The Solent Group for Psychotherapists and Counsellors’ Constitution

The new SGCP Constitution

1. The name of the organisation shall be:

‘THE SOLENT GROUP FOR PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AND COUNSELLORS’

2 AIMS: (a)The membership to meet for the exchange of views and experiences. (b) to facilitate continual professional development. (c) To participate in lectures, seminars and discussions to further their expertise, as well as for their enjoyment.

3. MEMBERSHIP: full membership shall be for qualified psychotherapists, counsellors, and for those working as practitioners in the psycho therapeutic field. Associate membership is open to those who are in training. Associate members do not have voting rights.  The total number of members shall be as the committee shall from time to time decide. All Solent members need to be a member of a professional body such as BACP, UKCP or other national accrediting bodies and abide by the ethical rules of those bodies.

4. COMMITTEE: the committee shall be elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting to organise the year’s programme of events, and deal with the day to day running of the Group’s affairs. Other committee members maybe co-opted onto the committee as necessary at the committee’s discretion. Co-opted members do not have voting rights.

It shall consist of eight members, one of whom shall be the  Chairperson together with a Vice-chair; a Treasurer responsible for the accounts of the Group; a Secretary responsible for the meetings venue, taking minutes at committee meetings and the AGM as well as sending out agenda; a Website Manager; and one other to be responsible for the production and circulation of a periodic newsletter with the assistance of the remaining members of the Committee.

The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of three years. Any member may resign from the Committee during their term of office, and another member of the group may then be appointed in their place until the end of the current year. In the case of termination of office by one of the senior officers, a sufficient period of time shall be allowed for the handing over of current business.

5. The Committee shall have the power to reject any application for membership they deem unsuitable, without being required to justify or explain their decision.

6. COMMITTEE MEETINGS: there shall be regular committee meetings held, at which half the elected committee shall be deemed to constitute a quorum. An assistant chairperson shall be elected at the first Committee Meeting after the Annual General Meeting to act as Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson.

7. MINUTES: minutes shall be kept of each Committee Meeting and copies circulated to all Committee Members.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The Annual General Meeting shall he held in the Autumn, with a quorum of at least one-tenth of the total number of full members. All members shall be notified of the date of the AGM at least four weeks in advance and the agenda should be sent out two weeks before the meeting.

9. MINUTES: minutes shall be taken of the proceedings at the Annual General Meeting and copies circulated to all members.

10. RESOLUTIONS: resolutions at both General and Committee Meetings shall be passed by the majority vote of those present and voting. The Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of an equality of votes. Voting shall be by show of hands or, if requested by one or more members present, by secret ballot.

11 FINANCE: all monies shall be paid through a bank account in the name of The Solent Psychotherapy Group. The Treasurer shall be responsible for approving all expenditure and shall maintain proper accounts which shall be subject to a yearly audit. A copy of the audited accounts shall be submitted to members at least fourteen days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

12 SUBSCRIPTIONS: shall be paid annually by members accepted by the Committee. Subscriptions shall be due on the first day of the Group’s financial year, for an amount decided by the committee. Members joining within the year shall pay an amount proportional to the number of months remaining in the financial year.

13 Members whose subscriptions remain unpaid at the end of three months after the commencement of the financial year shall be deemed to have discontinued their membership and will be required to reapply if they wish to resume membership.

14 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION: Alterations to the constitution shall require the assent of two-thirds of the membership present and voting at a meeting convened for that purpose. A resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the Secretary of the Group at least twenty-one days before the meeting at which the resolution is brought forward. At least fourteen days’ notice of such a meeting must be given by the Secretary to the members and must include notice of the alteration proposed.

15 DISSOLUTION: The Group may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a meeting convened for the purpose, of which twenty-one days’ notice shall be given to the members. Such a resolution may give instructions for the disposal of any assets held by or in the name of the Group, providing that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the Group, but shall be given or transferred to such other institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the Group.

As passed by the AGM of the Group on 17th November 2018.