Outsiders Constitution

Name: The club shall be known as Outsiders
Objectives: To help people with physical and social disabilities or feelings of isolation, who find it difficult to make relationships, or who have few chances to meet suitable people, by offering them:
1. The chance to meet others: Members can contact each other though the membership list or meet at social events organised by the club.
2. encouragement to become more confident: The club volunteers, staff and other members will do this by telephone, letters or in person at social events.
3. Support in their quest for freedom: The club volunteers, staff and other members will do this by offering advice on how to be more assertive with parents, or those who control their lives, so they may gain independence and privacy; also by offering advice on independent living, to enable them to consider leading an independent life.
Membership:
1. Membership shall be available as follows:
  1. Full Membership - open to all people over the age of sixteen who share the aims of the club and wish to improve the quality of their lives.
    This will generally be granted upon completion of the full membership application form and payment of the first year's subscription.
    
    Upon acceptance, a full member will receive a membership pack containing a confidential membership list, a library list, a copy of the book Practical Suggestions, the club magazine, Inside, which includes a list of forthcoming events.
    
    A full member is eligible to have their details in the membership list. Those who do not wish their address to be published, may use the club address, and have their mail forwarded.
    
    Full members will also have access to the club library.
  2. Associate Membership - open to persons or incorporate bodies in general agreement with the aims of the club and who would like to help achieve those aims.
    This will generally be granted upon payment of the fee.
2. Membership is for one calendar year from the date of first joining the club, to be paid annually.
3. Membership privileges may be withdrawn if payment is not received within two months of being requested.
4. The cost of subscription for each class of membership will be decided from time to time by the Management Committee.
Management
1. Management of Outsiders shall be in the hands of the Coordinators, i.e. the volunteers who do the work of running the club, with guidance from the Trustees of the Outsiders Trust.
2. The Coordinators shall represent the diversity of disability and experience of the club members, and the majority of the elected members shall be disabled.
3. The Coordinators shall include a chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer.
4. There will be a minimum of four full Coordinators meetings a year to implement policy and ensure the day-to-day running of the office.
5. Coordinators will be notified of relevant meetings at least three weeks previously and will receive minutes of the previous meeting.
6. The Coordinators shall be empowered to consider breaches of the club rules and to take appropriate action. Any person considered breaking such rules shall receive a letter explaining how they have done so, to which they may respond in writing if they wish to. But the decision of the coordinators is final.
7. Day-to-day running of Outsiders shall be conducted by volunteers and paid staff. They will be under the guidance of the Trustees and will act in accordance with 'Appendix 2 - Volunteers and Staff'; the club publication 'Guidelines for Volunteers' and any conditions of employment agreed between paid staff and Outsiders.
Social Meetings
1. Outsiders shall encourage the organising of monthly social lunches and parties at local venues across the country to enable members to meet.
2. Non-members and members' friends may attend all social events. However, Outsiders reserves the right to turn away anyone who does not show a acceptible standard of behaviour and attitude towards disabled people.
3. People attend events at their own risk. Although Outsiders can take no responsibility for travel arrangements to or from an event, or for what happens between members, support will be offered on request.
4. Anyone who attends an event for professional purposes, such as journalists, must declare their interest, and obtain each individual's permission to elicit information or photograph them. Outsiders retains the right to refuse admittance to anyonewho, in their opinion, is not likely to act in the interests of the club.
Member Support Services
1. All members will receive a copy of the club publication 'Practical Suggestions', a collection of ideas from other members on overcoming the problems of starting a relationship.
2. Outsiders will maintain an extensive library which will be available to members on a loan basis. Books will be sent out one at a time and will be loaned without charge for one month. The cost of postage must be refunded by the member when the book is returned. Members who fail to return a book will be invoiced for the cost of replacing the book (minimum £10).
3. Outsiders will provide confidential encouragement and advice to members on request and no professional charge will be made. However, the club retains the right to request the cost of a telephone call or postage.
4. Should a member require or request professional counselling or therapy, referrals can be arranged. However, the arrangements between the professional and the member shall be separate from and nothing to do with the club.
Dissolution In the event of Outsiders dissolving, all outstanding assets, after the payment of debts, shall be given to the Outsiders Trust, or similar charity, to further the aims of the club.

Appendix 1: Membership Rules

Although the rules for members are kept to a minimum, those that exist are for the benefit of the members and arise out of direct experience. They may be added to from time to time, as required.

All members shall:

Ensure the confidentiality of the membership list and not show it to, or discuss the contents, with any other person or organisation.
Visit other members only with prior agreement.
Be courteous to other members when contacting them either by telephone or letter.
Neither request nor receive money or other remuneration for contacting or visiting other members.
When using the postal library facility, return books within the stipulated time period. Members failing to return books will be invoiced for the cost of replacing the book (minimum £10).
Report to the office any insulting behaviour by other members or attempts to exploit them.
Have the right to consultation with the Coordinators Committee in cases of alleged breaches of the rules of Outsiders, but must accept the ruling of the Management Committee after that hearing.

Appendix 2: Volunteers and Staff Rules

All volunteers and staff shall:

When running things for Outsiders, act in accordance with the code of behaviour which the Trustees find acceptable. Specifically, they shall follow club rules and the guidelines of the Starter Pack. They shall treat members with respect and never refer to them, or treat them, in a patronising way. They must not exclude people because of disability, however severe. Neither shall they exploit other members, use their position of power to gain sexual favours, or purposefully do things that might bring Outsiders into disrespect. Volunteers and staff shall accept training so they can learn how to fulfil the aims of the club. Should there be any doubt that a volunteer or member of staff is not adhering to the above and/or seem unwilling or unable to improve as a result of training, the Coordinators shall decide whether they have failed in this respect and if they are Coordinators themselves, the decision shall be taken by the Trustees. Such failure may result in this volunteer or member of the staff or volunteers being told that their help is no longer required by Outsiders.
Sign our Confidentiality Form, to state that they will divulge no information about any member to any person except to any authorised person and, only then when it is necessary to do so.
Run any local events in strict conformity to the club guidelines, or must gain authorisation from a Committee member to deviate from those guidelines, on each occasion.
Ensure that locally-run events are self-financing except where agreed beforehand with the Committee, e.g., in start-up operations.
Be kept informed of the progress of other areas be expected to inform other groups of their progress.
Have the right to a hearing, in front of the coordinators or Trustees in cases of alleged breaches of the rules of Outsiders, but must accept the ruling after that hearing. This rule is subordinate to proper terms of employment which will apply where these exist.

March 1991, revised September 1992.
Approved at the AGM in January 1993.
Adapted and then approved at AGM January 2003.