SUSTAINABLE LEDBURY
CONSTITUTION
1a
Name
Sustainable
Ledbury
1b
Status
Community Interest Group
(formed July 2019)
2
Aims and Objectives
To carry out, support and
develop projects and ideas which will enable ‘sustainable’ living in Ledbury.
In this context ‘sustainable’ is taken to mean enabling the town to reduce its
carbon foot print and increase efficiency and therefore reduce its use of the
world’s resources. This will be by:
i.
Identifying projects and ideas which will
enable sustainable living.
ii.
Forming and supporting ‘project groups’ to
carry out projects.
iii.
Raising money to support such projects and enable
appropriate publicity.
iv.
Working for the good of the community,
building the spirit of community in Ledbury.
v.
Building links with local groups, societies,
businesses and local schools to promote more sustainable living.
3 Powers
In furtherance of the
objectives of the Group, the Committee may exercise the following powers:
i.
To open and manage a bank account on behalf
of Sustainable Ledbury.
ii.
To raise funds and
invite and receive grants, donations and other contributions.
iii.
To buy, hire or lease
and to maintain any equipment, facility, service or materials necessary for the
achievement of the objectives of the Group.
iv.
To sell, lease, lend or
dispose of all or any part of the property of the Group.
v.
To publish books,
pamphlets and other materials in printed, recorded or electronic format, and to
hold the intellectual property rights in any such material.
vi.
To organise conferences,
debates, seminars, meetings and such other events as the Committee may
determine.
vii.
To cooperate with other
organisations, enterprises and persons in furtherance of any of the objects or
of similar purposes.
viii.
To establish working
groups reporting to the Committee of members and where appropriate non-members
to carry out specific activities.
ix.
To do all such other
lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objectives
4 Membership
Sustainable Ledbury is non
political and welcomes all residents, businesses and organisations in Ledbury
and the surrounding area who have an interest in making Ledbury and its surroundings more
sustainable and who wish to support any project or event in support of this. For
example this might be by reducing waste, minimising our carbon footprint, and
improving quality of life without damaging the environment.
5 Management Group/ Committee
i.
Roles:
There will be 3 officers: Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. In
addition, as required, others may be asked to help in such areas as Events Coordination,
Publicity/ Press, Fund Raising.
ii.
These offices will be filled on an annual
basis by agreement of those present at an annual meeting.
iii.
In addition there will be up to 9 members who
together with the 3 officers will form the committee for decision making
purposes. Membership of the committee will be agreed each year at an annual
meeting.
iv.
Where a quorum is needed for a decision this
will require two thirds of the committee to be present and the decision will be
by majority vote.
6 Meetings
i.
Meetings of the full group will normally be
held every 2 months.
ii.
Meetings of project groups will be held as
and when required, and the project group members will report back to the full
meetings every 2 months.
iii.
There will be an annual meeting, no more than
three months after the end of the financial year, therefore between the
beginning of April and the end of June. This meeting will receive the statement
of accounts and agree the 3 officers and committee members for the coming year.
iv.
At least 14 days notice shall be given before
the annual meeting takes place.
v.
Voting is open to current committee members,
current project leaders and volunteers who have been actively involved in
Sustainable Ledbury projects, events, training and preparation for events
during the last 6 months. In the event of a query on this, the Chairman’s
decision will be final. In the case of a tied vote, the Chairman or the
appointed deputy for the meeting, shall make the final decision.
7 Finance
i.
The financial year shall run from 1st
April to 31st March.
ii.
A Bank Account shall be set up, approved by
the 3 officers, and documents relating to the Bank Account shall be signed by
at least 2 of them with all 3 being
signatories.
iii.
Official accounts shall be maintained and
examined annually by an independent person who has not been party to managing
the accounts.
iv.
An annual financial report shall be presented
to the annual meeting.
8 Amendments to the Constitution
i.
Anyone wishing to amend the constitution must
put their proposal in writing to the
Secretary.
ii.
The Secretary will circulate the proposed
amendment to those actively taking part in the work of Sustainable Ledbury and
give 6 week’s notice of a special meeting.
iii.
At this meeting, voting is open to current
committee members, current project leaders and volunteers who have been
actively involved in Sustainable Ledbury projects, events, training and
preparation for events during the last 6 months. In the event of a query on
this, the Chairman’s decision will be final. In the event of a tied vote, the Chairman
or the appointed deputy for the meeting shall make the final decision.
9 Dissolution
i.
If deemed necessary, Sustainable Ledbury may
be dissolved by a majority vote at a Special Meeting.
ii.
Any assets or remaining funds, after any
debts have been paid, shall be transferred to local charities or similar
groups, supporting sustainable living. The choice of organisations will be at
the discretion of the 3 officers, taking into consideration proposals from the
special meeting agreeing the dissolution.
This Constitution was
adopted at the General Meeting on 9th October 2019
Equal
Opportunities Policy.
Sustainable Ledbury is a community interest group,
committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our supporters
and volunteers, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.
We believe in promoting diversity and inclusivity within
our community and aim to create an environment where everyone is treated with
respect and dignity. We are committed to preventing discrimination and ensuring
that no individual or group is disadvantaged on the basis of protected characteristics
as defined by The Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment,
marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or
belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
We welcome volunteers from all sections of society who
have an interest in living more sustainably and/or protecting our environment.
We are committed to preventing unlawful discrimination
against any members of the public with whom we come into contact.
Our
policy’s purpose
This policy’s purpose is to promote equality, diversity,
and inclusivity within the activities of Sustainable Ledbury and to outline the
process for addressing any instances of unlawful discrimination or harassment.
This policy applies to all officers, volunteers, and
partners of Sustainable Ledbury and covers all aspects of volunteering,
including the preparation of publicity and promotional material and the conduct
of events and activities organised by Sustainable Ledbury.
Our
commitments
Sustainable Ledbury commits to:
- Encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion amongst
its volunteers.
- Creating an environment free of bullying, harassment,
victimisation and unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for
all, and recognising and valuing the individual differences and the contributions
of all.
- Taking seriously complaints of bullying, harassment,
victimisation and unlawful discrimination by fellow volunteers and dealing with
them appropriately.
Dealing
with Complaints
The responsibility for dealing with complaints will rest
with Sustainable Ledbury’s committee. Any incidents of discrimination, harassment,
or bullying will be taken seriously and addressed promptly. Individuals who
feel they have been subject to such behaviour are encouraged to report it to
their project leader or a member of the committee directly. All complaints will
be investigated confidentially and appropriate action will be taken.
Monitoring and Review
This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it meets
the needs of our community and reflects any changes in legislation.
Health and Safety Statement
Sustainable Ledbury is committed to ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health,
safety and wellbeing of all supporters, volunteers, participants and visitors
involved in our activities.
We recognise
our responsibility to provide a safe and supportive environment and will take
reasonable steps to prevent accidents, injury and ill health.
Our Commitment
We will:
- Provide safe environments
for meetings, events and activities
- Identify and minimise
potential hazards where possible
- Encourage safe behaviour
and shared responsibility among members and volunteers
- Provide information and
guidance on health and safety when needed
- Take concerns or
incidents seriously and respond appropriately
Responsibilities
- The project
organisers/committee members will take reasonable steps to plan activities safely and address
any known risks.
- Members and volunteers are expected to take
care of their own safety and that of others, follow guidance given, and
report hazards, accidents or near misses.
Accidents and Emergencies
- Any accidents or
incidents should be reported to a project organiser as soon as possible.
- First aid arrangements
will be made appropriate to the size and nature of the activity.
- In an emergency, the
safety of individuals will always take priority.
Working Outdoors
When
activities take place outdoors, Sustainable Ledbury will take reasonable steps
to ensure these are carried out safely.
We will:
- Consider weather
conditions and postpone or adapt activities if conditions are unsafe
·
Assess
risks related to uneven or rough terrain, slopes, watercourses, and changing
ground conditions
·
Be
aware of livestock, wildlife, insects and plants that may cause harm (e.g.
stings, bites, or irritant plants)
·
Take
precautions when working near water, steep edges, woodland or farmed land
- Encourage suitable
clothing and footwear for the activity and weather
- Ensure tools and
equipment used outdoors are suitable and in a safe condition
- Make drinking water, rest
breaks and shade available where appropriate
Participants
and volunteers are expected to:
- Follow instructions given
by the project lead
- Dress appropriately for
outdoor conditions
- Look out for hazards and
report any concerns immediately
Outdoor
activities will be
planned to match the experience and abilities of those involved, and work will
be adapted or stopped if conditions become unsafe.
Review
This
statement will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect
changes in activities or guidance.
28.12.25
Safeguarding
Statement
Sustainable Ledbury
is a small community interest group, committed to providing a safe, inclusive,
and supportive environment for everyone involved in our activities or having an
interest in living a more sustainable life.
Although we
do not routinely work directly with children and young people, we recognise our
responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people,
as well as vulnerable adults. We believe that everyone has the right to be
protected from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
To support
this, we:
- Treat all individuals with
respect, dignity, and fairness
- Promote equality, diversity, and
inclusion
- Take all concerns, allegations,
or disclosures seriously
- Ensure that reports of
safeguarding concerns are reported to the appropriate person within the
project(s)
Any
safeguarding concerns will be handled promptly, sensitively, and
confidentially, with the welfare of the individual as our highest priority.
This
statement applies to all members, volunteers, leaders, and anyone involved in
the activities of Sustainable Ledbury and will be reviewed annually.
29.12.25
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