Our Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF: Friends of Grand Union Canal

Voluntary Organisation

  1. ADOPTED ON (DATE): 25th January 2022


  3. 1 Name

    1. The name of the Group shall be: Friends of Grand Union Canal (FoGUC). The registered address will be: 6 Salvia Gardens, Perivale, UB6 7PG


  5. 2 Vision

  6. To help ensure the Grand Union Canal is a well-maintained and safe public site which can enhance the quality of life for local people by improving their physical and mental health and act as a focus for bringing people together.

Aims:

  1. to create a common forum for all the users of the Grand Union Canal, celebrating the canal’s role in the promotion of enjoyment, health and well-being

  2. to work co-operatively with organisations such as the Canal and River Trust, (who are the landowner of the waterway and towpaths), the Inland Waterways Association, Local Authorities, other canal societies and boaters’ organisations to improve the environment surrounding the canal

  3. to generate links with local community groups and businesses to discover and develop common activities

  4. to offer a focal point for questions and communications, providing networking opportunities for all the diverse interest groups that use the canal

  5. to promote positive activities to improve the environment such as litter picking

  6. to engage with those who litter, and communicate with those who are perceived to take part in anti-social behaviour, to help reduce these incidents


The Friends of the Grand Union Canal are committed to making the canal and its environment cleaner, greener and safer.


  1. 3 Powers

  2. In order to achieve its aims the Group may:

  • Raise money and open bank accounts

  • Take out Public Liability Insurance

  • Organise events and activities

  • Work with other groups and exchange information

  • Do anything that is lawful which will help it to fulfil its aims


  2. 4 Membership

  • Membership of the Group shall be open to anybody with an interest in the Grand Union Canal as long as they are interested in helping the Group to achieve its aims and willing to abide by the rules of the Group (The Code of Conduct)


  • Members can join by Facebook, email, or face to face, upon completion of the application form and paid application fee of £2.00.


  • Every individual member shall have one vote at the Annual General Meeting.


5 Management

  • The organisation shall be managed by a Management Committee, members of which are appointed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the organisation

  • Between 3 and 10 Committee Members will be elected at the AGM to serve for one year or until the next AGM. Any member of the Friends of Grand Union Canal may stand for election to the committee.

  • Management Committee members may stand for re-election.

  • The Officers of the Organisation shall be: the Chairperson, the Treasurer and the Secretary. They will be elected initially at the first AGM. Thereafter, they will be elected by the Management Committee at their first meeting held after the AGM.

  • The Management Committee shall meet at least three times a year. At least 3 elected members must be present at the meeting to take any decisions, which are approved by a majority of those present. If there is a tied vote, the Chairperson will have the casting vote. Minutes shall be taken and published.

  • The Management Committee may appoint up to 2 additional members during the year, who will stand down at the next AGM, but may stand for re-election.


6. Finance

  1. Any money obtained by the Friends of Grand Union Canal (FoGUC) will only be used to support the aims of the Friends of Grand Union Canal

  2. Any bank accounts opened for the FoGUC should be in the name of the FoGUC

  3. A minimum of 2 members of the Management Committee will be appointed to access and use the account.

  4. The Management Committee must keep accounts, which will be available for examination by members at any time and circulated and approved at the AGM.



8 Annual General Meeting

a) The Group will hold an Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) in the month of January

b) All members will be given at least 14 days’ notice of the AGM and will be entitled to attend and vote. Quorum for the AGM will be 5

c) The business of the AGM will include:

  • Reports from office holders

  • Electing a new Management Committee of between 3 and 10 people to serve for the next year

  • Consideration of any other matters

d) Minutes shall be kept and published


9 Special General Meeting

  • A Special General Meeting may be called by the Management Committee, or a request in writing by at least 5 members, in order to:

    • discuss an urgent matter

    • change the constitution

    • wind up the organisation

  • The Secretary shall give all members fourteen days’ notice of any Special General Meeting together with notice of the business to be discussed. All members shall be entitled to attend this meeting and vote on decisions made.


10 Other matters



  • Changes to the constitution - can be made at AGMs or Special General Meetings by at least two-thirds of those members present. No changes can be made that would change the fundamental vision and aims of the group.


  • Winding up the group: any money or property remaining after payment of debts must be given to an organisation with a similar purpose to this one.

This constitution was adopted at a general meeting of the Group on 25th January 2022

This constitution first was adopted on 25th January 22 by the people whose signatures appear below. The members listed below are appointed Management Committee members of the organisation until the next AGM, which will be held within one year of this date

Signed by: Management Committee Members