1. NAME

The name shall be Momentum (‘the Council’)

2. OBJECTS

The objects of the Council shall be for any charitable purpose for the benefit of the public in Norfolk, particularly for the benefit of those young members of the public up to the age of 25 years, by associating the voluntary organisations, institutions and member organisations of the Council in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of such young members of the public so that they may grow to full maturity as responsible individuals and as members of society.

3. POWERS

In furtherance of its objects but not further or otherwise the Council may:

3.1 Act as an umbrella organisation for voluntary youth organisations in the County of Norfolk.

3.2 Provide an association through which partnerships can be built with and between, other agencies.

3.3 Provide support to the Management teams of the member organisations with information and resources, to advance the development of activity programmes and encourage young people in decision making and good citizenship.

3.4 Provide an association and advocacy service through which member organisations can network and participate in local, regional or national consultations on issues affecting young people.

3.5 Provide an association for the promotion of the voluntary youth sector in the County of Norfolk.

3.6 Raise funds and invite and receive contributions provided that the Board of Trustees shall not undertake any substantial trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law.

3.7 Develop a network of support for voluntary organisations of all sizes providing a service to young people in the County of Norfolk.

3.8 Adopt any method which is consistent with the aim of the Council stated above.

3.9 Do all such other lawful things as may further the above mentioned objects.

4. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL

4.1 Membership of the Council is open to organisations providing services to young people living temporarily or permanently within the County of Norfolk. Such organisations must be constituted as a voluntary organisation, in that their governing body is in the majority, made up of volunteers.

4.2 Member organisations shall share the objects of the Council and be entitled to appoint two representatives with voting rights to the Council, one of whom, where possible, should be under twenty-five

4.3 The Board of Trustees reserves the right to refuse Membership, or to withdraw membership at any time with prior notice.

4.4 The County Director of Children’s Services has the right to appoint a non-voting representative to attend the Council in General meetings.

4.5 The Council shall have the right to co-opt individuals from time to time, up to a maximum of 6 and who shall have voting rights

4.6 A person appointed by the Board of Trustees, shall be responsible for keeping Minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and Council.

4.7 The Council shall meet at least annually

5. BOARD OF TRUSTEES

5.1 The Board of trustees shall be elected annually by the Council in General meetings and shall consist of no less than five and no more than eleven persons.

5.2 No Trustee shall acquire any interest in or property belonging to Momentum (otherwise than as a trustee of the Council) or receive any remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a Trustee) in any contract entered into by the Council. Any Trustee who is a solicitor or accountant or other person engaged in a profession may charge and be paid all the usual professional charges for business done by him or her or his or her firm when instructed by other Trustees to act in a professional capacity on behalf of the Council. Provided that at no time shall a majority of the Trustees benefit under this provision and a Trustee shall withdraw from any meeting at which his or her own instruction or remuneration of that of his of her firm is under discussion

5.3 The Board of Trustees shall have the power to co-opt up to three persons from within or outside the Council, such that members elected from the Council shall always have the majority in any vote taken.

5.4 Each member of the Board of Trustees shall have one vote in any decision taken. In the event of an equality of votes cast, the Chair shall have an additional casting vote.

5.5 The Board of Trustees shall meet on at least four occasions per calendar year. A quorum at meetings shall consist of 50% trustees.

5.6 A person appointed by the Board of Trustees, shall be responsible for keeping Minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the Council.

5.7 Any paid officers of the Council may be invited to attend meetings with no voting rights.

5.8 The County Director of Children’s Services has the right to appoint a non-voting representative to attend the Board of Trustees meetings.

6. OFFICERS

6.1 Officers shall be: Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and other such Officers as the Council in General Meeting shall, from time to time, determine and shall be elected annually.

6.2 Officers shall normally be elected from within the membership of the Board of Trustees at the first meeting of the Trustees following the Annual General Meeting or can be at subsequent meetings.

6.3 An Officer should normally serve a maximum of 3 years in the same capacity.

6.4 In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair will chair the meeting, or in their absence, a Chair be elected from those present for the meting.

7. STEERING GROUP

7.1 The Board of Trustees shall appoint a Steering Group to form the strategic planning and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

7.2 The Steering Group to undertake powers delegated to it by the Board of Trustees.

7.3 The Steering Group shall include the elected officers of the Board of Trustees and up to a minimum of three additional persons appointed co-opted from within, or outside the Board of Trustees. Co-optees from outside the Board to be non-voting.

7.4 The Chair of the Board of Trustees shall also be the Chair of the Steering Group.

7.5 Any member of the Board of Trustees has the right of attendance at a Steering Group meeting as an observer and has the right to receive Minutes of any meeting held.

7.6 A quorum for meetings of the Steering Group shall be 50% members.

8. FINANCE

8.1 All monies granted to, or on behalf of the Council shall be applied to further purposes of the Council and not otherwise provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any paid employee, or volunteer, of the Council for the repayment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

8.2 The Treasurer shall ensure that proper accounts are kept of the finances of the Council and report on income and expenditure to each meeting of the Board of Trustees.

8.3 The accounts shall be independently examined or audited at least once a annually by the examiner, auditor or auditors appointed at the Annual General Meeting.

8.4 An independently examined or audited statement of the accounts for the previous financial year shall be submitted to the Annual General Meeting.

8.5 A bank account/accounts shall be opened in the name of the Council with a bank or banks as shall be decided by the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall authorise in writing, the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and any other Trustees or any staff members as it shall decide to sign cheques on behalf of the Council. These cheques shall have at least two signatories for authorisation, one of which would normally be a Trustee.

8.6 The Financial Year shall commence on 1 April and terminate on 31 March each year.

9. SUBSCRIPTIONS

9.1 Every member shall pay to the Council such annual subscriptions as the Council shall in General Meeting from time to time determine, which will be due at the start of the financial year.

9.2 Membership shall normally be deemed to have terminated if subscriptions are more than 3 months in arrears.

10. STANDING ORDERS

10.1 The Board of Trustees shall have the power to adopt and issue Standing Orders and/or rules which shall come into operation immediately, provided always that they shall be subject to ratification by the Council at the next General Meeting and shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution.

11. MEETINGS

11.1 Annual General Meeting
Each year ‘the Council’ shall hold its Annual General Meeting, not more than three months after the commencement of the financial year, at which the following business shall be transacted:
a) Election of Board of Trustees
b) Presentation of an audited statement of accounts
c) Presentation of an Annual Report
d) Appointment of independent examiner or auditors.

Not less than fourteen clear days’ notice in writing shall be given to the members in calling a General Meeting and an Annual General Meeting.

11.2 Special General Meeting

A Special General Meeting shall be called by the Board of Trustees or person appointed by the Board of Trustees, or at the request of no less than 10% of the member organisations. Not less than fourteen clear days’ notice shall be given, stating the business of the meeting.

11.3 A quorum at an Annual or Special General meeting shall consist of at least 10 member organisations or 50% should the number of member organisations be 20 or less.

12. SPECIAL COMMITTEES

12.1 The ‘Council’ or Trustees may appoint such special or standing committees as may be deemed necessary and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of such special or standing committees shall be reported back to the Board of Trustees regularly.

13. VOTING

13.1 Issues raised at any meeting requiring a vote shall be decided by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. In the event of equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second and casting vote. The same rule to apply to Postal Voting.

13.2 Postal Voting
In order to effect any changes to Momentum Constitution which are proposed and discussed at the Annual General Meeting which is non-quorate ( in accordance with section 14 of the Constitution of Momentum ), agreement from Momentum membership for such proposed changes may be achieved through the process of a postal vote.

Postal voting to be processed through the completion of a postal voting form, this is to be signed by the appointed formal representative(s) of member organisations in current membership at the date of the vote. Member organisations are entitled to appoint two representatives, each of whom will have one vote.

Appointed representatives of Member organisations to receive :-

• A letter outlining the purpose of the postal vote
• A draft constitution showing the proposed changes requiring approval
• A postal voting form

The completed voting form to be returned to Momentum office at the registered address by the closing date specified.

14. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

14.1 This Constitution may be amended by resolution at an Annual General meeting of the Council or a Special General meeting of the Council convened for the purpose by not less than 14 days notice in writing which shall be sent to each member organisation of the Council. Neither this Constitution nor any amendments to this Constitution shall have effect until approved by the membership of the Council.

14.2 Any proposal for an alteration to the constitution must be submitted to the Secretary at least 21 clear days before the meeting at which it is to be discussed. This notice must give details of the proposed alteration such that no proposed alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Council to cease to be a charity at law.

14.3 The following clauses of the Constitution require the approval of the Charity Commission before amendment may take place:-

Clause 1 Name of Charity
Clause 2 Objects
Clause 5.2 Personal Interest of Members of the Board of Trustees
Clause 14 Alterations to the Constitution
Clause 15 Dissolution

15. DISSOLUTION

If the Board of Trustees, by a simple majority, decide at any time that, on the grounds of expense or otherwise, it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Council, it shall call a General Meeting of the Council with not less than 28 days clear notice (setting out the terms of the resolution to be proposed thereat) shall be given. If such decision shall be confirmed by a two thirds majority of member organisations’ representatives of the Council present and voting at such meeting, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to dispose of any assets held by or on behalf of the Council. Any assets remaining after satisfaction of any proper debts or liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institutions having objects similar to those of the Council as the Board of Trustees determine.

A copy of the statement, for the full accounting period of the Council must be sent to the Charity Commission.

16. INTERPRETATION

16.1 Young People as used in this constitution shall mean persons who are aged up to 25 years.

16.2 A ‘Voluntary Youth organisation’ as used in this constitution shall mean an organisation governed by an elected Management Committee or a Board of Trustees who have declared social or educational benefits to young people and are established otherwise than for profit or gain. This may include local units of National Organisations but excludes all statutory bodies and semi-independent offshoots of local authorities.