Glasshoughton Bowling Club Constitution - Glasshoughton Bowling Club

Last Updated: 20th March 2023

1. NAME

2. OBJECTS

2.1. The objects of the Club shall be:

To provide facilities to further the game of crown green bowls within Glasshoughton and its surrounding areas.
To promote the club within the local community and introduce new participants of all ages, abilities, ethnicities and genders to the sport, through the offer of coaching, leisure and competitive opportunities in crown green bowling.
To improve the quality of life of members through active participation in the sport of crown green bowling.

2.2. The club is committed to encouraging the highest ethical standards. All individuals involved in the Club should conduct themselves with integrity, transparency, accountability and in a fair and equitable manner.

2.3. The Club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse. All members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity. The Club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to Club disciplinary procedures, as defined in Section 8 of this Constitution.

2.4. Members and visitors are expected to abide by the British Crown Green Bowling Association code of conduct, the club safeguarding policy and this constitution. Copies of all relevant documents are on display in the club house.

MEMBERSHIP

3.1 The membership of the club is open to anyone interested in promoting, coaching, volunteering or participating in Crown Green Bowls regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religious or other beliefs. The membership shall consist of the following categories:

Junior Members (male and female)
Senior Members (male and female)

These categories shall apply whether the member is playing member or a social / volunteering member.

3.2 Members in each category shall pay membership fees as fixed at each Annual General Meeting. There will be no subscription charges to junior members (under 16)

3.3 Any person wishing to join the Club shall submit an application to the Management Committee. Members shall only be admitted by the Committee. Membership is open to all and no application for membership will be refused on other than reasonable grounds.

3.4 Applications for membership by former members will be subject to the discretion and the approval of the Management Committee, whose decision will be final.

3.5 All playing and / or coaching members shall be registered with the British Crown Green Bowling Association (BCGBA). Volunteers and social members need not register with the BCGBA. Registration fee to BCGBA is to be paid directly to BCGBA by each individual.

3.6 It shall be a condition of any person becoming a member of the Club that they accept and agree (and by applying to become a member they shall be deemed to have agreed) to be bound by the terms of this Constitution and any bye-laws from time to time adopted by the Club, in particular without prejudice to the foregoing generality, the requirement to conduct themselves in accordance with the Club’s ethical framework and the bye-laws as to discipline set out therein.

3.7 Members failing to pay their annual subscriptions will forfeit their membership.

3.8 Annual membership will start on the first day of March and end on the last day of February.

MANAGEMENT

4.1 The affairs of the Club shall be conducted by the Management Committee which shall consist of the Officers of the Club as set out in clause 4.2 below plus four ordinary committee members, all of whom will hold club membership and shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. All fully paid members of the Club are eligible for election to serve on the Club’s committee, each of whom do so on a voluntary basis.

4.2 The Officers of the Club who shall be honorary, shall be the Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Club Captain, Safeguarding Officer and Administrator. The term of office of all Committee members shall be one year. If the post of any officer or ordinary committee member should fall vacant after such an election, the Management Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy until the succeeding Annual General Meeting.

4.3 Any property relating to the Club shall be held in the name of the said Officers in trust for the members of the Club.

4.4 The Committee shall have the sole powers to manage the purchase and sale of alcoholic beverages to members and guests of members within the hours specified in The Club’s current certificate issued by the licensing authority. Alcoholic beverages are to be sold for consumption on the clubhouse premises and on the immediate surrounds of the bowling green. There shall be no arrangement whereby a person or persons gain a reward or remuneration for the purchase or sale of said alcoholic beverages.

4.5 The Management Committee shall have full power to deal with all matters relating to the Club not reserved to a General Meeting in terms of this Constitution, including power to make public and enforce such byelaws as the Committee feel necessary to govern the activities of the Club [including bye-laws relating to discipline], and to appoint advisors to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.

4.6 The quorum required for business to be agreed at Committee meetings will be four Committee members, of which two will be drawn from this group: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Safeguarding Officer.

4.7 In the event of any point of order not being clearly defined by the club rules or the constitution, the Chairperson or Acting Chairperson shall decide the issue, until such time as the matter concerned can be considered by the Committee and, if appropriate, brought before the club members at a general meeting.

4.8 Only Committee members will have the right to vote at Committee meetings.

4.9 The Committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who may have infringed The Club rules/regulations/constitution. The Committee will be responsible for taking any action of suspension or discipline following such hearings.

5. GENERAL MEETINGS

5.1 The Club shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the month of February to:

Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM.
Receive reports from the Chairperson and Honorary Secretary.
Receive a report from the Honorary Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts.
Elect the Officers, Committee and Team Captains
Fix subscriptions and match fees for the ensuing year.
Consider changes to the Constitution.
Deal with other relevant business.

5.1.1 All members shall receive a minimum of 21days’ notice of the AGM by the Club Secretary.

5.1.2 All full members have the right to vote at the AGM

5.1.3 The quorum for the AGM will be 20% of the membership.

5.2 If required, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary supported by at least 10% of the members of the Club. The Management Committee shall also have the power to call an Extraordinary General Meeting by decision of a simple majority of its members.

5.2.1At least 14 days’ notice and the agenda shall be given to all voting members of any Extraordinary General Meeting. No business shall be conducted unless fair notice thereof is contained or unless the majority of voting members agree to waive the required notice.

5.3 With the exception of changes to the Constitution, decisions put to a vote shall be resolved by simple majority at General Meetings (see 5.6 below for voting on changes to the constitution).

5.4 The Chairperson of the Club, at the time the meeting commences its business shall hold a deliberative as well as a casting vote at general and committee meetings.

5.5 The quorum at General Meetings shall be 20% of the members and the quorum for Committee Meetings shall be 40% of the committee members.

5.6 Any change to the Constitution shall require a two thirds’ majority of those present, who are eligible to vote. Postal votes addressed to the Secretary are permitted in advance of the General Meeting but proxy voting is not permitted.

5.6.1 A proposal to change the Constitution must be submitted in writing to the Secretary who shall circulate the proposal to all members and allow seven days for submission of any amendments before calling a meeting in accordance with rule 5.2.1 above.

5.6.2 All proposals for changes to the Constitution shall be signed by two members eligible to vote at a General Meeting.

6. FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS

6.1 The financial year shall run from 1st January to 31st December each year.

6.2 The Honorary Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of Annual Accounts of the Club.

6.3 The Accounts shall be certified by an appropriate independent person elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.

6.4 All cheques drawn against the Club’s funds shall be signed by any two of the three nominated officers.

6.5 The Club is an unincorporated members club and thereby all members of the Club shall be jointly and severally responsible for the financial liabilities of the Club.

6.6 Any honoraria payment agreed will be paid in advance, on the understanding that the amount will be repaid pro–rata in the event of the officer resigning prior to the end of their 12 month term of office.

7. INTERPRETATION

7.1The Management Committee is the sole authority for the interpretation of this Constitution and any bye laws made by it from time to time.

7.2 The decision of the Management Committee upon any question of interpretation or upon any matter affecting the Club and not provided for by this Constitution or by any bye laws is final and binding on the members.

7.3 The headings to this Constitution are for ease of reference only and are not to be taken into account in their interpretation.

8. DISCIPLINE AND APPEALS

8.1 All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice/abuse relating to the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults will be recorded and responded to swiftly and appropriately in accordance with The Club’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Procedures. The Club Safeguarding Officer is the lead contact for all members in the event of any safeguarding concerns.

8.2 All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and submitted in writing to the Secretary. Such behaviour may include misuse of social media / shared groups etc.) The Chair (if not conflicted or accused) and three Committee members will meet to hear complaints within 21 days of the complaint being lodged. If complaints involve The Chair, another Committee member will take the place of the Chair.

8.3 In all cases the Club will follow the BCGBA disciplinary policy and will follow the BCGBA established procedures for resolution of disputes, at the same time as taking full account of the Club’s own Code of Conduct. The group hearing the complaint will have the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the termination of membership.

8.4 The outcome of a disciplinary hearing will be notified to the person who lodged the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made, both receiving separate but agreed statements of the outcome within seven days of the hearing.

8.5 There will be the right of appeal to the full Committee following disciplinary action being announced. Any request for an appeal hearing must be made in writing to the Club Secretary. Requests for appeal hearings will be time limited (usually but not absolutely within seven days of the outcome being served). The Committee will consider the appeal within a reasonable period of time (usually but not absolutely 14 days) of the Secretary receiving notice of the appeal.

8.6 Both the complainant and member whose behaviour/actions are under investigation will be afforded the opportunity to attend and address any initial hearing or appeal.

8.7 Any member failing to comply with an investigation or any alleged offender failing to attend a hearing will be advised that the hearing will be conducted in absentee.

8.8 In the event that the disciplinary procedure in this constitution conflicts with the guidance set out by the BCGBA, the rules of the BCGBA will take precedence.

9. HEALTH AND SAFETY

9.1 The Club’s Health & Safety policy notice shall be displayed on the clubhouse notice board. Members are expected to adhere to this at all times.

9.2 In respect of safeguarding policy / procedures, the club shall have a male and female Safeguarding Officer and a Safeguarding Policy in respect of (1) junior bowlers (2) adult bowlers at risk, and (3) bowlers with disabilities. This policy is also available from the Club. (Note that the club has a number of Committee members who hold a current certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) confirming that there is no reason that they should not be allowed to work with children and or vulnerable adults).

10. DISSOLUTION

10.1 The Club is a non-profit making organisation. All profits and surpluses will be used to maintain or improve or develop the Club’s facilities or to carry out the objects of the Association to which it is affiliated. No profit or surplus will be distributed other than to another non-profit making body on a winding-up or dissolution of the Club.

10.2 If, upon the winding up or dissolution of the Club there remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any property whatsoever, the same shall be transferred to some other organisation or organisations having objects similar to the objects of the Club, such organisation or organisations to be determined by the members of the Club by Resolution passed at a General Meeting or in the absence of such a resolution (or that the extent to which it cannot be given effect) to the Association to which the Club is affiliated.

This constitution was agreed by members of the GLASSHOUGHTON BOWLING CLUB on 7th February 2026, and was adopted by the duly elected officers whose names appear below:

CHAIRMAN:
SECRETARY:
TREASURER:
CLUB CAPTAIN:
SAFEGUARDING OFFICER:
ADMINISTRATOR: