Veterans' Special Interest Group Constitution

1. Name

The group name is UKIP Veterans group (referred to hereafter as “The Group”).

2. Objectives

The objectives of the group are:

• Provide support, information, and a political voice for Veterans of the UK Armed Forces & Police (police and other law enforcement agencies, civil defence organisations) and Serving Military who are members of UKIP.
• Establish and maintain contact, mutual support and networking opportunities for all who served with the designated Services and their families.
• Commemorate and honour the memory and sacrifices of members of any of the security forces including the recording and assisting where necessary, the maintenance of security force graves and memorials.
• Strengthen emotional connections between and within the wider military family.
• Create a means for UKIP to draw upon the vast wealth of experience and knowledge held by our service and law enforcement personnel to guide and help shape UKIP defence and law & order policies.

All above objectives are for those members of the security forces (police and other law enforcement agencies, civil defence organisations) and their families who are members of UKIP without distinction of age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnic origin, political or religious belief.

3. Membership

The group will have a membership as outlined below.

A group membership list will be kept which will include:

• The full name of the member.
• The full address of the member.
• A contact telephone number (if available).
• An email address (if available).

The management committee may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best interests of The Group. The member has the right to be heard by the trustees before the decision is made and can be accompanied by a friend.

4. Full Membership of UKIP Veterans' Group

Anyone who is a member of UKIP and their family members (including bereaved family members), who served within any of the following services:

• Any of the Tri-Services (Army, RAF, RN) including Ghurkas and Royal Marines. To include service in either or both regular and reserve forces, adult instructors in the cadet forces and cadets over the age of 16.
• Any British Police Force/Service (including non-Home Office forces, e.g., CNC, MOD Police, Ports & Airports Police, Intelligence Agencies.
• Members of the UK and Civil Defence organisations (e.g. Fire & Services).
  (UK to include overseas and dependent territories subject to governance directly or indirectly, by the Government of the UK (e.g., The Falkland Islands and Gibraltar)

5. Associate Membership

Is open to anyone who volunteers their services to assist UKIP Veterans Group. Families (limited to spouses and children) of full members are also eligible for associate membership. Associate members have NO voting rights at meetings.

No applications for membership will be considered from groups who have no association with any of the forces or agencies mentioned above.

6. Management Committee

• The Group shall be managed by a Management Committee who are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The Group.
• Only full members of The Group are eligible to be considered to sit on the Management Committee.
• Should the number of nominations exceed the number of vacancies, an election shall be held by secret ballot of the group members present at the AGM.
• The elected Management Committee may co-opt further members to serve until the next AGM if the number of co-opted members does not exceed one-third of the total membership of the committee.
• A management committee member may not appoint anyone to act on his or her behalf at a meeting of the trustees.

7. Disqualification and removal of a management committee member

A committee member will cease to hold the office if they:

• CeaseS to be a member of The Group.
• Tenders their resignation as a Management Committee member of the group (but only if at least two trustees will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect) OR
• Is absent without apologies from 3 consecutive Committee meetings.
• Indulges in activities likely to bring The Group or the Party into disrepute.

8. Management Committee Meetings

The management committee shall meet at least 3 times a year.

• Shall consist of not less than 6 or more members who will be elected at an AGM (meetings can, where necessary to facilitate maximum participation, be convened wholly or in part via conference call or other electronic media, provided that the identity of all participants can be verified).
• Following officers shall be appointed by the elected Management Committee at their first meeting after the AGM: Chairperson, Assistant Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.
• Minutes will be taken and presented at all meetings
• Training may from time to time be provided for management committee members to assist them to carry out their role, ensure good governance, plan for the future and assist the work of the group. If any of the management committee has a conflict of interest, they must declare it and leave the meeting while this matter is being discussed.
• The trustees may make reasonable additional rules to help run the group as the group evolves if those decisions do not conflict with this group’s constitution, the aims and objectives of UKIP or the Law.

9. Carrying out The Group purposes

In order to carry out the purposes of The Group, the Management Committee has the power to:

• Raise funds, receive grants and donations.
• Apply funds to carry out the work of The Group.
• Co-operate with and support other groups with similar purposes, on the condition that they are groups that are proscribed by UKIP.
• Do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the group’s purposes.

10. Annual General Meetings (AGM)

• The AGM will be held in the period August – December as long as this does not exceed an 18th month period.
• Members will receive a minimum of 14 days’ notice and an agenda for the meeting.
• The quorum of an AGM shall be 10 members
• Minutes must be kept of the AGM
• Every member is entitled to one vote
• The management committee will present an annual report & accounts
• Any full member may stand for election onto the management committee
• Members will elect between 6 and 18 management committee members to serve for the following year. The trustees must retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election.

11. Money & Property

• Any money and property secured for The Group must only be used for Group purposes.
• The Management Committee must keep group accounts and a copy of the most recent annual accounts must be available for anyone to view on request.
• Management Committee members cannot receive any money or property from The Group, except to refund reasonable out of pocket expenses, unless permitted by law.
• Money must be held in The Group’s bank account and all cheques must be signed by at least 2 Management Committee members.

12. Special General Meetings

If the Management Committee consider it is necessary to change the constitution, or wind up the group, they must call a Special General Meeting so that the membership can make the decision. Management Committee must also call a Special General Meeting if they receive a written request from most members. Members will be given as much notice as possible but not less than 7 days, in writing, including the reason for the Special General Meeting. All decisions made at that meeting require a two thirds majority of those attending. Minutes must be kept.

• Changes to the Constitution can be made at AGM’s but no change can be made that would change the overall purpose of the group.
• If a decision is made to wind up (dissolve) the group any money or property remaining after payment of debts must be given to UKIP central funds
• Trustees may also call a Special General Meeting to consult the membership at any time.

13. Adoption

This constitution was adopted on 17th October, 2021, signed by the following:

1. Lester Taylor
2. Ben Walker
3. William Reynolds
4. Alun Elder-Brown
5. Patricia Mountain
6. Sqn. Ldr. Peter Richardson