NLPD CONSTITUTION
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INDEX
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1. Name
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2. Purposes
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3. Carrying out Purposes
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4. Trustees
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5. Disqualification & removal of trustees
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6. Membership
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7. Annual General Meeting
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8. Trustee Meetings
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9. Written Resolutions
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10. Money & Property
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11. General meeting / winding up / changes to the constitution
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12. Setting up a charity
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1. NAME
Northern Lights Parkinson's Support Group (NLPD)
A CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
2. THE AIMS OF THE CHARITABLE ORGANISATION ARE:
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To offer support to people living with Parkinson's Disease and to help them find a way to enjoy their lives as much as possible. There will be the need to raise funds
in order to offer and implement beneficial opportunities to members of the Parkinson's community within the general community. The nature of the opportunities will depend upon several factors including (but not limited to)
Health & Safety considerations - personal and organisation focussed.
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Cost - a realistic cost per person subsidy will be agreed upon between the trustees.
​Any contribution is discretionary and may be withdrawn should it be deemed fitting by the trustees.
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The Parkinson's Community refers to patients, their partners, families and carers whose lives have been affected by Parkinson's Disease.
3. CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSES
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In order to carry out the charitable purposes, the trustees have the power to:
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(1) raise funds, receive grants and donations
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(2) apply funds to carry out the work of the charity
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(3) co-operate with and support other charities with similar charitable purposes where there is no detriment to NLPD
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(4) Do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the charity's purposes.
4. TRUSTEES
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(1) The charity shall be managed by a committee of trustees who are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the charity, or at any suitably convened meeting. The founding members will act as trustees for the initial 12 month period.
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(2) The charity must have the following officers:
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A chairperson - John Roche
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A secretary - TBA
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A treasurer - Tracy Roche
(3) A trustee must be a member of the charity or the nominated representative of an organisation that is a member of the charity.​
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(4) A trustee may not appoint anyone to act on his or her behalf at a meeting of the trustees.
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(5) No one may be appointed a trustee if he or she would be disqualified from acting as a trustee under the provisions of clause 5.
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5. DISQUALIFICATION & REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES
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A trustee must cease to hold office if he or she:
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(1) is disqualified from acting as a trustee by any relevant act or provision (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision)
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(2) ceases to be a member of the charity
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(3) in the written opinion, given to the trustees, of a registered medical practitioner treating that person, has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a charity trustee and may remain so for more than three months
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(4) resigns as a trustee by notice to the charity (but only if at least two trustees will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect) or
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(5) is absent without the permission of the trustees from all their meetings held within a period of six consecutive months and the trustees resolve that his or her office be vacated.
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6. MEMBERSHIP
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(1) 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 2 years and may be renewed. The trustees will keep an up to date membership list.
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(2) The membership list must detail: All subject to current legislation in respect of Data Protection.
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The full name of the member
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The full address of the member
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A contact telepehone number (if avaiable)
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An email address (if available)
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(3) The trustees may remove a person's membership if they believe it is in the best interest 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.
7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
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(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 at the AGM
(2) There must be at least 5 members present at the AGM for there to be sa quorum
(3) Every member has one vote
(4) The trustees must present the annual report and accounts
(5) Any member may stand for election as a trustee
(6) Members must elect between 3 and 10 trustees to serve for the next year. The trustees may retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election.
8. TRUSTEE MEETINGS
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(1) Trustees must hold at least 4 meetings every year. At their first meeting after the AGM they will elect a chair, treasurer and secretary. Trustees may act by majority decision
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(2) At least 3 trustees must be present at the meeting to be able to make decisions. Minutes shall be kept for every meeting.​
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(3) A meeting of the trustees may be held either in person or by suitable alternative means agreed between the trustees in which all participants may communicate simultaneously with all other participants
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(4) If trustees have a conflict of interest they must declare it and leave the meeting while the matter is being discussed or decided
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(5) During the year, the trustees may appoint up to 2 additional trustees. They must stand down at the next AGM but are eligible to stand for election at the AGM. The proposal of additional trustees must be accompanied by enough supporting information to allow the existing trustees to give due consideration to their appointment
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(6) The trustees may make reasonable additional rules to help run the charity. These rules must not conflict with this constitution or the law.
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9. WRITTEN RESOLUTIONS
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(1) A resolution in writing signed by all the trustees on a matter will be as vallid and effectual as if it has been passed at a meeting of the trustees, duly convened and held may consist of several documents in like form, each signed by one or more trustees. The date of a written resolution will be the date on which the last trustee entitled to vote signs
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(2) A resolution which is approved by email in accordance with this clause will be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a trustee meeting duly convened and held, provided the following conditions are complied with:
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(a) such a resolution must be approved by email by all the trustees entitled to vote on the matter
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(b) approval must be received by the person nominated in advance by the trustees for that purpose (the "recipient")
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(c) approval from a trustee must be sent from an email address previously notified in writing (not using electronic means) by that trustee to the charity as intended for use by that trustee for the purpose
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(3) Following receipt of all responses on any resolution, the recipient shall circulate further email to all of the trustees confirming whether the resolution has been formally approved by the trustees in accordance with this clause
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(4) The date of a resolution shall be the date of the email from the recipient confirming formal approval.
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10. MONEY AND PROPERTY
(1) Money and property must be used for the charity's purposes
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(2) Monies collected on behalf of the organisation should be paid into the nominated account directly or before the end of the month in which it was collected
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(3) Trustees must keep accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anyone on request
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(4) Trustees cannot receive any money or property from the charity, except to refund reasonable out of pocket expenses, unless permitted by law
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(5) Money must be held in a charity's bank account. All cheques must be signed by any 2 trustees up to the value of £250. Any cheque above this amount must be signed by the chairperson as a trustee
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11. GENERAL MEETINGS
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If the trustees consider it to change the constitution, or wind up the charity, they must call a General Meeting so that the membership can make a 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
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(1) Winding up - any money or property remaining after payment of debts must be given to a charity with similar purposes to this one
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(2) Changes to the Constitution - can be made at AGMs, by special request for the benefit of the organisation or General Meetings. No change can be made that would make the organisation no longer a charity. A copy of the amended constitution and resolution adopting the changes must be sent to the Charity Commission for England & Wales
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(3) Trustees may also call a general meeting to consult the membership
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12. SETTING UP THE CHARITY
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This constitution was adopted on 01 July 2020. It was first revised in a November 2020 to allow the appointment of additional trustees by the founder & co-founders.
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The latest AGM will be held on 03 February 2026 at 6pm at the MMBC in Lydiate.
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