Small Charity Constitution

OCTOBER 2009
New format January 2017
Small Charity Constitution

Suitable for small charities with an annual income under £5,000 that don’t own a building or employ people and do
not intend to register with the Charity Commission.

1 Name

The charity’s name is ........................................................................................................................................................

2 The purposes of the charity are:-

............................................................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................................................

3 Trustees

The charity shall be managed by a committee of trustees who are appointed at the Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the charity.

4 Carrying out the purposes

In order to carry out the charitable purposes, the trustees have the power to:

(1) raise funds, receive grants and donations

(2) apply funds to carry out the work of the charity

(3) co-operate with and support other charities with similar purposes

(4) do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes

5 Membership

The charity shall have a membership. People who support the work of the charity and are aged 18 or over, can
apply to the trustees to become a member. Once accepted by the trustees, membership lasts for 3 years and
may be renewed. The trustees will keep an up-to-date membership list.

The trustees may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best interests of the charity. The
member has the right to be heard by the trustees before the decision is made and can be accompanied by
a friend.

6 Annual General Meeting - AGM

(1) The AGM must be held every year, with 14 days notice given to all members telling them what is on the
agenda. Minutes must be kept of the AGM.

(2) There must be at least ........... members present at the AGM.

(3) Every member has one vote.

1
 (4) The trustees shall present the annual report and accounts.

(5) Any member may stand for election as a trustee.

(6) Members shall elect between 3 and 10 trustees to serve for the next year. They will retire at the next
AGM but may stand for re-election.

7 Trustee meetings

(1) Trustees must hold at least 3 meetings each year. At their first meeting after the AGM they will elect a
chair, treasurer and secretary. Trustees may act by majority decision.

(2) At least 3 trustees must be present at the meeting to be able to take decisions. Minutes shall be kept
for every meeting.

(3) If trustees have a conflict of interest they must declare it and leave the meeting while this matter is
being discussed or decided.

(4) During the year, the trustees may appoint up to 2 additional trustees. They will stand down at the
next AGM.

(5) The trustees may make reasonable additional rules to help run the charity. These rules must not conflict
with this constitution or the law.

8 Money and property

(1) Money and property must only be used for the charity’s purposes.

(2) Trustees must keep accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anybody on request.

(3) Trustees cannot receive any money or property from the charity, except to refund reasonable out of
pocket expenses.

(4) Money must be held in the charity’s bank account. All cheques must be signed by 2 trustees.

9 General meetings

If the Trustees consider it is necessary to change the constitution, or wind up the charity, they must call a
General Meeting so that the membership can make the decision. Trustees must also call a General Meeting if
they receive a written request from the majority of members. All members must be given 14 days notice and
told the reason for the meeting. All decisions require a two thirds majority. Minutes must be kept.

(1) Winding up - any money or property remaining after payment of debts must be given to a charity with
similar purposes to this one.

(2) Changes to the Constitution - can be made at AGMs or General Meetings. No change can be made
that would make the organisation no longer a charity.

(3) General Meeting - called on written request from a majority of members.

(4) Trustees may also call a General Meeting to consult the membership

2
10 Setting up the charity

This constitution was adopted on ................................. 20 ........ by the people whose signatures appear below.
They are the first members of the charity and will be the trustees until the AGM, which must be held within
one year of this date.

Signed Print name and address

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................ ............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

This constitution has been developed and promoted with the following organisations: