{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhat a constitution is\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEvery charity must have a governing document, in Scouts we call this a constitution. The constitution is formally adopted through the charity \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-things-locally/trustee-boards/annual-general-meetings/\u0022 title=\u0022Annual General Meetings\u0022\u003EAnnual General Meeting (AGM)\u003C/a\u003E and it\u0027s good practice to re-adopt it at every AGM.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow to create a constitution\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/por/5c-constitutions-of-groups-districts-and-counties-except-in-scotland/\u0022 title=\u00225c. Constitutions of Groups, Districts and Counties (except Scotland)\u0022\u003EPolicy, Organisation and Rules Chapter 5c\u0026nbsp;\u003C/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022/por/5d-constitutions-for-scottish-groups-districts-regions/\u0022 title=\u00225d. Constitutions for Scottish Groups, Districts, Regions\u0022\u003EChapter 5d for Scotland\u003C/a\u003E includes a model constitution that follows charity law, good practice and is kept up to date with any developments in Scouting. Each Group, District and County (or equivalent) is strongly encouraged to adopt this as their constitution. If a Group, District or County decides to use a different constitution, the differences from the model constitution must be documented in the AGM minutes, along with the reasons why.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor Groups, Districts and Counties that have already adopted the POR model constitution, their constitution will update automatically whenever a new version of POR is published.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003EIf you choose to circulate a\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003Ec\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003Eopy of the constitution at the AGM, please ensure that you use the latest\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003Eversion\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003Efrom\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003EPOR\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022TextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022 lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022 data-contrast=\u0022auto\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022NormalTextRun SCXW20511096 BCX0\u0022\u003Eas it is subject to regular updates.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ELocal scenarios\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBelow are some examples to help you understand what this looks like in practice.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s important that constitutions cover the topics that are included in the model constitution in POR. We recommend that the best way to do this is to adopt the model constitution in POR. But, if it is more appropriate to retain the \u2018stand-alone\u2019 constitution, then it should be reviewed annually against the model constitution to ensure that it remains up-to-date with charity law and/or developments in the Scouts. Any elements from the model constitution that are not included in the \u2018stand alone\u2019 constitution must be documented \u2013 with reasons \u2013 in the AGM minutes.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"We have a constitution that is not (and never has been) linked to POR"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s important in this case to note that Scouts and Guides are separate charities with separate Trustee Board requirements. Local cooperation is encouraged, of course. Joint ownership and management of premises and other operational matters is a sensible pooling of resources, but that doesn\u2019t mean that we operate with one shared purpose. See also Rule 4.9.4 in POR.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"How we handle the constitution and Trustee Board for our \u0027Joint Scout and Guide Group\u0027"}]},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Read the Charity Governance Code","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Charity Governance Code \u003Cspan\u003Eis a practical tool to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance. \u003C/span\u003EIt\u0027s starting point is that all trustees:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eare committed to their charity\u2019s cause and have joined its board because they want to help the charity deliver its purposes most effectively for public benefit\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Erecognise that meeting their charity\u2019s stated public benefit is an ongoing requirement\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eunderstand their roles and legal responsibilities, and, in particular, have read and understand:\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Efor England and Wales, the Charity Commission\u2019s guidance on \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe Essential Trustee (CC3)\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Efor Northern Ireland, the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland\u0027s guidance on \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/start-up-a-charity/trusteeship/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETrusteeship\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Efor Scotland, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)\u0027s guidance on \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-a-charity/trustee-duties/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETrustee Duties\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Efor Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man and Gibraltar, the equivalent charity regulator guidance about the role of a Trustee\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Etheir charity\u2019s governing document\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eare committed to good governance and want to contribute to their charity\u2019s continued improvement.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","link":{"name":"Open Charity Governance Code","id":null,"url":"https://www.charitygovernancecode.org/en","newWindow":false,"target":"_blank"},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Understanding the Charity Governance Code","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Guidance on how to create a constitution for your Group, District and County.","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"11 August 2023","reviewDate":"06/04/2023","redirectUrl":"","id":76511,"nodeName":"Your Constitution","title":"Your Constitution","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Your constitution","headerSubTitle":"Guidance on your charity\u0027s governing document","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"006ddf","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"Guidance on how to create a constitution for your Group, District and County.","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC83NjUxMSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/running-things-locally/trustee-boards/your-constitution/"}