Registered Charity No 1040178

The CONSTITUTION of
THE BECK YOUTH THEATRE

Equal Opportunities Statement

The committee and membership of the Beck Youth Theatre are committed to the principle that no individual amongst the membership shall be discriminated against on any grounds other than, in the casting of a show, their own talent and ability.

Membership of BYT is open to all. Performing members are selected by audition before a panel of at least 3 people, and are selected on their talent and potential without regard to sex, colour or creed. For each play or performance activity, a cast is selected from the performing members following open audition, and parts are awarded based solely on the closeness of match between the requirements of the part and the particular talent of the individual.

Any individual who feels he has been unjustly discriminated against can raise the issue in the first instance through his or her student representative, and through this route to the chairman and trustees of the Beck Youth Theatre.

The Constitution.

1. Title

The Society shall be known as The BECK YOUTH THEATRE (1992), hereinafter referred to as the Society.

2. Objects:

The objects of the Society are to educate, and promote the education of, young people in the appreciation and practice of drama and the performing arts.
In furtherance of these objects, but not further or otherwise, the Society may:

(i) Arrange and provide for, or join in arranging and providing for, the holding of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, conferences, meetings, arts festivals and professional and amateur theatrical shows and performances;

(ii) raise funds, and invite and receive contributions from any person, persons or organisation whatsoever by way of subscription, donation or otherwise for the above objects;

(iii) purchase, lease, hire or otherwise acquire any property and any rights or privileges necessary for the promotion of the said objects and construct, maintain and alter any buildings necessary for the work of the Society;

(iv) employ or pay any person or persons not on the management committee to supervise organise and carry out the work of the Society and make all necessary arrangements as required by law or statute regarding their employment or hire;

(v) do all such other lawful things as may be necessary for the attainment of the said objects.

(vi) cooperate with Local Authorities, Educational Institutions and Cultural Societies relating to the presentation, practice and study of drama in order inter alia to promote better knowledge and more widespread interest in the practice of the performing arts.

3. Membership

There will be five categories of membership;

(a) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP is open to all persons in the age range 8 through 25, who support the aims and objects of the Society.

(b) JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP is open only to Associate Members who are aged 18 or under, and who, by means of interview and audition, can demonstrate their ability to learn, their willingness to take part in learning situations and live performance, and their commitment to the aims and objects of the Society.

(c) SENIOR MEMBERSHIP is open only to Associate Members who are aged 18 years or older, and who, by means of interview and audition, can demonstrate their ability to learn, their willingness to take part in learning situations and live performance, and their commitment to the aims and objects of the Society.

(d) HONORARY MEMBERSHIP is exceptionally conferred upon persons who have been selected by the Committee of the Society for their particular services to the Society, or to the performing arts in general.

(e) FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP is open to all persons of any age who support the aims and objects of the Society.Only JUNIOR, SENIOR and HONORARY members may take part in any production.

Only members aged 18 or over, or the legal guardian of members under this age, may serve on the Management Committee. All members may attend general meetings, and those members who, on the date of the meeting, have achieved an age of fifteen years or greater, are entitled to vote on any decision.

4. Voting

Every matter raised or discussed by the General Meeting shall be determined by the majority of the members aged fifteen years or over who are present and who vote upon the question. In the case of equity of votes, the Chairman shall have a second, casting vote, which will be final and binding. The quorum of any general meeting of the society shall be one fifth of the those holding full membership.

5. Management Committee

1. The Committee shall consist of the officers and elected members, and up to three co-opted members, chosen by the Chairman for their particular skills.
2. The committee shall comprise nine members, of whom one must be drawn from the Senior membership. The remaining eight may be elected at the Annual General Meeting, from eligible members of the Society aged eighteen years or over.
3. The manager of Beck Theatre Ltd (or his/her representative) shall be entitled to attend any or all meetings of the Committee as considered necessary, whether by his own request or by invitation of the Chairman. The Beck Theatre representative shall be entitled to speak and vote only on matters connected with the Beck Theatre, or the use of the facilities of the Beck Theatre by the Society.
4. Appointment to the Committee shall be for the period of one year, to commence at the first meeting following the AGM at which they were elected, until the end of the AGM in the following year. Any member of the Committee may be re-appointed or reselected.
5. The Committee, at their first meeting in each year after the Annual General Meeting, shall elect one of their number to be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. These Officers shall continue in post until their successors are respectively elected.
6. If the Chairman is absent from any meeting, the Vice-Chairman will assume the role. If the Vice-Chairman is also absent, the Committee shall before any other business is transacted, select a Chairman from amongst their own number to preside at that meeting. The full rights of the Chairman will be granted to any deputy selected under this rule, for the duration of the meeting.
7. The quorum shall be no less than one third of the total membership of the Committee.
8. The Executive Committee shall appoint such sub-committees as they consider necessary from time to time. The Executive Committee may co-opt on to these sub-committees up to half the total membership of the sub-committee who have particular knowledge or skills. The Chairman of the sub-Committee shall report their acts and proceedings to the Executive Committee fully and promptly.
9. The Honorary Secretary shall give to every Committee member entitled to receive the same, at least seven clear days notice of the date, time and place of meetings of the Committee or any sub-committee, specifying in such notice the business to be transacted.
10. Any inhabitants of the area of benefit shall be entitled, with the approval of the Chairman and members attending that meeting, to attend any meeting, and to speak in any discussions or debate, but they shall not be entitled to vote.
11. The Committee shall carry out the policy of the Society, and, subject to any conditions imposed or directions given from time to time by the Society, provide for the conduct, administration, management and control of the affairs of the Society.
12. The Committee shall meet at least four times per year at regular intervals, but as often as may be necessary throughout the year, in order to transact the business of the Society.
13. The Senior Membership shall hold one meeting per year, not less than two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting, to elect their representative member for the Executive Committee for the following year. Facilities will be provided to these representatives for the communication of messages and materials to their appropriate membership group, at all times during the year. Facilities will be made available to permit these members to discuss matters of interest to their respective groups, and to canvass opinion as required.

6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Society each April, or as soon as possible thereafter.
2. All members of the Society will be entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting. Members aged 15 or over are entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
3. The Secretary shall give not less than 28 days notice in writing of the date, time and location of the Annual General Meeting to all members.
4. The Chairmanship of the Annual General Meeting shall be the Chairman of the Committee. In his absence, the selection of Chairman for the Annual General Meeting shall follow the same precedence as laid down for the selection of substitute Chairman of the Executive Committee.
5. The Committee shall present to the Annual General Meeting the report and account of the Society for the preceding year.
6. The matters to be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting shall include:
• The appointment of the Committee
• The Appointment of an Auditor or scrutineer to the Society
• The receipt of the report of the committee on the previous year's work.

7. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by

1. any member of the Committee, OR
2. By request in writing by not less than eight members of the Society.

The Secretary shall notify all members in writing of the date, time and place of the meeting, and of the subject(s) to be discussed, and give fourteen days notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting must be given to members.

8. Financial Provisions

1. The financial Year of the Society shall be 1st January to 31st December.
2. The Committee shall administer all the Society's funds as it deems to be necessary or desirable for the furtherance of the Society's aims and objectives.
3. The Committee shall present to the Annual General Meeting an Annual Statement of Account, duly audited.
4. A bank account shall be opened in the name of the Society. All cheques drawn on the said account shall be signed by two officers, one of whom must be the Treasurer.
5. The treasurer shall keep proper account of all monies received and expended on account of the Society.
6. Proper books shall be audited annually.

9. Amendment of the Constitution

1. This constitution, once accepted, may only be amended by vote at the AGM, or at an EGM called for that purpose.
2. Any alteration to the constitution must receive the assent of two-thirds of the members voting.
3. Any amendment must be notified to all members in writing at the time of (or before) notification of the meeting.
4. No alteration shall be made to this constitution which will cause the Society to cease to be a charity in law, or would cause the society to be in breach of any legal or statutory requirement.

10. Dissolution

The Society may be dissolved by a resolution passed by two-thirds of the voting members at any Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting convened for that purpose, provided that the appropriate minimum notice of the proposal of the resolution to the General Meeting has been given, and that all Committee Members have been given 28 days notice in writing of the proposal.
Upon Dissolution of the Society, all remaining funds and assets shall, after payment of debts and liabilities, be given or transferred to an alternative charitable organisation (or organisations) with similar aims to the Society. The Chairman and Officers of the Society shall be responsible for selection of such an organisation, and shall, in carrying out this task, act in the best interests of the members of the Society. The Officers shall seek the agreement of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales to any transfer of assets, before such transfer shall take place.

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