Constitution

Our vision:
St Luke’s exists to build community in the local area, and to bring spiritual inspiration, emotional support and practical help to those in need

Aims:
• 1.To provide a centre for community relations to develop
• 2. To offer a safe place for children and young people to meet together
• 3. To support and reach out to the local community
• 4. To welcome and encourage acceptance of all people, regardless of
background, colour, creed, age, sex or disability.

Objectives:
• 1.) To provide a centre for community relations to develop:

by a.) organising community events, festivals and social
activities throughout the year.
Examples include Easter and Christmas parties, Harvest
Suppers and Family fun days, outings for the elderly and
others who attend our Drop In morning.
b.) providing a place for life events of local people to
be expressed.
Examples include provision for baptisms and funerals.
c.) offering a neutral place for members of the
community to find practical solutions for problems
in their local area.
Example: our community meetings where young and
old met to discuss problems of vandalism and noise
pollution; joint events/meetings with City Council eg.
to improve local playground facilities; our Community Networking lunches.
d.) through regular weekly gatherings.
Examples: our Wednesday Drop In morning which is
open to all. Our Friday Parent and New Baby/Toddler group which gives support to parents and carers.

• 2.) To offer a safe place for children and young people to meet together:

by a.) Provision of young people’s groups:
Monday After School Club: 5-9 year olds
Sister Act group for 11-14’s
Youth Forum for 10-14’s
Thursday Youth Group: 10-14 year olds
Summer Holiday Club
Yearly outdoor activities weekend away

b.) Provision within these groups of:
Arts and crafts, cooking, quizzes and discussion times; Leisure and sports activities; outings and weekends away;
building of group and one to one relationships within a safe context.
c.)Provision of safe and creative play for children aged
0-4 in the context of our Parent and Toddler group, plus health care sessions from the local Health Visitor for parents with young babies.

• 3.) To support and reach out to the local community:

by a.) Regular visiting of families and individuals
whether through life events such as bereavement, birth,
family problems, lonelinesss, other contacts with groups that run within the church.
b.) Practical support whether through referral to other
agencies, or benefits/debt advice from the weekly visit
of the Welfare Rights Advisor from Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre.
c.) Detached youth work: meeting and building relationships with young people in their locality.

• 4.) To welcome and encourage acceptance of all people, regardless of background, colour, creed, age, sex or disability:

by a.) Provision of disabled ramp and disabled access to
WC, with rails fitted.
b.) Open door policy to children of all creed and colour
and any with special needs or disabilities.
c.) We have supported people battling with addictions;
those suffering mental breakdown, physical illness,
victims of domestic violence, and racial prejudice.
d.) Shared leadership including men and women.
We promote gender equality in all aspects of the
life of St Luke’s.

District Church Council (Management Committee):
1.) The DCC is responsible for the direct management of St Luke’s
Community Project.

2.) The DCC is made up of Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Church
Warden (ex officio), and three other elected members on a
three year cycle., plus Deanery Synod Representative, also
on a three year cycle.

3.) The DCC is elected at the AGM.

4.) The DCC can co-opt not more than four additional persons.

5.) Voting is on the basis of one vote per member. Only in the case of equal votes for and against will the Chair have a casting vote.

6.) All meetings require a quorum of three people at the Committee.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The AGM of St Luke’s is held annually in March. At least 14 days notice of the meeting is given to all members. The quorum at the AGM is 10 members. The business of the AGM is as follows:

1.) To receive and consider the Annual Report of the Lay Pastor and others involved in the work of St Luke’s.

2.) To receive and consider the annual Treasurer’s report.

3.) To elect DCC members for the coming year.

4.) To transact any other business which has been given to the Secretary by members.

Finance
1.) All monies received by or on behalf of St Luke’s are used only in accordance with its objectives .

2.) No money is paid as profit to any member of St Luke’s, with the exclusion of any employee. However, this does not prevent payment of reasonable out of pocket expenses to anyone carrying out the Church’s business.

3.) Bank accounts are operated in the name of St Luke’s Church and withdrawals are made with two signatories.

4.) The Treasurer keeps proper account of monies received and paid on behalf of St Luke’s.

5.) At the end of each year the accounts are prepared by the Treasurer and submitted to an independent auditor. Copies of the audited accounts are available for inspection at the AGM.

MEMBERSHIP OF ST LUKE’S
St Luke’s can be joined by anyone, regardless of age, sex, creed, colour, or disability.

DISSOLUTION
In the event of St Luke’s Community Project closing, assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities would be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of St Luke’s, as St Luke’s may determine. If and in so far as effect cannot be given to this provision, then to some other charitable purpose.

Jane Sherwood (Lay Pastor) Nov 2001