members or one fifth of the total membership, whichever is the greater. 6.11 Any voting by the Group shall be by simple majority, except where otherwise specified in this constitution. 6.12 At any meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands a secret ballot is demanded by the Chair or at least two members present in person. The secret ballot shall be dealt with in such a manner as the Chair shall direct. 6.13 Each member present in person shall have one vote. In the case of an equality of votes the status quo shall be maintained. 6.14 Only current group members aged 18 years or over shall have the power to vote at an Annual General Meeting. 6.15 This constitution may be amended by a resolution of not less than 50% of the members of the Group present and voting at a general meeting. The notice of the meeting shall specify the alteration to be proposed. 4/6
7 FINANCE 7.1 At any time, and if approved and considered necessary, an account shall be opened at a bank or building society in the name of the Group. 7.2 The group shall have the power to invest funds not immediately required for its objects 7.3 Any accounts and transactions shall be kept up to date by the treasurer. 7.4 The Treasurer shall report to the group on the group s finances, either in person or in writing, at every committee meeting 7.5 Any withdrawals from this account shall be made only as approved by the Group and on the signature of any two from three designated Signatories. 7.6 The income and property of the Group shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the group, as set forth in this set of rules, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or other distribution by way of profit to other members of the group. 7.7 If upon the winding-up or dissolution of the group, there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the group, but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions, who have objects similar to the object of the group, and which shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members. Such institution or institutions are to be determined by members of the group at or before the time of dissolution. 8 DISSOLUTION 8.1 If the Management Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the group it can call a Special General meeting, of which no less than 21 days notice (stating the resolutions to be proposed) is given. If the Dissolution Proposal is confirmed by at least 50% of the membership voting, either in person or by signed letter, at that meeting the group shall be dissolved. 9.0 EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 9.1The group will aim to treat everyone the same regardless of their sex, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion, creed, nationality, ethnic origin, colour or disability inline with the organisations Equal Opportunities Policy. 5/6
10.0 CHILD PROTECTION 10.1 The group will aim to make the safety, welfare and well-being of all children, and vulnerable adults, in its care its prime responsibility in line with the organisations Child Protection Policy. The above constitution was approved and adopted by the group at a meeting held on: / / Signed: Position: Dated: Signed: Position: Dated: 6/6