The constitution was adopted on the 4th October 2005 and revised on the 6th March 2007 at the Annual General Meeting.

NAME: The name of the Association shall be:-
LGBT NETWORK (Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual and Trans Network - ‘The Association’)

1. AREA OF BENEFIT

Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire area

2 . OBJECTIVES

The objects of the Association shall be to:

• provide a united and recognised voice for the LGBT community and a mechanism for agencies to consult and respond to issues affected them.
• provide a forum for the LGBT community.
• give support and assistance for good health, mental and emotional well being of LGBT individuals.
• support the provision of community/recreational/sporting events and other appropriate activities to meet the needs of LGBT community.
• encourage participation/raise self worth, achievements and reduce the isolation of young LGBT people.
• provide support and recognise the needs of older LGBT people and to recognise diversity within our community
• promote good relations between the LGBT Network with others groups and agencies.
• promote positive relations with the wider community, break down barriers and encourage community cohesion.
• provide training and support for individuals, groups and organisations.
• encourage and support community safety initiatives, the reporting of hate crime and other violent crimes.
• encourage good practice within education and employment.

3. VALUES

The Association will not tolerate discrimination against individuals or groups based on their sexual orientation, age, gender, gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, nationality or HIV status. We will actively seek to promote equality of opportunity in our management and activities. We are committed to challenge the structures that limit choice and exclude.

4. POWERS

In the furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Executive Committee may exercise the following powers:

• Power to raise funds and invite and receive contributions.
• Power to organise activities, events, lectures, discussions and to produce leaflets and other publicity material.
• Power to consult the public by arranging meetings and surveys.
• Power to co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects and to exchange information and advice with them.
• Power to purchase, take on lease or hire property in furtherance of the objects.
• Power to pay reasonable out of pocket expenses to committee members and volunteers for costs incurred in carrying out the Associations business.
• Power to remunerate any member of the General Committee for services rendered to the Association.
• Power to insure and arrange any insurance cover necessary against all such risks incurred by the Association and volunteers in the course of their duties.
• Power to employ staff.
• Power to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.
• Promote, carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out research, surveys, and investigations and publish the useful results of such research, surveys and investigations.

Power to co-operate with other associations, voluntary bodies, and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and good practice with them.

6. MEMBERSHIP

a) Full membership of the Association shall be open to all persons aged 18 years or over, interested in furthering the objectives.

b) Youth membership of the Association shall be open to all persons under the age of 18 years interested in furthering the objectives. Young members will not be entitled to vote at meetings or to become members of the Executive Committee.

c) Agency/Group membership of the Association shall be open to any Agency/Group that undertakes to promote the Objectives of The Association within its remit.

d) The Executive Committee may for good and sufficient reason terminate the membership of any individual, provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision has been made.

e) Members will only be allowed voting rights if they have attended six meetings over a nine-month period.

f) Membership to the Executive is subject to CRB clearance.

7. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

a) The Association shall be managed by an Executive Committee to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

b) The Executive Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer (“the Officers”), and not more than 8 other members.

c) If vacancies occur among the officers, the committee shall have the power to fill them from among its members, subject to CRB clearance.

d) The Committee may co-opt up to three full members of the Association to serve on the Committee until the next Annual General Meeting.

e) All members of the Executive Committee shall retire from office at the Annual General Meeting following the date on which they came into office but they may be re-elected or re-appointed.

8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

a) The Executive Committee shall hold at least three ordinary meetings each year.

b) There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the members of the Committee or three members of the Committee, whichever is the greater, are present at a meeting.

c) The group shall meet up once a month, with a minimum of 10 meetings a year.

d) Every matter shall be determined by a majority of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting. In case of equality of votes the Chairperson shall have a second or casting vote.

e) Minutes shall be kept as a record of the proceedings of the meeting of the Committee and any of its sub-committees.

f) The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees providing that all acts and proceedings of the sub-committees shall be fully and promptly reported to the Executive Committee and may in addition co-opt up to 2 further people who are full members of the Association.

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

a) There shall be an annual general meeting, which shall be held as soon as practicable after the end of Association’s financial year. Members shall be given at least 14 days’ notice.

b) The Executive Committee shall present the report and accounts of the Association for the preceding year.

c) Nominations for election to the Executive Committee must be made by members of the Association in writing before the commencement of the meeting.

d) The quorum at the Annual General Meeting shall be 10 members, or one quarter of the members, whichever is the greater.

10. GENERAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

The Executive Committee may at any time call a general or special general meeting of the Association stating the business to be discussed. A special meeting may also be called by the Secretary if a written request is received from at least 10 members. At least 14 days’ notice shall be given for special general meetings.

11. FINANCE

a) All monies raised by or on behalf of the Association shall be applied to further the objects of the Association and for no other purpose.

b) The funds of the Association including all donations, contributions and bequests shall be paid into an account operated by the Executive Committee shall from time to time decide.

c) All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by two Officers and must be approved by the Executive Committee.

d) The Executive Committee shall comply with the obligations for trustees under the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of the Act) with regard to:

1. The keeping of accounting records.
2. The preparation of annual statements of account.
3. The auditing or independent examination of the statements of account.

12. AMENDMENTS

Any amendment to the constitution shall require the approval of a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the General Meeting at which it is discussed. Any resolution for the amendment of the constitution must be received by the Secretary at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward.

13. DISSOLUTION

a) The Association may be dissolved at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose and must be advertised 14 days before the meeting.

b) Such proposals to dissolve the Association shall take effect only if agreed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting at the meeting.

c) Surplus funds of the Association, if it is dissolved, shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or voluntary organisation having similar objects as the members of the Association may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose.