CONSTITUTION

Constitution

1.    Name

The name of the group shall be Listening Ear And Positive Support, also more commonly known as LEAPS.

2.    Purpose

The purpose of LEAPS is to relieve the mental and emotional suffering of those who are unwaged, through the provision of practical support through peer support, advice, counselling/psychotherapies, and by any other means.

3.    Committee

3.1  LEAPS shall be managed by a Committee who are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

3.2  The Committee will be no less than three members and no more than twelve

3.3  Committee members shall stand from the end of the AGM they were elected, to the end of the next AGM.

3.4  A Committee member can full any number of positions

3.5  Each Committee member has one vote on a decision and where the vote is tied, the Chair has a second, casting vote

3.6  If the Committee considers that a member’s conduct is harmful to the group:

3.6.1 The Committee has the power to call a vote to remove the membership

4.    Membership

4.1  Membership is open to any unwaged individual aged 18 or over or to an organization which agrees with LEAPS purpose

4.2  Each member has one vote on a decision that the Committee delegates to them

4.3  A member may resign from LEAPS at any moment by written notice to a Committee member

5.    Powers

To further LEAPS purpose, the Committee and group members have the power to:

5.1  Recruit group and Committee members

5.2  Work in partnership with other organizations

5.3  Invest funds in any lawful way

5.4  Raise funds by any lawful means

5.5  Do anything else which lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes

6.      Annual General Meetings (AGM)

6.1  The AGM must be held every year

6.2  The Secretary must give all members 14 days’ notice of the AGM as all members are entitled to attend

6.3  The Chair must be present at the AGM along with at least 4 members

6.4  Minutes must be kept at the AGM

6.5  At the AGM, Committee members will present annual reports and accounts and any member may stand for election to be part of the Committee

6.6  Every member has one vote on any decisions at the AGM and where there’s a tie, the Chair has a second, casting vote

7.    Finances

7.1  All funds belonging to or raised for LEAPS must be used in furthering the purpose of the group

7.2  The Treasurer shall keep an account of all income and expenditure and shall present the accounts at the AGM

7.3  There shall be one bank or building society account in the name of the group and cheques must be signed by two members

7.4  Members may claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses on terms approved by the Committee

8.      Dissolution
8.1 The Secretary must give 21 days’ notice to all members of a dissolution meeting

8.2 For the group to be dissolved, over half of the members present at the meeting must agree

8.3 If the group is dissolved any assets remaining – after the clearing of any debts and liabilities – shall be given to a group or charity with a similar purpose



A copy of this constitution shall be available to all members.

This constitution can only be changed at an AGM and upon the agreement over half of the group’s attendees.

a.wilson

Chair

06.05.2020