KENTISBEARE RIDING CLUB CONSTITUTION
1. Name of Club
The club will be called KENTISBEARE RIDING CLUB (Hereinafter known as ‘The club’) and may
also be known as KRC. KRC is affiliated to The British Horse Society. KRC is currently an
uncorporated association.
2. Aims & Objectives
The aims and objectives of the club are to:
• Promote participation in horse riding as a sport and recreational activity within the local
community through regular training with experienced trainers and other educational events.
• Provide opportunities for coaching and competitive opportunities within the amateur sport of
horse riding.
• Promote good fellowship amongst riders.
• Improve and maintain the standard of riding and horsemanship among our members.
• Support and co-operate with organisations that promote equestrianism in all forms.
• Concern itself with any matter which will benefit the horse and horse user in the local
community.
• Provide suitable facilities to further the aims of the club.
3. Membership
a. Membership of the club is open to anyone interested in promoting, coaching, volunteering or
participating in horse riding, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual
orientation, religion or other beliefs.
b. Membership shall consist of persons who have attained the age of eighteen years (senior
members) and persons aged seventeen years and under (junior members), and having been
accepted by the committee, have paid the due subscription for the current period. Honorary
membership may be conferred by the committee upon any person deemed by them to have
rendered notable service to the club.
c. To become a member, persons shall follow the British Riding Clubs membership process and
complete an application form if requested to do so by KRC.
d. The membership consists of the following categories:
• Senior Member
• Junior Member
• Honorary Member
• Non-Riding Member
• Family Membership
e. The committee may refuse or remove membership only for good cause, such as conduct or
character likely to bring the club, the sport, or the BHS into disrepute. Appeal against refusal or
removal may be made to a committee of members established for the purpose. However, refusal of
membership due to the lack of available facilities is allowable on a non-discriminatory basis.
f. All members will be subject to this constitution and by joining the club will be deemed to accept
these regulations and any codes of practice that the club has adopted.
g. The annual subscription shall be payable on the annual anniversary of the date of joining. Any
member whose subscription is more than three months in arrears shall have their name removed
from the membership list after written notice to the effect has been sent to them.
h. The annual subscription shall be determined by the committee.
4. Sports Equity
a. The club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its
development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of
sports equity:
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps
to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally
accessible to everyone in society.
b. The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally
within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief,
sexuality, or social/economic status.
c. The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free
from threat of intimidation, harassment, and abuse.
d. All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality
of opportunity.
e. The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club
disciplinary procedures.
5. Committee
a. The affairs of the club shall be conducted by a committee which shall consist of Chairperson,
Secretary, Treasurer and a minimum of 3 other committee members.
b. The officers of the committee shall be elected at the AGM.
c. All committee members must be members of the Club.
d. If agreed, the committee shall elect a Vice Chair from among its members.
e. The term of office for the committee shall be three years, and members shall be eligible for re-
election.
f. 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 until the succeeding Annual General
Meeting.
g. The committee will be responsible for adopting new policies (including with regard to
Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Disciplinary matters), codes of practice and rules that affect
the organisation of the club.
h. The committee will have powers to appoint any advisers to the committee as necessary to fulfil
its business.
i. The committee will be responsible for disciplinary hearings of members who infringe the club
rules/regulations/constitution. The committee will be responsible for taking any action of
suspension or discipline following such hearings.
j. The committee meetings will be convened by the Secretary of the Club and be held no less than
4 times per year.
k. Only the posts listed above will have the right to vote at committee meetings.
l. The quorum required for business to be agreed at Management Committee meetings will be 4
m. No junior member may be a voting member the club. However, if the club has a junior
membership the committee may appoint a junior committee to discuss matters relevant to the junior
membership. This committee, through the Chairperson of said committee, may make
recommendations to the adult committee for their consideration.
6. Finances
a. The club treasurer will be responsible for the finances of the club.
b. The financial year of the club will run from 1st January and end on 31st December in each year.
c. All club monies will be banked in an account held in the name of the club.
d. A statement of annual accounts will be presented by the treasurer at the Annual General
Meeting. Accounts will be audited annually.
e. Any cheques, BACS or other electronic means of payment (PayPal etc.) drawn against club
funds should hold the signatures of or be authorised by the treasurer and one other officer.
f. All members of the club shall, if it is not an incorporated organisation, be jointly and severally
responsible for the financial liabilities of the club.
7. Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings
a. General meetings are the means whereby, subject to any other constitutional provisions, the
members of the club exercise their democratic rights in conducting the Club’s affairs.
b. The club shall hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the month of March to:
• Approve the minutes of the previous year’s AGM.
• Receive reports from the Chairman 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.
• Elect the members onto the committee.
• Consider any proposed changes to the Constitution.
• Deal with other relevant business.
• Confirm details of Insurances.
c. Notice of the AGM will be given by the club Secretary with at least 28 days’ notice in writing
stating the location of the meeting, its time and a brief description of the business to be
transacted shall be given to all members.
d. Except in exceptional circumstances, one third of the members of the committee shall retire
at the meeting, typically based on length of service. Retiring members shall be eligible for
re-election.
e. Proposed changes to the constitution shall be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM, who
shall circulate them at least 7 days in writing before an AGM.
f. All members have the right to vote at the AGM.
g. The quorum for AGMs will be 25% of the membership at the time of the meeting.
h. The Chairman of the Club shall hold a deliberative as well as a casting vote at general and
committee meetings.
i. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be called by an application in writing at least
14 days before the appointed date 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 on 14 days’
notice by decision of a simple majority of the committee members. Members shall be sent
details of the subject of business of such an EGM.
j. All procedures shall follow those outlined above for AGMs.
8. Amendments to the constitution
This constitution (which may be supplemented by formal articles if a Company or a CIO Constitution)
will only be changed through agreement by a simple majority vote at an AGM or EGM.
9. Discipline and appeals
a. All concerns, allegations or reports of poor practice/abuse relating to the welfare of children,
young people and vulnerable adults will be recorded and responded to swiftly and
appropriately in accordance with the safeguarding policy and procedures of the Club
which shall be approved yearly. The Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is the lead contact for all
members in the event of any safeguarding concerns.
b. All complaints regarding the behaviour of members should be presented and submitted in
writing to the Secretary.
c. The committee will meet to hear complaints within [21] days of a complaint being lodged.
The committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action including the
termination of membership.
d. The outcome of a disciplinary hearing should be notified in writing to the person who lodged
the complaint and the member against whom the complaint was made within 7 days of the
hearing.
e. There will be the right of appeal to the committee following disciplinary action being
announced. The committee should consider the appeal within [30] days of the Secretary
receiving the appeal.
10. Liabilities, Indemnities and Insurance
a. KRC is affiliated to the British Horse Society, and, as such is entitled to benefit from Public
and Employer’s Liability Insurance as per the BHS Schemes of Insurance.
11. Dissolution
a. A resolution to dissolve the club can only be passed at an AGM or EGM through a majority vote
of the membership.
b. In the event of dissolution, provided that the club is solvent, all debts should be cleared with any
club funds. Any assets of the club that remain following this will be transferred not to the
committee, as resolved by the EGM or AGM to a suitable Not for Profit organisation or the
British Horse Society.
12. Declaration
Kentisbeare Riding Club hereby adopts and accepts this constitution..
Name Jo Treweek Position Chair
Sign Date 14.03.24
Name Louise Gilbey Position Secretary
Sign Lou Gilbey Date 14/03/24