Headingley Hawks Constitution

1. Name
The club will be called Headingley Hawks and will be affiliated to the Yorkshire Juniors

2. Aims and objectives
The aims and objectives of the Club will be:
• To provide facilities for and promote participation in the amateur sport of Rugby League in Meanwood Leeds West Yorks
• To offer coaching and competition opportunities in Rugby League
• To promote the club within the local community and in Rugby League
• To manage Headingley Hawks
• To ensure a duty of care to all members of the Club
• To provide all its services in a way that is fair to everyone

3. Membership
Membership of the Club shall be open to anyone interested in rugby league on application regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs. [However, membership may be limited according to available facilities on a non-discriminatory basis.]

The Club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis. The Club will keep subscriptions at levels that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.

The Management Committee may refuse membership, or remove it, only for good cause such as conduct or character likely to bring the Club or the sport of rugby league into disrepute.

Membership should consist of officers and members of the club.

All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the Club will be deemed to accept these regulations and all codes of practice that the Club has adopted.

Members will be enrolled in one of the following categories:

• Full member
• Associate member
• Junior member
• Life member

4. Membership fees
Membership fees will be set annually and agreed by the Management Committee or determined at the Annual General Meeting.

Fees will be paid: monthly

5. Officers of the club
The officers of the club will be:

• Chair:
• Vice Chair:
• Honorary Secretary:
• Treasurer:
• Fixtures Secretary:
• Publicity Officer:
• Volunteer Coordinator:
• Any other relevant position:

Officers will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

All officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-appointment.

6. Committee
The Club will be managed through the Management Committee consisting of:

• The Secretary, chairperson and Treasurer. Only these posts will have the right to vote at meetings of the Management Committee

• The Management Committee meetings will be convened by the Secretary of the club and held no less than twice per year

• The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be: five

• The Management Committee will be responsible for adopting new policy, codes of practice and rules that affect the organisation of the club

• The Management Committee will have powers to appoint subcommittees as necessary and appoint advisers to the Management Committee as necessary to fulfil its business

• The Management Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club rules/regulations /constitution. The Management Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

7. Finance
All Club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the Club.

The Club Treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the Club.

The financial year of the Club will end on: 31st December

An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.

Any cheques drawn against Club funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus two other officers.
8. Property and Funds
(i) The property and funds of the Club cannot be used for the direct or indirect private benefit of members other than as reasonably allowed by these Rules and all surplus income or profits are reinvested in the Club.
(ii) The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away-match expenses, post-match refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports Clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002.
(iii) The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the Club:
a. sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment;
b. employ members (though not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Management Committee without the person concerned being present;
c. pay for reasonable hospitality for visiting teams and guests; and
d. indemnify the Management Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the Club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the Club (but only to the extent of its assets).
(iv) The Committee will have due regard to the law on disability discrimination and child protection.

9. Annual General Meetings
Notice of Annual General Meetings (AGM) will be given by the Club Secretary. Not less than 21 clear days’ notice to be given to all members.

The AGM will receive a report from officers of the Management Committee and a statement of the audited accounts.

Nominations for officers of the Management Committee will be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM.

Elections of officers are to take place at the AGM.

All members have the right to vote at the AGM.

The quorum for AGMs will be the numbers present

The Management Committee has the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the AGM. Procedures for EGMs will be the same as for the AGM.

10. Discipline and appeals
All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice/abuse relating to the welfare of children and young people will be recorded and responded to swiftly and appropriately in accordance with the club’s child protection policy and procedures. The club Welfare Officer is the lead contact for all members in the event of any child protection concerns.

All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and submitted in writing to the Secretary.

A sub-committee of the Management Committee (made up of at least [3] members of the Management Committee) will meet to hear complaints within 14 Days (or such longer period as the Management Committee deem appropriate to allow a proper investigation into the complaint) of a complaint being lodged. The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.

The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the hearing.

There will be the right of appeal by the person against whom the complaint was made to the Management Committee following disciplinary action being announced. A sub-committee of the Management Committee (made up of at least [3] members of the Management Committee who to the extent possible shall not include any individual who sat on the initial hearing) should consider the appeal within 7 days of the Secretary receiving the appeal.

11. Dissolution
(i) Members may vote to wind up the Club if not less than three quarters of those present and voting support that proposal at a properly convened general meeting.
(ii) The Committee will then be responsible for the orderly winding up of the Club’s affairs
(iii) After settling all liabilities of the Club, the Management Committee shall dispose of the net assets remaining to one or more of the following:
a. to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered charity and/or
b. to another Club with similar sports purposes which is a registered CASC and/or
c. to the sport’s governing body for use by them for related community sports.

12. Amendments to the constitution
The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

13. Declaration
Headingley Hawks hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.

Signed K Thompson Date: 11th January 2016
Name: Karen Thompson
Position: Club Chair

Signed: C.Conboy Date:11th January 2016
Name: Catherine CONBOY
Position: Club Secretary