1: Name
The charity’s name is Animal Saviours (registered charity no: 1174094)
2: The purposes (objects) of the charity are:-
A charity for the public benefit by helping relieve the suffering of animals, that aims to assist with the research and conservation of wildlife, both in the UK and abroad, by educating people and providing aid to other organisations that are committed to the rescue, care, rehabilitation and release of such wildlife.
3: Trustees
The charity shall be managed by a committee of three trustees appointed yearly at the Annual General Meeting.
4: Carrying out the purposes
In order to carry out the charitable purposes, the trustees have the power to:
- Raise funds, receive grants and donations
- Apply funds to carry out the work of the charity
- Co-operate with and support other charities with similar purposes
- Funds can be distributed to other charities or good causes, including those in foreign territories, as agreed by the trustees
- Do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes
5: Membership
Initially the charity will not have external members being managed solely by the trustees.
6: Annual General Meeting – AGM
- The AGM must be held every year, with 14 days notice given to all trustees/members advising them of agenda items. Minutes must be kept of the AGM
- All trustees must be present
- Each trustee has one vote
- The trustees shall present the annual report and accounts
- A minimum of 3 trustees must be elected to serve for the next year. They will retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election.
7: Trustee Meetings
- Trustees must hold at least 3 meetings each year. At their first meeting after the AGM they will elect a chair, treasurer and secretary. Trustees may act by majority decision.
- At least 3 trustees must be present at the meeting to be able to take decisions. Minutes shall be kept of every meeting.
- If trustees have a conflict of interest they must declare it and leave the meeting while the matter under discussion is decided.
- During the year the trustees may appoint up to 2 additional trustees. They will stand down at the next AGM.
- The trustees may make reasonable additional rules to help run the charity. These rules must not conflict with this constitution or the law.
8: Money and property
- Money and property must only be used for the charity’s purposes
- Trustees must keep accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anybody on request
- Trustees cannot receive any money or property from the charity, except to refund reasonable out of pocket expenses.
- Money must be held in the charity’s bank account. All cheques must be signed by 2 trustees.
9: General meetings
If the majority of trustees consider it necessary to change the constitution, or wind up the charity they must call a General Meeting. All trustees must be given 14 days notice and told the reason for the meeting. All decisions require a two thirds majority. Minutes must be kept.
- Winding up – any money or property remaining after payment of debts must be given to a charity with similar purposes to this one.
- Changes to the Constitution – can be made at AGM’s or General Meetings. No change can be made that would make the organisation no longer a charity.
- General Meeting – called at least three times per year by two or more trustees.