Rules for Community Benefit Society

Charity 3.1 The Objects of the Charity are to carry on for the benefit of the community 3.1.1 To advance the education of the public in the subject of Secularism 3.1.2 To further or benefit the residents of Leicester and Leicestershire, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or religious or other affiliations by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education without reference to any transcendental or supernatural concepts and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents and promoting an inclusive and plural society free from religious privilege prejudice and discrimination. To secure and conserve Leicester Secular Hall at 75 Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 1WB  and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory auth...

  4.POWERS 4.1The Charity shall have the power to do all things necessary or expedient for the fulfilment of its Objects. 4.2Without limitation of Rule the Charity shall have power:- 4.2.1subject to Rule (Conflicts of Interest) to employ people, agents and advisers; 4.2.2to borrow money (without limitation on the amount) from any person and to give security for loans or other obligations (but only in accordance with the restrictions imposed by the Charities Act); 4.2.3to lend, deposit or advance money and give credit or guarantees (and with or without security when lending to Members) in accordance with the Act and the Charities Act; 4.2.4to act as agent or trustee; 4.2.5to co-operate with other bodies; 4.2.6to support by donation or otherwise, administer and/or set up charities or social enterprises; 4.2.7to accept gifts and to raise funds; 4.2.8to issue shares, bonds and other financial instruments and to repay such instruments; 4.2.9to acquire or hire property o...

  6. MEMBERSHIP         6.1 The Charity must maintain a register of Members.         6.2 The Subscribers to the Rules are the first Members. 6.3    Membership of the Charity is open to any individual aged at least sixteen or person interested in promoting the Objects who:             6.2.1 subscribes for at least the Minimum Shareholding; and             6.2.2 is approved by the Trustees.         6.3 The form and the procedure for applying for Membership is to be prescribed by the Trustees.            6.4 If the Charity issues only one Share to each Member it may also request an annual subscription from Members. The annual subscription shall be such reasonable amount sufficient to cover the administration costs ...

10. NO TRANSFERABLE SHARE CAPITAL The Charity shall not issue transferable shares.     11. WITHDRAWAL OF SHARE CAPITAL Withdrawal on Notice         11.1 With the Trustees' approval, Shares may be withdrawn on three months' notice provided that:             11.1.1 the notice to withdraw Shares must (a) be sent to the Charity; (b) give details of the Shares to be withdrawn; and (c) be signed by the withdrawing Member or authorised by the withdrawing Member through a secure electronic transaction procedure approved by the Trustees;             11.1.2 unless a Member is withdrawing all of his/her Shares, the withdrawal must not leave the Member with fewer Shares than the Minimum Shareholding;             11.1.3 no withdrawal of Shares issued on the same date shall be perm...

 POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES     16. The Trustees as charity trustees have control of the Charity and its property and funds.     17. The Trustees may exercise in their capacity as Trustees responsible for the management of the Charity’s business all the powers of the Charity set out in these Rules which are not reserved for the general meeting including the following powers in the administration of the Charity:         17.1 to spend the funds of the Charity in such a manner as they shall consider most beneficial for the achievement of the Objects;         17.2 to invest in the name of the Charity such part of the Charity's funds as they see fit;         17.3 to enter into contracts on behalf of the Charity;         17.4 to borrow or raise money and to mortgage or charge the Charity's undertaki...

       26. PERMITTED BENEFITS TO TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS         26.1 The property and funds of the Charity must be used only for promoting the Objects and do not belong to the Members but:             26.1.1 Members who are not Trustees or Connected Persons may be employed by or enter into contracts with the Charity and receive reasonable and proper payment or expenses for goods or services supplied. Subject to compliance with Rule 27.1:             26.1.2 Members, Trustees and Connected Persons may be paid interest at a reasonable rate on money lent to the Charity and be paid interest on Shares, subject to Rule 29;             26.1.3 Members, Trustees and Connected Persons may be paid a reasonable rent or hiring fee for property or equipment let or hired to the Chari...

31. AMENDMENT OF RULES         31.1 Any of these Rules may be rescinded or amended, or a new Rule made, by a vote of a three-quarters majority of those Members of the Charity voting at a general meeting or by written resolution.         31.2 No amendment of these Rules is valid until it is registered by the Authority in accordance with the Act.         31.3 No amendment may be made which causes the Charity to cease to be a Charity in law.     32. RECORDS, AUDIT AND SECRETARY Records         32.1 The Trustees must comply with the requirements of the Acts as to keeping financial records, the appointment of auditors, audit of accounts and the preparation and transmission to the Authority of:-             32.1.1 annual returns;             32.1.2 annual reports; a...

  36. INTERPRETATION         36.1 The meaning of certain words used in the Rules:     Words Definition “the Act” Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014; "Acts" the Act and any amendments thereto; "AGM" Annual General Meeting of the Charity "Authority" the Financial Conduct Authority (or its successor or replacement body acting as the registering authority for societies under the Acts); “Board” all the persons for the time being appointed as Trustees of the Charity; "Chair" the person who presides at meetings of the Trustees as appointed in Rule 24 (Chairing of Trustees' Meetings); "Charities Act" Charities Act 2011; "the Charity" means the Society governed by the Rules; "clear day" means a complete day excluding the day on which the meeting is to take place and the day on which (as appropriate) notice is given, the request received or the sum deposited or tendered; "Conflict of Interest" ...