Paddle Avon Constitution

13th November 2025

1. Name of Club

The club will be called Paddle Avon (hereinafter will be referred to as the club). The club will be affiliated to Paddle UK.

2. Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives of the club will be:

• To provide coaching, competitive and recreational opportunities across a range of paddle sport disciplines
• To promote the club within the local community and paddle sport
• To ensure a duty of care to all members of the club
• To offer its services in a way that is fair to everyone

3. Membership

a : Membership of the club is open to anyone interested in promoting, coaching, volunteering or participating in paddlesport, regardless of sex, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs.

b : A minimum age restriction for membership to ensure a level of competency may be adopted by the club. This shall be reviewed and maintained at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

c : All members will be subject to the regulations of the constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept these regulations and the code of conduct that the club has adopted.

d : Members will pay membership fees, as determined at the Annual General Meeting.

e : Individuals shall not be eligible to take part in the business of the club, vote at general meetings or be eligible for selection of any club activity unless the applicable subscription has been paid by the due date and/or membership has been agreed by the club committee.

f : Individuals who have not renewed their membership within 1 month of expiry will be deemed to have left the club. Personal details of members who have left the club will be deleted in accordance with the club’s privacy policy.

4. Equality

a : The club is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity and aims to ensure that everyone has a genuine and equal opportunity to participate in paddlesport at all levels and in all roles. The Club adopts the principles of Paddle England’s Equality Policy (2022), and believes that everyone should be treated equally regardless of age, disability, sex or sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief (“Protected Characteristics”). In addition, the Club will endeavour to ensure that everyone is given the same opportunities regardless of their socio-economic background.

5. Safeguarding

a : The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.

b : All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.

c : All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice or abuse relating to the safety or welfare of children, young people and adults will be recorded and responded to swiftly and appropriately in accordance with the club’s child safeguarding policy or adult safeguarding policy and procedures (or Paddle UK policies/procedures in their absence). The Club Welfare Officer is the lead contact for all members in the event of any child and adult protection concerns.

d : The club will deal with any behaviour or incident which is contrary to the club rules or codes of conduct, or any other offence or behaviour having the potential to cause harm to others according to the club disciplinary and appeal policy.

6. Executive Committee

a : The affairs of the club shall be conducted by the Executive Committee (herein referred to as the Committee) which as a minimum shall consist of a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, and Welfare Officer. Additional positions may be proposed by the Committee as applicable and filled through elections at the Annual General Meeting.

b : All committee members must be members of the Club.

c : If required, the Committee shall elect a Vice Chair from among its members.

d : The term of office shall be for one year, and members shall be eligible for re-election.

e : If the post of any officer or ordinary committee member should fall vacant after such an election, the Committee shall have the power to fill the vacancy without an election until the succeeding Annual General Meeting.

f : The Committee will be responsible for adopting policies, codes of conduct and rules that affect the organisation and operation of the club.

g : The Committee will have powers to appoint any advisers to the Committee as necessary to fulfil its business.

h : The committee meetings will be convened by the Secretary of the Club and be held no less than four times per year.

i : Only members of the committee have the right to vote at committee meetings. In the event of a split vote, the Chairperson may have the casting vote.

j : The quorum required for business to be agreed at committee meetings will be three. In the event the Chairperson or Secretary is not able to attend, a representative shall be nominated by them to act in their capacity.

7. Finances

a : The club treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.

b : All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club.

c : An audited statement of annual accounts (if appropriate) will be presented by the treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.

d : Any cheques drawn against club funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus up to two other officers.

8. Liabilities

a : The Club is an unincorporated association. Members of the committee or any other delegated individuals shall be jointly and severally responsible for the affairs of the club including financial liabilities.

b : To mitigate the risk of personal liability, the Committee must ensure the terms of any liability insurance are strictly adhered to (e.g. only Paddle UK-recognised coaches may deliver coaching, where approved by the Committee).

9. Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings

a : General Meetings are the means whereby the members of the club exercise their democratic rights in conducting the club’s affairs.

b : The club shall hold the AGM in the month of November to: * Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM. * Receive reports from the Chairperson and Secretary. * Receive a report from the Treasurer and approve the Annual Accounts. * Receive a report from those responsible for certifying the club’s accounts (if applicable). * Elect the officers on the committee. * Agree the membership fees for the following year. * Consider any proposed changes to the Constitution. * Deal with other relevant business.

c : Notice of the AGM will be given by the club secretary with at least 28 days’ notice to be given to all members.

d : Nominations for officers of the committee will be sent to the secretary prior to the AGM.

e : Proposed changes to the constitution shall be sent to the secretary at least 14 days prior to the AGM, who shall circulate them no later than 7 days before an AGM.

f : All members have the right to vote at the AGM.

g : Members unable to vote in person at the AGM may submit their vote by email to the club secretary no later than 2 days prior to the AGM.

h : The quorum for AGMs will be 10% of the membership.

i : The Chairperson of the Club shall hold a deliberative as well as a casting vote at general and committee meetings.

j : An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be called by an application in writing to the Secretary supported by at least 10% of the members of the Club. The committee shall also have the power to call an EGM by decision of a simple majority of the committee members.

k : All procedures for EGMs shall follow those outlined above for AGMs.

10. Amendments to the constitution

The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM or EGM.

11. Dissolution

a : A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM where more than 50% of the club’s membership is in favour.

b : In the event of dissolution, all debts should be cleared with any club funds. Any assets of the club that remain following this will become the property of another club with similar objectives or Paddle UK.

12. Declaration

Paddle Avon hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.