Constitution of Northern Ireland Cross Community Angling
a Charitable Unincorporated Association
1 NAME
1.1 The name of the Charity is Northern Ireland Cross Community Angling (NICCA)
2 OBJECTS
Northern Ireland Cross Community Angling has been established to support the preservation of fish
life, the encouragement of angling as a sport through a series of programmes, activities, and events
and to bring people together by delivering positive social development opportunities through angling
3 POWERS
3.1 The Charity has the following powers, which may be exercised only in promoting the Objects:
3.1.1 To offer coaching and competitive opportunities in Angling
3.1.2 To promote the Charity within all local communities and Angling
3.1.3 To promote the social development of children through Angling
3.1.4 To promote the development of people with disabilities through Angling
3.1.5 To promote peace and reconciliation through Angling
3.1.6 To promote health and wellbeing through Angling
3.1.7 To manage Northern Ireland Cross Community Angling
3.1.8 To ensure a duty of care to all members of the charity.
3.1.9 To provide all its services in a way that is equitable to everyone
3.1.10 To ensure that all present and future members receive fair and equal treatment
3.1.11 Raise funds (but not by means of taxable trading)
3.1.12 To make grants or loans of monies or give guarantees
3.1.13 To do anything else within the law that promotes or helps to promote the Objects
4 MEMBERSHIP & SUBSCRIPTION
4.1 Membership of the Charity is open to all persons without discrimination as to ethnicity, nationality,
sexual orientation, religion or belief, sex, gender or binary identity, marital status, financial standing,
age, or disability and who agree to promote the Objects by supporting the activities of the Charity.
4.2 All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution, all other rules, codes of conducts,
codes of practice, policies, and guidelines, and by joining the charity will be deemed to have
accepted all the aforementioned the charity has adopted.
4.3 Fishery Subscription fees will be set annually by the Executive Committee. Subscription fees will be
paid/renewed annually, in advance by electronic means or monthly by standing order. No person
will be deemed a member until subscription fee is paid in full or first Standing Order payment
received. Membership status for long term volunteers (non-fishing) will only be granted through
approval or nomination of the Trustees.
4.4 Subscriptions will be in one of the following categories:
4.4.1 Adults
4.4.2 U18 (0-18th Birthday)
4.4.3. Concessionary (Disabled, Over65, Students and Unemployed)
4.4.4 Volunteer (non-fishing)
4.5 A member may resign by written notice only to the Charity.
4.6 The Executive Committee may by resolution terminate the subscription of any member on the
ground that in their reasonable opinion the member’s continued subscription would be harmful to
the Charity. The Executive Committee may only pass such a resolution after notifying the member
in writing and considering the matter in the light of any written representations which the member
puts forward within 14 clear days after receiving notice.
4.7 Termination resolutions will be subject to compliance with the Charities Disciplinary Policy.
Jurisdiction for disciplinary purposes will extend to all UK National Governing Bodies, Sports
Resolutions and Local Councils.
4.8 Membership and subscription of the Charity is not transferable.
5 GENERAL MEETINGS
5.1 Except in the first year, an AGM must be held in every year. The first AGM may be held at any time
within 18 months after the formation of the Charity. An AGM may be held in person or by electronic
means.
5.2 At an AGM the members:
5.2.1 Receive the accounts of the Charity for the previous financial year.
5.2.2 Receive the reports of the Committee’s on the Charity’s activities since the previous AGM.
5.2.3 Appoint an auditor or independent examiner for the Charity where required.
5.2.4 Take for consideration any Notice of Motions.
5.2.5 Elect the eligible Officers to the Executive Committee, who will serve from the end of the
AGM, until the end of their tenure.
5.2.6 Discuss and determine any issues of policy or deal with any other business put before them
by the Executive Committee and Charity Members.
5.3 A meeting of members may be called at any time by the Executive Committee and must be called
within 14 clear days after a written request to the Executive Committee from at least five members.
6 COMMITTEES
6.1 The Board of Officers as Charity Trustees have control of the Charity and its property and funds.
6.2 The Board of Officers will consist of:
6.2.1 President
6.2.2 Treasurer
6.2.3 Secretary
6.2.4 Assistant Secretary
6.3 Board Officers will automatically become Charity Trustees. All Officers will retire at the end of their
tenure but will be eligible to reapply by application prior to an AGM. The Board of Officers must
contain a minimum of three persons.
6.4 Any resignation by an officer must be made in writing or received verbally in person and recorded at
an Executive Committee meeting.
6.5 The Board of Officers will not receive yearly bursary payments but will be entitled to free subscription
for the term of their office.
6.6 The Executive Committee will consist of the Board of Officers and the relevant number of Officers
required to allow the Charity to carry out its business. Officers/Advisors and Consultants may also
be co-opted between AGM’s subject to successful application, and where a business need exists.
Advisors and Consultants will have no power of vote.
6.7 Positions within the Executive Committee will be fulfilled by way of application. Applications will be
submitted to the Board of Officers for appraisal. Successful applications will then be sent for
ratification by the membership present at the AGM. In the event of multiple applications for the same
position, a vote by paper ballot will be taken.
6.7.1 Should less than four applications be received or elected to the Board of Officers then an
emergency motion must be passed to re-advertise the positions. The said positions must be
filled within 8 weeks or a resolution of dissolvement must be passed.
6.7.2 Should less than three applications be elected to the Board of Officers then automatic
dissolvement will be enabled.
6.8 All Executive Committee Officers will retire at the end of their tenure but will be eligible to reapply by
application prior to an AGM
6.9 Every member of the Board of Officers after appointment must sign a declaration of willingness to
act as a Charity trustee of the Charity before he or she may vote at any meeting of the Executive
Committee.
6.10 A Board of Officers term of office automatically terminates:
6.10.1 If they are disqualified under the Charities Act from acting as a charity trustee.
6.10.2 If they are incapable, whether mentally or physically, of managing their own affairs.
6.10.3 If they resign by written notice or is received verbally in person and recorded at an Executive
Committee meeting.
6.10.4 If they are removed by a resolution passed by all the other members of the Executive
Committee after they have invited the views of the member of the Executive Committee
concerned and considered the matter in the light of any such views.
6.11 The Executive Committee must hold at least 10 meetings each year.
6.12 Officers of the Executive Committee must attend a minimum of 6 meetings per year, excluding an
AGM or any EGM’s. Advisory or Consulting Officers must attend a minimum of 2 meetings per year,
excluding an AGM or any EGM’s. Advisors or Consultants must supply written reports were
requested by the Board Officers throughout the year.
6.13 An Officer of the Executive Committee, including Sub-Committee’s, advisors or consultants’ term of
office automatically terminates:
6.13.1 If he or she fails to meet the minimum number of meetings per year without due cause as
per clause 6.12.
6.13.2 If they fail to supply any requested reports without due cause as per clause 6.12.
6.13.3 If they are incapable, whether mentally or physically, of managing their own affairs.
6.13.4 If they prove incapable of carrying out their duties, whether mentally, physically or any other
reason after reasonable adjustment has been taken into consideration.
6.13.5 If they resign by written notice or is received verbally in person and recorded at an Executive
Committee meeting.
6.13.6 If they are removed by a resolution passed by a majority of the other Officers of the Executive
Committee after they have invited the views of the Officer of the Executive Committee
concerned and considered the matter in the light of any such views.
6.14 The Board of Officers will have the right to meet when required and make any executive decisions
that they deem fit for the benefit and good of the charity. Where required these decisions will be
brought to the Executive Committee/members meetings.
6.15 In the event of a dispute over a decision made by the Board of Officers then a vote will be taken at
an open Charity Meeting.
6.16 The Executive Committee will have powers to appoint sub-committees as necessary and appoint
advisors/consultants and Officers to said Sub-Committees as necessary to fulfill its business. The
Executive Committee will also have the power to co-opt additional members to the said committees.
As per clause 6.6
6.17 All Sub-Committees must have a minimum of one Executive officer who will be responsible to report
back to Executive Committee monthly meetings. Sub-Committees will have no autonomy or power
to vote.
6.18 The Executive Committee have the right to call Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) outside the
AGM. A minimum of 7 days’ notice must be given to members. An EGM may be held in person or by
electronic means.
6.19 In all circumstances the Chairperson will have the casting vote.
7 POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7.1 The Executive Committee have the following powers in the administration of the Charity:
7.1.1 To appoint Officers from among their number.
7.1.2 To make rules consistent with this Constitution to govern the administration of the Charity
(including the operation of bank accounts and the commitment of funds).
7.1.3 To exercise any powers of the Charity which are not reserved to a general meeting including
promoting methods devised to achieve the objects of the Charity.
8 BENEFITS TO MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
8.1 The property and funds of the Charity must be used only for promoting the Objects and do not belong
to the members or the Officers of the Executive Committee.
8.2 No Officer of the Executive Committee may receive any payment of money or other material benefit
(whether direct or indirect) from the Charity except reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses actually incurred in the administration of the Charity or for the provision of sporting
services (coaching) where this is permitted in accordance with, and subject to the conditions in,
sections 88, 89 and 90 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, with exception of clause 6.5
8.3 Whenever an Officer of the Executive Committee has a personal interest in a matter to be discussed
at a meeting of the Executive Committee or a committee, they must:
8.3.1 Declare an interest before the meeting or at the meeting before discussion begins on the
matter.
8.3.2 Be absent from that part of the meeting unless expressly invited to remain in order to provide
information.
8.3.3 Not be counted in the quorum for that part of the meeting.
8.3.4 Be absent during the vote and have no vote on the matter.
9 RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS
9.1 The Executive Committee must comply with the requirements of the Charities Act as to the keeping
of financial records, the audit or independent examination of accounts and the preparation and
transmission to the Commission of:
9.1.1 Annual returns
9.1.2 Annual reports
9.1.3 Annual statements of account.
9.2 All charity monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the charity. Responsibility and
final decision on capital spending is undertaken by the Executive Committee. Day to day
expenditures for the Charity may be taken by the Board of Officers.
9.3 Any new sums intended to be borrowed must first be approved by the full Board of Officers. Similarly,
any proposed sale, lease or mortgage or pledge of land, or any like transaction of any other property
of the Charity with a value more than £10,000 must first be approved by the members in general
meeting.
9.4 The financial year of the charity will end on: 1
st February
9.5 An audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General
Meeting.
9.6 Any cheques drawn against charity funds should hold the signatures of two officers.
9.7 All cash payments must be approved by two members of the Board of Officers. Receipts should be
provided where possible.
10 Notices
10.1 Notices under this Constitution may be sent by hand, by post or by suitable electronic means.
10.2. The address at which a member is entitled to receive notices is the address noted in the register of
members (or, if none, the last known address).
10.3 Any notice given in accordance with this Constitution is to be treated for all purposes as having been
received:
10.3.1 Three clear days after being sent by whatever means allowed by Clause 10.1 or, if earlier.
10.3.2 As soon as the member acknowledges actual receipt.
9.7.3 On being handed to the member personally.
11 AMENDMENTS
11.1 This Constitution may be amended at a general meeting by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast,
but:
11.1.1 The members must be given 14 clear days’ notice of the proposed amendments.
11.1.2 No amendment is valid if it would make a fundamental change to the Objects or to this
clause or destroy the charitable status of the Charity.
11.1.3 Clause 8 may not be amended without the prior written consent of the Commission.
12 DISSOLUTION
12.1 If at any time members at a general meeting by resolution pass to dissolve the Charity, the Board of
Officers will remain in office, but may only act for the purpose of and have the responsible for the
orderly winding up of the Charity’s affairs. At date of dissolvement all charity operations must cease
with immediate effect.
12.2 If by resignation less than three Board of Officers remain, then the remaining charity trustees can
only act to call a general meeting of the members to elect new charity trustees and must act within
clauses 6.7, 6.7.1 and 6.7.2. At date of less than three Board of Officers remaining, then all charity
operations must cease with immediate effect until election of new Board of Officers have taken
place.
12.3 Should elections be unsuccessful as per clause 12.2 then automatic dissolvement will be enabled.
12.4 After making provision for all outstanding liabilities of the Charity, the Board of Officers must put
the remaining assets, funds, and property at the disposal of Disability Sport Northern Ireland to be
applied for exclusively charitable purposes within, the same as or similar to the Objects.
12.5 A final report and statement of account relating to the Charity must be sent to the Commission.
REVISED AT EGM MEETING HELD AT BEECHHILL FISHERY ON 21st August 2021