PAVA UK Constitution

Constitution adopted on the 9^th May 2008
 

Part 1
 

Adoption of the Constitution

The association and its property will be administered and managed in accordance with the provisions in Parts 1 and 2 of this constitution.

2. The Name

The association's name is PAVA UK (Practitioner Alliance Against the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults United Kingdom) and in this document it is called the Charity.

3. The Objects

The Charity's object is to relieve adults who are in danger of abuse from others due to their age, mental or physical illness or disability by carrying out such charitable purposes as the Trustees may, from time to time determine. The means by which it will achieve this are to:

1) strive through collaboration with practitioners across the United Kingdom in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors to develop evidence-based interventions

2. generate positive outcomes in working with the abuse of vulnerable adults

3. support practitioners to increase public awareness of abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults and of the need for a professional response

4) promote multi agency working in the development of policy and procedures

5. encourage the development of local networks of practitioners with commitment to and expertise in vulnerable adult protection

6. promote outcomes which are practical and attuned to the interests and wishes of the vulnerable adult concerned

7. support practitioners in the use of the existing legislation to protect people at risk of abuse and

8. to identify possible legal reforms and promote debate about these.

4. Application of the Income and Property

1. The income and property of the Charity shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Objects

2. A Trustee may pay out of, or be reimbursed from, the property of the Charity reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the Charity

3. None of the income or property of the Charity may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the Charity. This does not prevent:

1. a member who is not also a Trustee from receiving reasonable and proper remuneration for any goods or services supplied to the Charity

2. a Trustee from:

9. buying goods or services from the Charity upon the same terms as other members or members of the public

   2. receiving a benefit from the Charity in the capacity of a beneficiary of the Charity, provided that the Trustees comply with the provision of sub-clause (6) of this clause, or as a member of the Charity and upon the same terms as other members

3. the purchase of indemnity insurance for the Trustees against any liability that by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to a Trustee or other officer in respect of any negligence, default breach of duty or breach of trust of which he or she may be guilty in relation to the Charity but excluding:

9. fines

ii) costs of unsuccessful defending criminal prosecutions for offences arising out of the fraud, dishonesty or wilful or reckless misconduct of the Trustee or other officer

2. liabilities to the Charity that result from the conduct that the Trustee or other officer knew or ought to have known was not in the best interests of the Charity or in respect of which the person concerned did not care whether that conduct was in the best interests of the Charity or not

2. No Trustee may be paid or receive any other benefit for being a Trustee

3. (a) if it is proposed that a Trustee should receive a benefit from the Charity that is not already permitted under sub-clause (3) of this clause, he or she must:

9. declare his or her interest in the proposal

ii) be absent from that part of any meeting at which the proposal is discussed and take no part in any discussion of it

iii) not be counted in determining whether the meeting is quorate

4. not vote on the proposal

(b) those Trustees who do not stand to receive the proposed benefit must be satisfied that it is in the interests of the Charity to contract with or employ that Trustee rather than with someone who is not a Trustee and they must record the reason for their decision in the minutes. In reaching that decision the Trustees must balance the advantage of contracting with or employing a Trustee against the disadvantage of doing so (especially the loss of the Trustree’s services as a result of dealing with the Trustee’s conflict of interest)

(c) The Trustees may only authorise a transaction falling within paragraphs 5(a)-(c) of this clause if the Trustee body comprises a majority of Trustees who have not received any such benefit

4. If the Trustees fail to follow this procedure, the resolution to confer a benefit upon the Trustee will be void and the Trustee must repay to the Charity the value of any benefit received by the Trustee from the Charity

2. A Trustee must absent himself or herself from any discussion of the Trustees in which it is possible that a conflict will arise between his or her duty to act solely in the interests of the Charity and any personal interest (including but not limited to any personal financial interest) and take no part in the voting upon the matter

7) In this clause, “Trustee” shall include any person firm or company connected with the Trustee.

5. Dissolution

1) If the members resolve to dissolve the Charity the Trustees will remain in office as Charity Trustees and be responsible for winding up the affairs of the Charity in accordance with this clause

2. The Trustees must collect in all the assets of the Charity and must pay or make provision for all the liabilities of the Charity

3) The Trustees must apply any remaining property or money

1. directly for the Objects

2. by transfer to any Charity or charities for purposes the same as or similar to the Charity

3. in such other manner as the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales ("the Commission") may approve in writing in advance

4) The members may pass a resolution before or at the same time as the resolution to dissolve the Charity specifying the manner in which the Trustees are to apply the remaining property or assets of the Charity and the Trustees must comply with the resolution if it is consistent with paragraphs (a)-(c) inclusive in sub-clause (3) above

5) In no circumstances shall the net assets of the Charity be paid to or distributed among the members of the Charity (except to a member that is itself a Charity)

6) The Trustees must notify the Commission promptly that the Charity has been dissolved. If the Trustees are obliged to send the Charity's accounts to the Commission for the accounting period that ended before its dissolution, they must send the Commission the Charity's final accounts.

6. Amendments

1. The Charity may amend any provision contained in Part 1 of this Constitution provided that

1. no amendment may be made that would have the effect of making the Charity cease to be a Charity at law

b) no amendment may be made to alter the Objects if the change would not be within the reasonable contemplation of the members of or donors to the Charity

c) no amendment may be made to clause 4 without the prior written consent of the Commission

4. any resolution to amend a provision of Part 1 of this constitution is passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting

2) Any provision contained in Part 2 of this constitution may be amended, provided that any such amendment is made by resolution passed by a simple majority of the members present and voting at a general meeting

3) A copy of any resolution amending this constitution shall be sent to the Commission within twenty one days of it being passed

Part 2

7. Membership

1) Full Membership is open to individuals over the age of eighteen

2) Associate Membership is open to organisations who are approved by the Trustees

3) Affiliated Membership can be offered by the Trustees to agencies and organisations with common interests to the Charity

4) All individual applications should be made using the standard application form

5) Individual membership is not transferable to anyone else

6) a) The Trustees may only refuse an application for membership if, acting reasonably and properly, they consider it to be in the best interests of the Charity to refuse the application

b) The Trustees must inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal within twenty-one days of the decision

c) The Trustees must consider any written representations the applicant may make about the decision. The Trustees' decision following any written representations must be notified to the applicant in writing but shall be final

2. The Trustees must keep a register of names and addresses of the members which, subject to the individual member's agreement, must be available to any member on request

7. Termination of Membership

Membership is terminated if:

1. the member dies or, if it is an organisation, ceases to exist

2. the member resigns by written notice to the Charity unless, after the resignation, there would be less than two members

3. any sum due from the member to the Charity is not paid in full within six months of it falling due

4. the member is removed from membership by a resolution of the Trustees that it is in the best interests of the Charity that his or her membership is terminated. A resolution to remove a member from membership may only be passed if:

1. the member has been given at least twenty-

one days notice in writing of the meeting of the Trustees at which the resolution will be proposed and the reasons why it is to be proposed

2. the member or, at the option of the member, the member's representative (who need not be a member of the Charity) has been allowed to make representations to the meeting

9. General Meetings

1. The Charity must hold a general meeting within twelve months of the date of the adoption of this constitution

2. An annual general meeting must be held in each subsequent year and not more than fifteen months may elapse between successive annual general meetings

3. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called special general meetings

4. The Trustees may call a special general meeting at any time

5. The Trustees must call a special general meeting if requested to do so in writing by at least ten members or one tenth of the membership, which ever is the greater. The request must state the nature of the business that is to be discussed. If the Trustees fail to hold the meeting within twenty-eight days of the request, the members may proceed to call a special general meeting but in doing so they must comply with the provisions of this Constitution

9. Notice

1. The minimum period of notice required to hold any general meeting of the Charity is fourteen clear days from the date on which the notice is deemed to have been given

2. A general meeting may be called by shorter notice, if it is so agreed by all the members entitled to attend and vote

3. The notice must specify the date, time and place of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. If the meeting is to be an annual general meeting, the notice must say so

4. The notice must be given to all members and to the Trustees

9. Quorum

1. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present

2. A quorum is:

1. Twelve members entitled to vote upon the business to be conducted at the meeting or one twentieth of the total membership at the time, whichever is the bigger

3. The authorised representative of an Associate member organisation shall be counted in the quorum

4. If: a) a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting; or

b) during a meeting a quorum ceases to be present,

the meeting shall be adjourned to such time and place as the Trustees shall determine

5. The Trustees must re-convene the meeting and must give at least seven clear days' notice of the re-convened meeting stating the date time and place of the meeting

6. If no quorum is present at the re-convened meeting with fifteen minutes of the time specified for the start of the meeting the members present at that time shall constitute the quorum for that meeting

9. Chair

1. General meetings shall be chaired by the person who has been elected as Chair

2. If there is no such person or he or she is not present within fifteen minutes of the time appointed for the meeting a Trustee nominated by the Trustees shall chair the meeting

3. If there is only one Trustee present and willing to act, he or she shall chair the meeting

4. If no Trustee is present and willing to chair the meeting within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding it, the members present and entitled to vote must choose one of their number to chair the meeting

13. Adjournments

1) The members present at a meeting may resolve that

the meeting shall be adjourned

2) The person who is chairing the meeting must decide

the date time and place at which the meeting is to re-

convened unless those details are specified in the

resolution

3) No business shall be conducted at an adjourned

meeting unless it could properly have been conducted

at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place

4) If a meeting is adjourned by a resolution of the

members for more than seven days, at least seven

clear days' notice shall be given of the re-convened

meeting stating the date time and place of the meeting

14. Votes

1) Each individual member shall have one vote but if there is an equality of votes the person who is chairing the meeting shall have a casting vote in addition to any other vote he or she may have

2) A resolution in writing signed by each member who would have been entitled to vote upon it had it been

proposed at a general meeting shall be effective. It may comprise several copies each signed by or on behalf of one or more members

14. Representatives of Other Bodies

1) Any organisation that is an Associate or Affiliated Member of the Charity shall nominate a person to act as its representative at any meeting of the Charity

2) The organisation must give written notice to the Charity of the name of its representative. The nominee shall not be entitled to represent the organisation at any meeting until or unless the notice has been received by the Charity. The nominee may continue to represent the organisation until written notice to the contrary is received by the Charity

3) Any notice given to the Charity will be conclusive evidence that the nominee is entitled to represent the organisation or that his or her authority has been revoked. The Charity shall not be required to consider whether the nominee has been properly appointed by the organisation

14. Officers and Trustees

1) The Charity and its property shall be managed and administered by a Board of Trustees comprising the Officers and other members elected in accordance with this constitution. The officers and other members of the Board of Trustees shall be the Trustees of the Charity and in this constitution are together called "the Trustees"

2) The Charity shall have the following Officers:

1. A President

2. A Chair

3. A Secretary

4. A Treasurer

3) The members of the Board of Trustees shall be elected for a period of three years by the annual general meeting, with a third of the Board of Trustees being elected each year

4) The President shall be elected for a period of three years by the annual general meeting

5) The other Officers will be elected at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees after each annual general meeting

6) A Trustee must be an individual member of the Charity.

7) Each Trustee will have a defined role in the furtherance of the Charity's Objects

8) The nominated representative of an Affiliated Organisation can be a non-voting member of the Board of Trustees

9) No one may be appointed a Trustee if he or she would be disqualified from acting under the provisions of Clause 22

10) The number of Trustees shall not be less than three but not more than twelve

11) The first Trustees (including Officers) shall be those persons elected as Trustees at the meeting at which this constitution is adopted

12) A Trustee may not appoint anyone to act on his or her behalf at meetings of the Trustees

17. The Appointment of Trustees

1. The Charity shall elect the Trustees at its annual general meeting

2) A third of the Trustees shall be elected each year for a period of office of three years

3) Each of the Trustees and the President shall retire with effect from the conclusion of the annual general meeting three years after their election but shall be eligible for re-election at that meeting

4) No-one may be elected a Trustee at any annual general meeting unless prior to the meeting the Charity is given a notice that:

1. is signed by a member entitled to vote at the meeting

2. states the member's intention to propose the appointment of a person as a Trustee

3. is signed by the person who is to be appointed to show his or her willingness to be appointee

5) The appointment of a Trustee must not cause the number of Trustees to exceed any number fixed in accordance with this constitution as the maximum number of Trustees

18. The Board of Trustees

1) The Trustees may co-opt members and non-members of the Charity to join the Board for the period of a year at a time. These co-opted members will not be entitled to vote on any business conducted at any meeting of the Board that they attend but can inform any discussion that takes place

2) The nominated representatives of agencies and organisations with Affiliated membership of the Charity will not be entitled to vote on any business conducted at any meeting of the Board that they attend but can inform any discussion that takes place

3) Local and Regional PAVA UK Groups may send a named representative to Board meetings but they must be individual members of the Charity in their own right. They will not be entitled to vote on any business conducted at any meeting that they attend but can inform any discussion that takes place

4) The Board of Trustee shall meet at least quarterly, including the annual general meeting, with the meetings to be hosted by local and regional groups

19. Local and Regional Groups

1. Local and Regional Groups may operate as local networks of practitioners in pursuit of Object e) – see Clause 3 –provided that:

1. they have Terms of Reference that are

consistent and compatible with the stated aim and objectives contained within this constitution

2. they have a management structure comprised solely of Individual members of the Charity

2) provided they meet the above, the local and regional groups will be entitled to send a named representative to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees. They will not be entitled to vote on any business conducted at any meeting that they attend but can inform any discussion that takes place

20. Patrons

1) The Trustees may nominate individuals to the annual general meeting for appointment to the honorary position of Patron of the Charity

2. The Charity should have no more than five Patrons at any one time

3) The position of Patron entitles the holder to attend meetings of the Board of Trustees but not to vote on any business conducted at any meeting that they attend but can inform any discussion that takes place

4) The position of Patron is an appointment for life unless terminated by a resolution of the Trustees that it is in the best interests of the Charity that it be so.

21. Powers of Trustees

1) The Trustees must manage the business of the Charity and have the following powers in order to further the Objects (but not for any other purpose):

1. to raise funds. In doing so, the Trustees must not undertake any substantial permanent trading activity and must comply with any relevant statutory regulations

2. to buy, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any property and to maintain and equip it for use

3. to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the property belonging to the Charity. In exercising this power, the Trustees must comply as appropriate with sections 36 and 37 of the Charities Act 1993

4. to borrow money and to charge the whole or any part of the property belonging to the Charity as security for repayment of the money borrowed. The Trustees must comply as appropriate with sections 38 and 39 of the Charities Act 1993 if they intend to mortgage land

5. to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities and to exchange information and advice with them

6. to establish or support any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for any of the charitable purposes included in the Objects

7. to acquire, merge with or enter into any partnership or joint venture arrangement with any other Charity formed for any of the Objects

8. to set aside income as a reserve against future expenditure but only in accordance with a written policy about reserves

i) to obtain and pay for such goods and services as are necessary for carrying out the work of the Charity

j) to open and operate such bank and other accounts as the Trustees

consider necessary and to invest funds and to delegate the management of the funds in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as the Trustees of a trust are permitted to do by the Trustee Act 2000

k) to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the Objects

2) No alteration of this constitution or any special resolution shall have retrospective effect to invalidate any prior act of the Trustees

3) Any meeting of Trustees at which a quorum is present at the time the relevant decision is made may exercise all the powers exercisable by the Trustees

22. Disqualification and Removal of Trustees

A Trustee shall cease to hold office if he or she:

1) is disqualified for acting as a Trustee by virtue of Section 72 of the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision)

2) ceases to be a member of the Charity

3) becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs

4) resigns as a Trustee by notice to the Charity (but only if at least two Trustees will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect)

5) is absent without the permission of the Trustees from all their meetings held within a period of six consecutive months and the Trustees resolve that his or her office be vacated

23. Proceedings of Trustees

1) The Trustees may regulate their proceedings as they think fit, subject to the provisions of this constitution

2) Any Trustee may call a meeting of the Trustees

3) The secretary must call a meeting of the Trustees if requested to do so by a Trustee

4) Questions arising at a meeting must be decided by a majority of votes

5) In the case of an equality of votes, the person who chairs the meeting shall have a second or casting vote

6) No decision may be made, by a meeting of the Trustees, unless a quorum is present at the time the decision is purported to be made

7) The quorum shall be two or the number nearest to one third of the total number of Trustees, whichever is the greater or such larger number as may be decided from time to time by the Trustees

8) A Trustee shall not be counted in the quorum present when any decision is made about a matter upon which that Trustee is not entitled to vote

9) If the number of Trustees is less than the number fixed as the quorum, the continuing Trustees or Trustee may act only for the purpose of filling vacancies or of calling a general meeting

10) The person elected as the Chair shall chair meetings of the Trustees

11) If the Chair is unwilling to preside or is not present within ten minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the Trustees present may appoint one of their number to chair that meeting

12) The person appointed to chair meetings of the Trustees shall have no functions or powers except those conferred by this constitution or delegated to him or her in writing by the Trustees

13. A resolution in writing signed by all the Trustees entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Trustees or of a committee of Trustees entitled to vote upon the

13. resolution shall be valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Trustees or (as the case may be) a committee of Trustees duly convened and held

14) The resolution in writing may comprise several documents containing the text of the resolution in like form each signed by one or more Trustees

24. Delegation

1) The Trustees may delegate any of their powers or functions to a committee of two or more Trustees but the terms of any such delegation must be recorded in the minute book

2. The Trustees may impose conditions when delegating, including the conditions that:

a) the relevant powers are to be exercised exclusively by the committee to whom they delegate

3. no expenditure may be incurred on behalf of the Charity except in accordance with a budget previously agreed with the Trustees

3) The Trustees may revoke or alter a delegation

4) All acts and proceedings of any committee must be fully and promptly reported to the Trustees

25. Irregularities in Proceedings

1. Subject to sub-clause (2) of this clause, all acts done by a meeting of Trustees, or of a committee of Trustees, shall be valid notwithstanding the participation in any vote of a Trustee:

1. who was disqualified from holding office

2. who had previously retired or who had been obliged by the constitution to vacate office

3. who was not entitled to vote on the matter, whether by reason of a conflict of interest or otherwise if without

9. the vote of that Trustee and

2. that Trustee being counted in the quorum

the decision has been made by a majority of the Trustees at a quorate meeting

2. Sub-clause (1) of this clause does not permit a Trustee to keep any benefit that nay be conferred upon him or her by a resolution of the Trustees or of a committee of Trustees if the resolution would otherwise have been void

3. No resolution or act of  

   1. the Trustees

   2. any committee of the Trustees

   3. the Charity in general meeting shall be invalidated by reason of the failure to give notice to any Trustee or Individual Member or by reason of any procedural defect in the meeting unless it is shown that the failure or defect has materially prejudiced an Individual Member or the beneficiaries of the Charity

   
    

   26. Minutes

   
    

   The Trustees must keep minutes of all:

   
    

   1) appointments of Officers, Trustees and other members of the Board of Trustees made by the Trustees

2) proceedings at meetings of the Charity

2. meetings of the trustees and committees of Trustees including:

a) the names of the Trustees and other parties present at the meeting

b) the decisions made at the meetings and

c) where appropriate the reasons for the decisions

27. Annual Report and Return and Accounts

1. The Trustees must comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1993 with regard to:

1. the keeping of accounting records for the Charity

2. the preparation of annual statements of the account for the Charity

3. the transmission of the statements of account to the Charity

4. the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the Commission

5. the preparation of an annual return and its transmission to the Commission

2) Accounts must be prepared in accordance with the provisions of any Statement of Recommended Practice issued by the Commission, unless the Trustees are required to prepare accounts in accordance with the provisions of such a Statement prepared by another body

28. Registered particulars

The Trustees must notify the Commission promptly of any changes to the Charity's entry on the Central Register of Charities

29. Property

1. The Trustees must ensure the title to:

1. all land held by or in trust for the Charity that is not vested in the Official Custodian of Charities; and

2. all investments held by or behalf of the Charity is vested either in a corporation entitled to act as custodian Trustee or in not less than three individuals appointed by them as holding Trustees

2) The terms of the appointment of any holding Trustees must provide that they may act only in accordance with lawful directions of the Trustees and that if they do so they will not be liable for the acts and defaults of the Trustees or of the members of the Charity

3) The Trustees may remove the holding Trustees at any time

30. Repair and insurance

The Trustees must keep in repair and insure to their full value against fire and other usual risks all the buildings of the Charity (except those buildings that are required to be kept in repair and insured by a tenant). They must also insure suitably in respect of public liability and employer's liability

31. Notices

1. Any notice required by this constitution to be given to or by any person must be:

1. in writing; or

2. given using electronic communications

2. The Charity may give any notice to a member either:

1. personally; or

2. by sending it by post in a pre-paid envelope addressed to the member at his or her address; or

3. by leaving it at the address of the member; or

4. by giving it using electronic communications to the member's address

3) A member who does not register an address with the Charity or who registers only a postal address that is not within the United Kingdom shall not be entitled to receive any notice from the Charity

4) A member present in person at any meeting of the Charity shall be deemed to have received notice of the meeting and of the purposes for which it was called

5) a) Proof that an envelope containing a notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given b) Proof that a notice contained in an electronic communication was sent in accordance with guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given c) A notice shall be deemed to be given 48 hours after the envelope containing it was posted or, in the case of an electronic communication, 48 hours after it was sent

32 Rules

1. The Trustees may from time to time make rules or bye-laws for the conduct of their business

2) The bye-laws may regulate the following matters but are not restricted to them:

a) the admission of members of the Charity, (including the admission of organisations to membership), and the rights and privileges of such members, and the entrance fees, subscriptions and other fees or payments to be made by members

b) the conduct of members of the Charity in relation to one another, and to the Charity's employees and volunteers

c) the setting aside of the whole or any parts of the Charity's premises at any particular time or times or for any particular purpose or purposes

d) the procedure at general meeting and meetings of the Trustees in so far as such procedure is not regulated by this constitution

e) the keeping and authenticating of records. (if regulations made under this clause permit records of the Charity to be kept in electronic form and requires a Trustee to sign the record, the regulations must specify a method of recording the signature that enables it to be properly authenticated)

f) the role and functions of the Officers; these will be reviewed and confirmed at each and every annual general meeting of the Charity

g) generally, all such matters as are commonly the subject matter of the rules of an unincorporated association

3) The Charity in general meeting has the power to alter, add to or repeal the rules or bye-laws

4) The Trustees must adopt such means as they think sufficient to bring the rules and bye-laws to the notice of members of the Charity

5) The rules or bye-laws shall be binding on all members of the Charity. No rule or bye-law shall be inconsistent with, or shall affect or repeal anything contained in this constitution

33. Signatures

…………………………………… M L Eastman (Trustee)

…………………………………… W G Jones (Trustee)

…………………………………… P E Morgan (Trustee)