Introduction: 

This document (Constitution) supersedes all previous Woking Disability Football for All constitution (or Rules and Regulations) documents.

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1. Name

The organisation shall be called “Woking Disability Football for All” or “WDFFA” (the Club). 

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2. Objects

The objects of the Club shall be to provide facilities, promote the game of Association Football, to arrange matches and social activities for its members and community participation in the same. The Club is established and will be operated on an amateur, non profit basis for the public benefit.  All income and property shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Club’s objects and     no part shall be paid or distributed to members except as permitted by these Rules.

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3. Members of the club

The members of the club are:

• Players aged 18 years and over (who have paid their subscription).

• A parent or carer of players aged under 18 (who have paid a subscription).

• Committee members

 

Membership is open to all members of the community who support the objects of the Club and who meet any reasonable eligibility criteria set out in these Rules. Membership shall not be restricted by residence, social status, or any protected characteristic. Membership is personal to the member and is not transferable. The Club will take reasonable steps to ensure that membership fees do not pose a significant obstacle to community participation and will publish any concessions or bursary arrangements.

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4. Status of  Rules

These Club rules (the "Rules") form a binding agreement between each member of the Club. 
 

5. Rules and Regulations

(a) The members of the Club shall so exercise their rights, powers and duties and shall, where appropriate use their best endeavours to ensure that others conduct themselves so that the business and affairs of the Club are carried out in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association Limited ("The FA"), County Football Association to which the Club is affiliated ("Parent County Association") and Competitions in which the Club participates, for the time being in force. 
(b) The Club will also abide by The FA’s Safeguarding Children and Adults Policies and Procedures; Codes of Conduct and the Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discrimination Policy as shall be in place from time to time. 
(c) The members of the Club shall always adhere to all Club committee approved WDFFA policies including, but not limited to, Club constitution, Code of Conduct, Equality policy and Safeguarding policy. Failure to do so will lead to appropriate sanctions determined by the Club Committee.
(d) The Club shall operate for the public benefit and shall not carry on activities for the profit of its members. No member shall receive any payment or benefit from the Club except as permitted under these Rules (for example, reimbursement of reasonable expenses or payment for services provided on fair terms approved by the Club Committee). 
 

6. Club Membership

(a) The members of the Club from time to time shall be those persons listed in the register of members (the "Membership Register") which shall be maintained by the Secretary. 
(b) Any person who wishes to be a member must apply on the Membership Application Form and deliver it to the Club. Election to membership shall be at the discretion of the Club Committee and granted in accordance with the anti-discrimination and equality policies which are in place from time to time. An appeal against refusal may be made to the Club Committee in accordance with the Complaints Procedure in force from time to time. Membership shall become effective upon an applicant’s name being entered in the Membership Register.
(c) In the event of a member’s resignation or expulsion, his or her name shall be removed from the Membership Register. Membership is personal to the member and is not transferable. 
(d) The FA and Parent County Association shall be given access to the Membership Register on demand.
(e) The Club will maintain records of membership, subscriptions and any concessions and will make these available to HMRC or other authorities on request in connection with CASC registration or compliance. 

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7. Annual Membership Fee

(a) An annual fee payable by each member shall be determined from time to time by the Club Committee and set at a level that will not pose a significant obstacle to community participation. Any fee shall be payable on a successful application for membership and annually by each member. Fees shall not be repayable. 
(b) The Club Committee shall have the authority to levy further subscriptions from the members as are reasonably necessary to fulfil the objects of the Club.
(c) The Club will publish its membership fee levels and any concessionary arrangements and will review fees periodically to ensure they remain reasonable and do not prevent community participation.

The Concession policy can be found HERE.
 

8. Resignation and Expulsion

(a) A member shall cease to be a member of the Club if, and from the date on which, he/she/they give notice to the Club Committee of his/her/their resignation. 
(b) The Club Committee shall have the power to expel a member when, in its opinion, it would not be in the interests of the Club for them to remain a member. An appeal against such a decision may be made to the Club Committee in accordance with the Complaints Procedure in force from time to time. 
(c) A member who resigns or is expelled shall not be entitled to claim any, or a share of any, of the income and assets of the Club (the “Club Property”).
(d) Any disciplinary or expulsion process will follow the Club’s published Complaints Procedure and will provide the member with a right to be heard and to appeal.
 

9. Club Committee

(a) The Club Committee shall have at least five Club officers:  : Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Chief Welfare Officer and Junior Welfare Officer elected at an Annual General Meeting (AGM). Other club officers maybe appointed as required.
(b) Each Club Officer and Club Committee Member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the next Annual General Meeting ("AGM") unless otherwise resolved at an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM"). One person may hold no more than two positions of Club Officer at any time. The Club Committee shall be responsible for the management of all the affairs of the Club. The quorum for the transaction of business of the Club Committee shall be four. Decisions of the Club Committee shall be made by a simple majority of those attending the Club Committee meeting. The Chairperson of the Club Committee meeting shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie. Meetings of the Club Committee shall be chaired by the Club Chairperson or in their absence   by another Club officer. 
(c) The Club Committee shall keep minutes of all meetings and decisions and shall ensure that records of decisions, policies and financial transactions are maintained in accordance with good governance practice. 
(d) Decisions of the Club Committee of meetings shall be maintained by the Club Secretary. 
(e) Any member of the Club Committee may call a meeting of the Club Committee by giving not less than seven days’ notice to all members of the Club Committee. The Club Committee shall hold not less than three meetings a year. 
(f) An outgoing member of the Club Committee may be re-elected. Any vacancy on the Club Committee which arises between Annual General Meetings shall be filled by a member proposed by one and seconded by another of the remaining Club Committee members and approved by a simple majority of the remaining Club Committee members.
(g) Save as provided for in the Rules and Regulations of The FA, the Parent County Association and any applicable Competition, the Club Committee shall have the power to decide all questions and disputes arising in respect of any issue concerning the Rules.
(h) The position of a Club Officer shall be vacated if such person is subject to a decision of The FA that such person be suspended from holding office or from taking part in any football activity relating to the administration or management of a football club. 
(i) The Club Committee will ensure that any payments to members or officers for services are on fair and reasonable terms and are authorised in advance by the Committee. The Club will not remunerate members for playing. 
 

10. Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings

(a) An AGM shall be held in each year to:

(i) receive a report of the activities of the Club over the previous year; 
(ii) receive a report of the Club’s finances over the previous year;

(iii) elect the members of the Club Committee; and

(iv) consider any other business. 

(b) All members should be informed of the date of the AGM with at least 21 days’ notice.    
(c) Nominations for election of members as Club Officers or as members of the Club Committee shall be made in writing by the proposer and seconder, both of whom must be members of the Club, to the Secretary not less than 14 days before the AGM. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be given in writing to the Secretary not less than 14 days before the meeting. 

(d) An EGM may be called at any time by the Club Committee and shall be called within 21 days of the receipt by the Secretary of a requisition in writing, signed by not less than ten members stating the purposes for which the Meeting is required and the resolutions proposed. Business at an EGM may be any business that may be transacted at an AGM. 
(e) The Secretary shall send to each member at their last known email written notice of the date of a General Meeting (whether an AGM or an EGM) together with the resolutions to be proposed at least 14 days before the meeting.
(f) The quorum for a General Meeting shall be 50% of the Club Committee and 10% of parents/carers of members of the Club. 
(g) The Chairperson, or in their absence a member selected by the Club Committee, shall take the chair. Each member present shall have one vote and resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority. In the event of an equality of votes the Chairperson of the Meeting shall have a casting vote. Club Committee members or parents/carers of members can vote by proxy for the election of officials. Proxy votes must be submitted in writing or via verified email to the Secretary at least 48 hours before the meeting, signed by the absent voter and naming the person authorised to vote on their behalf. No person may hold more than one proxy.

(h) The Secretary, or in their absence a member of the Club Committee, shall record the minutes of the General Meeting. 
 

11. Teams

 The appointed Team Managers shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the team. The appointed members shall present to the Club Committee at its last meeting prior to an AGM a written report of the activities of the team. 
 

12. Club Finances

(a) A bank account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the Club (the "Club Account"). Designated account signatories shall be the Chairperson, the Secretary and the Treasurer. Any payment must be authorised by two approved signatories, including electronic payments .. All monies payable to the Club shall be received by the Treasurer and deposited in the Club Account.

(b) The Club Property shall be applied only in furtherance of the objects of the Club. The Club will not distribute profits to members and will ensure that any surplus is applied to the Club’s objects. Any permitted payments to members (for example, reimbursement of expenses or payment for services) will be on fair terms and authorised by the Club Committee.
(c) The Club Committee shall have the power to authorise the payment of remuneration and expenses to any member of the Club (although a Club shall not remunerate a member for playing) and to any other person or persons for services rendered to the Club. 
(d) The Club may provide sporting and related social facilities, sporting equipment, coaching, courses, insurance cover, medical treatment, away-match expenses, post-match refreshments and other ordinary benefits of Community Amateur Sports clubs as provided for in the Finance Act 2002. 
(e) The Club may also in connection with the sports purposes of the club:

(i) sell and supply food, drink and related sports clothing and equipment
(ii) employ members (although not for playing) and remunerate them for providing goods and services, on fair terms set by the Club Committee without the person concerned being present; and 
(iii) indemnify the Club Committee and members acting properly in the course of the running of the club against any liability incurred in the proper running of the club (but only to the extent of its assets). 

(f) The Club shall prepare an annual "Financial Statement", in such format as shall be available from The FA from time to time. A copy of any Financial Statement shall, on demand, be forwarded to The FA. The Club will also retain records and supporting documentation sufficient to demonstrate compliance with CASC requirements and will make these available to HMRC on request.

 

13. Dissolution

(a) A resolution to dissolve the Club shall only be proposed at a General Meeting and shall be carried by a majority of at least three-quarters of the members present. 
(b) The dissolution shall take effect from the date of the resolution and the members of the Club Committee shall be responsible for the winding up of the assets and liabilities of the Club. 
(c) Any surplus assets remaining after the discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Club shall be transferred to a registered charity or another Community Amateur Sports Club with similar objects. If the Club is unable to transfer assets to such an organisation, the assets shall be applied for charitable purposes for the benefit of disabled and/or special needs persons as determined by the Club Committee at the time of winding up. 
 

14. Complaints Procedure

The Club’s Complaints Procedure shall be made available to all members and referenced on the Club’s website. It shall outline a fair and transparent process for informal resolution, investigation, and appeal. The Complaints Procedure will include timescales for each stage, the right to representation, and the right to appeal to an independent panel where appropriate. The Club will ensure that safeguarding concerns are handled in accordance with The FA safeguarding procedures.