Proposed constitution for the Group

CONSTITUTION

BEAUCHIEF ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Object of the BEG:

         To promote and encourage a sense in the local community of the importance of conservation and the improvement of the environment.

Nature of BEG:

         BEG is a non-profit making voluntary group constituted for purposes and activities set out below:

Purpose and Activities of the Group:

1. To promote the importance of the natural and man-made (historical) environment within the defined area by actively initiating and carrying out conservation programmes.
2. To study and help preserve wildlife and habitats within the area.
3. To engage other voluntary groups to help with work.
4. To liaise with Local Authority Departments and their advisers (statutory, non-statutory and others) in defining or clarifying work to be done.
5. To act as a pressure group on behalf of the local community on local environmental issues.
6. To raise funds by subscription, donations, applying for grants and other appropriate means to meet the cost of the work done.
7. To produce a Newsletter at regular intervals informing members of activities and progress and to publicise the Group’s activities more widely. Also to maintain the Beauchief Environment Group website for members and public information

The Area:            The area of Sheffield indicated on the map containing Beauchief Abbey and Ponds, Beauchief Drive, Parkbank Wood, High Wood, Ladies Spring Wood, Old Park Wood, Little Wood Bank, Grazing land, the stream within the area, dry stone walls, public footpaths etc.

Membership:        Open to all, not restricted to residents of the immediate area.  People may join at any time by completing a subscription form and returning it to the Treasurer.  The subscription covers all members of the household.

Committee:          A Committee consisting of the Officers and members elected at the Annual General Meeting (no fixed number) shall organise the Group’s activities.

Officers:              Officers, elected from the membership at the AGM shall be:

                             Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer.

Finance:               The membership will set the level of subscription at the AGM. 

                             A bank account shall be held in the name of Beauchief Environment Group. 

                             Monies spent shall be directed by the Committee.  Cheques shall be signed by two out of three designated signatories who shall be committee members. 

                             An Honorary Auditor (non-committee member) shall be appointed by the AGM.

                             The income raised by BEG shall be used solely to achieve the objective and activities set out above.

Winding Up:        In the event of the cessation/winding up of BEG, the accumulated assets, i.e. the value of the tools, materials, cash and any other items purchased for use by BEG, will be given to another group having similar aims and objectives to BEG.

The Group shall have no political affiliations.  The Group shall be affiliated to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers at the discretion of the committee.

The Constitution was adopted at the Annual General Meeting:   December 1990

The Constitution was amended at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the membership on 8 September 2001.

The Constitution was further amended at the Annual General Meeting: February 2024

Signed:  ……………………………………….

              Diana Holland (Chair)