CACOWEDA UK CONSTITUTION

1 Name

The name of the organisation is CAMEROON COMMUNITY WELFARE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION [CACOWEDA] UK , hereafter known as "The Charity"

2 Administrations

Subject to the matter set out below the charity and its property shall be administered and managed in accordance with this constitution by the members of the Executive Committee, constituted by Clause 8 of this constitution ('the Executive Committee').

3 Objects

The Charity's object(s) are to promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the general public, in particular those of Cameroon origin resident in the UK by:

(a) the relief of poverty, sickness and distress by providing such persons with advice, representation, translating and interpreting services and other assistance in matters such as money, debts, welfare benefits, housing, health, immigration, education, training and employment;

(b) The advancement of education, in particular, but not exclusively, by the provision of classes in basic skills, information technology and job search techniques;

(c) The provision and assistance in the provision of facilities for their recreation and other leisure-time occupation in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving their conditions of life.

4 Powers

In furtherance of the objects but not otherwise the Executive Committee may identify issues of common concern to pupils / students of the Charity in other relative areas such as General Knowledge and develop services such as additional / extra sessions to address them and may also exercise the following:"

(a) Powers to raise, to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Executive Committee shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant requirement of the law;

(b) Powers to buy, take on lease or in exchange any property necessary for the achievement of the objects and to maintain and equip it of use;

(c) Powers subject to any consent required by law to sell lease or dispose of all or any part of the property of the charity;

(d) Powers subject to any consent required by law to borrow money to charge all or any part of the property of the charity with repayment of the money so borrowed;

(e) Powers to employ such staff (who shall not be members of the Executive Committee) as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the objects and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pensions and superannuation for the staff and their dependants;

(f) Powers to cooperate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the objects or of similar charities purposes and to exchange information and advice with them;

(g) Powers to establish or support any charity trust, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the objects;

(h) Powers to appoint and constitute such advisory committees as the Executive committee may think fit;

(i) Powers to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the achievement of the objects.

5 Membership

(a) Membership of the charity shall be open to any person over the age of 18 years interested in furthering the objects and who has paid subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee.

(b) Every member shall have one vote.

(c) The Executive Committee may by unanimous vote and for good reason terminate the membership of any individual: Provided that the concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Executive Committee, accompanied by a friend, before a final decision is made.

6 Honorary Officers

At the annual general meeting of the charity the members shall elect from amongst themselves a chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer, who shall hold offices from the conclusion of that meeting.

7 Executive Committee

(a) The executive Committee shall consist of not less than FIVE members nor more than SEVEN members being:-

(i) The honorary officers specified in the preceding clause;

(i i) not less than FIVE and not more than SEVEN members elected at the annual general meeting who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting.

(b) The Executive Committee may in addition appoint not more than TWO co-opted members but so that no-one may be appointed as a co-opted member if, as a result, more than one third of the members of the Executive Committee would be co-opted members. Each appointment of a co-opted member shall be made at a special meeting of the executive Committee called under clause 10(a) and shall take effect from the end of that meeting unless the appointment is to fill a place which has not then been vacated in which case the appointment shall run from the date when the post becomes vacant.

(c) All the members of the Executive Committee shall retire from office together at the end of the annual general meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be re-elected or re-appointed.

(d) The proceedings of the Executive Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among their members or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the appointment or qualification of a member.

(e) No body shall be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee who is aged under 18 or who would if appointed be disqualified under the provision of the following clause.

(f) No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the Executive whether on a first or any subsequent entry into office until after signing in the minutes book of the Executive Committee a declaration of acceptance and willingness to act in the trust of the charity.

8 Determination of Membership of the Executive Committee.

A member of the Executive Committee shall cease to hold office if he or she:

(a) Is disqualified from acting as a member of the executive committee by virtue of section 45 of the Charity 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) is absent without permission of the Executive committee from all their meetings held within six months and the Executive Committee resolves that his or her office be vacant; or

(d) notifies to the executive Committee a wish to resign (but only if at least three members of the executive committee will remain in office when the notice of resignation is taken effect).

9 Executive Committee not to be personally interested.

(a) No member of the executive Committee shall acquire any interest in property belonging to the charity (otherwise than as a trustee of the charity) or receive remuneration or be interested (otherwise than as a member of the executive Committee) in any contract entered into by the executive committee.

10 Meetings and proceedings of the Executive Committee.

(a) The Executive Committee shall hold at least two ordinary Meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chairperson or by any two members of the Executive Committee upon not less than 4 days notice being given to the other members of the executive Committee of the matter to be discussed but if the matter includes an appointment of a co-opted member then not less than 21 days notice must be given

(b) The chairperson shall act as chairperson at meetings of the executive Committee. If the chairperson is absent from any meeting, the members of the Executive Committee present shall choose one of their number to be chairperson of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

(c) There shall be a quorum when at least one third of the numbers of members of the executive Committee for the time being or three members of the executive Committee, whichever is the greater, are present at a meeting.

(d) Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members of the executive Committee present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes the chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

(e) The executive Committee shall keep minutes, in books kept for the purpose, of the proceedings at meetings of the executive Committee and any sub-Committee.

(f) The executive Committee may from time to time make and after 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.

(g) The Executive Committee may appoint one or more sub-committees consisting of three or more members of the Executive Committee for the purpose of making any enquiry or supervising or performing any function or duty which in the opinion of the executive Committee would be more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee: Provided that al1 acts and proceedings of any such sub-committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the executive.

11 Receipt and expenditure

(a) The funds of the charity, including all donations shall be paid into accounts operated by the Executive committee in the name of the charity at such bank as the executive Committee shall from time to time decide. All cheques drawn on the account must be signed by at least two members of the Executive members of the Executive committee.

(b) The funds belonging to the charity shall be applied only in furthering of the objects.

12 Property.

(a) Subject to the provision of sub-clause (b) of this Clause, the Executive Committee shall cause the title to;-

(i) All lands held by or in trust for the charity which is not vested in the Official Custodian for the Charity; and

(i i) all investment held by or on behalf of the charity;

To be vested either in a corporation entitled to act as a custodian trustee in not less than three individuals appointed by them as holding trustees. Holding trustees may be removed by the Executive Committee at their pleasure and shall act in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive Committee. Provided they act only in accordance with the lawful directions of the Executive Committee, the holding trustees shall not be liable for the acts and defaults of its members.

13 Accounts.

The Executive Committee shall comply within their obligation under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to:

(a) The keeping Of accounting records of the charity;

(b) The preparation of annual statements of the accounts for the charity;

(c) The auditing or independent examination of the statements of accounts of the charity; and 

(d) The transmission of the statement of accounts of the charity to the Charity Commissioners.

14 Annual report.

The Executive Committee shall comply with either obligations under the Charities act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to the preparation of an annual report and its transmission to the Commissioners.

15 Annual Return.

The Executive Committee shall comply with their obligations under the Charities Act 1992 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that Act) with regard to preparation of an annual return and its transmission to the Commissioners.

16 Annual General Meeting.

(a) There shall be an annual general meeting of the charity which shall be held in the month of DECEMBER in each year or as soon as practicable thereafter.

(b) Every annual general meeting shall be called by the Executive Committee. The secretary shall give at least 21 days' notice of the annual general meeting to all members of the charity. All the members of the charity shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.

(c) Before any other b usiness is transacted at the first annual general meeting the persons present shall appoint a chairperson of the meeting. The chairperson, shall be the chairperson of subsequent annual general meetings, but if he or she is not present, before any other business is transacted, the persons present shall appoint a chairperson of the meeting.

(d) The executive committee shall present to each annual general meeting the report and accounts of the charity for the preceding year.

(c) nominations for election to the Executive committee must be made by members of the charity in writing and must be in the hand of the secretary of the executive Committee at least 14 days before the annual general meeting. Should nominations exceed vacancies, election shall be by ballot.

17 Special general Meetings.

The Executive committee may call a special general meeting of the charity at any time, if at least ten members request such a meeting in writing stating the business to be considered the secretary shall call such a meeting. At least 21 days' notice must be given. The notice must state the business to be discussed.

18 Procedures at General Meetings.

(a) The secretary or other person specially appointed by the executive Committee shall keep a full record of the proceedings at every general meeting of the charity

(b) There shall be a quorum when at least one tenth of the number of members of the charity for the time being or ten members of the charity, whichever is the greater, are present at any general meeting.

19 Notice

Any notice required to be served on any member of the charity shall be in writing

and shall be served by the secretary or the executive Committee on any member

either personally or sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such member at his or her last known address in the United kingdom, and any letter so sent shall be deemed to have been received within 10 days of posting.

20 Alteration to the Constitution.

(a) Subject to the following provision of this clause the Constitution may be altered by resolution passed by not less than two thirds of the members present and voting at a general meeting. the notice of the general meeting must include notice of the resolution, setting out the terms of the alteration proposed.

(b) No amendment may be made to clause 1, clause 3, clause 9, clause 21 or this clause without the prior consent in writing of the Commissioners.

(c) No amendment may be made which would have effect of making the charity cease to be a charity by law.

(d) The Executive Committee should promptly send to the Commissioners a copy of any amendment made under this clause.

21 Dissolution.

If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the charity it shall call a meeting of all members of the charity, of which not less than 21 days' notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is, confirmed by two-thirds majority of those present and voting the Executive Committee shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the charity, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the charity as the members of the charity may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose, a copy of the statement of accounts, or account and statement, for the final accounting period of the charity must be sent to the Commissioners.

22 Arrangements until first Annual General Meeting.

Until the first annual general meeting takes place this constitution shall take effect as if reference in it to the Executive Committee were references to the persons whose signature appears at the bottom of this document.

DATE: 03-04-00:

This constitution was adopted on the date mentioned above by the persons whose signatures appear at the bottom of this document.

SIGNED BY:

Mr. Richard Tchoutezo

Miss Vivian Fombasso

Mr. Francis Tienga Ngalle

Mr. Jean Pascal Ngasseu