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Does your club have a constitution? Does your club have a sense of purpose with everyone aware of what is important in driving the club forward?
Are all members pulling in the same direction?
Would a document outlining such matters be helpful in uniting members about the reasons your club even exists?
Then you need a club constitution to help to get that common understanding.
If you are ever going to bid for grants and funding then you will need one as this is one of the basic documents such bodies will expect to see. Let's look at what is involved a little more.
What's a constitution?
A constitution is a simple document that outlines the functions and the rules under which the club will operate.
Together with your policies and procedures, it will help to protect your members and make your organisation run more smoothly.
Why do we need one?
Your constitution sets out the fundamental principles of your club.
A good constitution will:
Explain to members (and non-members) what your club is about.
Help protect members and officers.
Make it clear how procedures should work.
Clarify and help sort out internal problems.
Underpin funding applications, as most funding bodies will not consider applications from clubs without a constitution.
Enable your club to become incorporated.
What is in a constitution?
The name of the club
State the name of the club and any abbreviations or acronyms that you'll be known by. If applicable, state which national governing body you'll be affiliated to.
Aims and objectives
The objectives should clearly state the reasons why the organisation exists.
Membership
Define the various categories of membership that you'll be offering.
Sport equity
Explain what sports equity means to your club. It's vital that the constitution is open and non-discriminatory and that it reflects the sport's equity policy. A club constitution is often a prerequisite for funding and applying for tax relief.
Committee
Specify how your committee should be formed and how they should look after the interests of the club. It would be normal to specify which positions sit on the committee.
Finances
Ensure that the financial affairs are managed in an efficient manner, that protects the individual committee members. Use this section to explain how this will be achieved.
AGMs and EGMs
Use this section to explain the protocols and procedures for your annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings.
Amendments to the constitutions
Explain the procedures to make any changes to your constitution.
Discipline and appeals
Outline the club’s disciplinary procedure.
Dissolution
The procedures covering the dissolution of the club must be agreed.
In the event of funds remaining after debts have been settled, members may wish to specify that such funds should be given to some associated organisation e.g. the governing body of the sport concerned. The wording must comply with funding conditions.
Declaration
Even before your club holds its initial meeting (or at least at one of your early meetings) it would be advisable to draw up a draft constitution.
Your club can then confirm the details and move forwards with the finalised constitution in place, as quickly as possible.
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