NAME:
The name of the Association is:
The United Kingdom Transplant Coordinators Association (UKTCA) “The Charity”
ADMINISTRATION
Subject to the matters set out below the charity shall be administered and managed in accordance with this Constitution by the members the Board, constituted by clause 4i of this Constitution.
OBJECTIVES
The charity’s objectives (“The objectives”) are:-
¨ To relieve sickness by promoting organ and tissue donation
¨ To advance the education of the public and health care professionals in all matters relating to organ and tissue donation
2. POWERS
In furtherance of the objectives, but not otherwise, the Board Members may exercise the following powers:-
i) To increase organ and tissue donation within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
ii) To increase awareness of organ and tissue donation within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
iii) To support and promote the interests of the Members in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
iv) To ensure the Standards of Practice for Donor Transplant and Recipient Transplant Coordinators are maintained
v) To provide UKTCA training courses for all Members in the United Kingdom and Eire
vi) Power to raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Board shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law
vii) Power to buy, take on lease, or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objectives and to maintain and equip it for use
viii) Power subject to any consents required by law to sell, lease or dispose of any part of the property of the Charity
ix) Power to employ such staff, who shall not be members of the Board, as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objectives and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation for staff
x) Power to cooperate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objectives or of similar charitable purposes and to exchange information and advice with them
xi) Power to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Board may think fit
xii) Power to do all other such lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objectives
3. MEMBERSHIP
i) The membership shall be open to all Donor and Recipient Transplant Coordinators, Tissue Donor Coordinators, Donor Liaison Sisters/In House Transplant Coordinators, Regional Managers or Live Donor Coordinators working in Department of Health recognised National Health Service (NHS) centres in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
ii) The Association may co-opt others who are willing to further the aims of the Association. Such co-option should be subject to the rules of a formal proposal and should be voted in by a majority of the membership. Any person co-opted shall have no voting rights
iii) The membership of the Association may nominate individuals for Honorary membership status. The nomination will be agreed by the Board. Honorary members will have no voting rights.
iv) Invitation to apply for membership will automatically be extended to all newly appointed Transplant Coordinators
v) Every full member will have one vote
vi) The Board may, by unanimous vote, and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual. A member may be removed from membership of the Association for:-
Non-payment of subscriptions
Conduct prejudicial to the Association’s aims
vii) All full members of the Association shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the Association. Any issue to be voted on shall be formally proposed and seconded.
viii) Only full members who have paid their subscriptions will be entitled to vote
ix) A majority vote of those present shall be required for a motion to be carried. In the event of a tied vote, the Chair shall have casting vote: This will be recognised as the second vote of the Chair
4. HONOUREE OFFICERS
i) These shall consist of:-
The Chair Term of Office 2 years
The Deputy Chair Term of Office 1 years
The Treasurer Term of Office 2 years
An elected representative from each region as below:
Northern & Yorkshire
North Thames
North West & North Wales
Scotland & Northern Ireland
South Thames
Southwest & South Wales
Trent
West Midlands
Oxford/Anglia
Republic of Ireland
Medical advisors will advise the officers of the Association as and when appropriate
ii) The Chair and the Deputy Chair and Treasurer will be elected by the Association and apart from the Medical Advisors shall be Transplant Coordinators in post
iii) The board members shall be elected by the region they represent.
iv) The Chair will normally preside at the meetings of the Association. If he/she is not available, the Deputy Chair will preside. The Chair via the Secretariat will, one month previously, summon a meeting of the Association on the dates decided by the Association
v) The Secretariat will keep Minutes of the Association’s proceedings.
vi) The Treasurer shall operate the Association’s bank account(s) making any necessary payments on behalf of the Association. He/she shall present the Association’s accounts at the Annual General Meeting. All bank accounts shall be in the name of the Association
vii) The Association’s accounts shall be audited annually by a qualified person
viii) All withdrawal slips shall be signed by two of the three signatories
ix) The proceedings of the Board shall not be invalidated by a vacancy among their number
x) A member of the Board shall cease to hold office if he/she:
a) Is disqualified from acting as a member of the Board by virtue of section 45 of the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision)
b) Becomes incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs
c) Notifies the Board of a wish to resign
xi) The funds belonging to the Association shall be applied only in furthering the objectives
5. MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS
i) The Full Association will normally meet twice per year at a place and time determined at the previous meeting. These meetings will usually be held in Spring and Autumn.
ii) The Spring meeting will be the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
iii) There will be a meeting of the Board at least 3 times per year. At these meetings the board members will represent the views of their region and vote accordingly.
iv) All Full Members of the Association will however vote on any major changes.
v) All Full Members of the Association will vote for the:-
The Chair
The Deputy Chair
The Treasurer
vi) Two fifths of the membership shall be a quorum at these meetings. An extraordinary meeting may be called when requested by five members. This meeting will be held within three weeks of receipt of a written request
vii) The Board may, from time to time, make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, the summoning and conduct of their meetings and the custody of documents. No rule may be made which is inconsistent with this Constitution
viii) A Subcommittee may be formed as and when the Association see the need in order to review changes or topics, which may promote the aims of the Association. Members of a subcommittee will be be recruited from volunteers supported by the Association’s membership and will report back to the Association at a time which shall be agreed by the Association when the subcommittee is formed.
6. CHANGES OF THE RULES OF THE CONSTITUTION
i) The rules of the Association and its Constitution may be altered by resolution of a meeting of the Association. Notice of such a resolution must be given in writing one month previously. A two-thirds majority of those present and eligible to vote must be obtained to effect such alteration. Those who are unable to attend the meeting are eligible to vote by post or proxy
ii) No amendment may be made which would have the effect of making the Charity cease to be a charity at law.
iii) The Board shall promptly send to the Commissioners a copy of the amendments made.
7. ACCOUNTS
i) The Board shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 with regard to:
a) The keeping of accounting records for the Association
b) The preparation of annual statements of accounts for the Association
c) The auditing or independent examination of the statements of account of the Association
d) The transmission of the statements of account of the Association to the Commissioners
8. ANNUAL REPORT
The Board shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 with the regard to the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the Commissioners.
9. ANNUAL RETURN
The Board shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 with the regard to the preparation of an annual return and its transmission to the Commissioners.
10. DISSOLUTION
The Association may be wound up at the request of a majority of two thirds of the membership. Notice of this intention must be given in writing one month before such a resolution is put to a meeting of the Association. If two thirds of those present and eligible to vote so desire the same resolution must be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. This cannot take place until one month thereafter.
The membership will be given notice in writing of the intention to wind up the Association and two-thirds majority must be in favour.
A copy of the statements of accounts for the final accounting period must be sent to the Commissioners.
11. DISPOSITION OF THE ASSOCIATION’S ASSETS
In the event of the Association being wound up, its assets shall be transferred to and equally divided between other charitable organisations in the United Kingdom, which promote objectives similar to the United Kingdom Transplant Coordinators Association.