1. Name
The name of the group shall be Warton Singers, hereinafter referred to as “WS”.

2. Objectives
The objectives of WS shall be:
 To provide inclusive and accessible singing opportunities in the community of Warton & Freckleton and the
surrounding areas of the Fylde.
 To promote community cohesion and well-being of participants through the enjoyment of singing.
 To strive to achieve the best musical standard possible without requiring auditions of prospective members
 To produce concerts at St. Paul’s Parish Church, Warton and other venues throughout the area.
 To forge links with other similar groups locally, nationally and internationally
 To make donations to charities at the discretion of the committee, where profits allow.

3. Membership
Membership of WS shall be open to any person 18 years and over, who is interested in furthering the objects of
the group.
No audition shall be required to join WS.
Members will be required to pay regular subscriptions as set (which will be reviewed annually) and to regularly
attend rehearsals.
An up to date list of membership of WS will be maintained by the organising committee.
The committee may grant Associate Membership to persons who assist the group in meeting the objects but do not
wish to become singing members.

4. Officers and Committee
The management of WS, and all its activities, shall be vested in the hands of an organising committee consisting
of the following members:
 Chairman
 Secretary
 Treasurer
 Publicity Officer
 Musical Director
 Librarian
 Marketing officer
 Charity co-ordinator
 Social co-ordinator
In addition, other members may be co-opted for particular roles and/or activities
The officers and other committee members, other than the Musical Director (who is appointed), shall be elected by
and out of the group’s members at the Annual General Meeting. They shall hold office until the next Annual General
Meeting and be eligible for re-election. Nominations must be in the hands of the secretary at least 14 days before
the Annual General Meeting.

5. Meetings and Proceedings of the Committee
i. The committee shall hold at least 4 ordinary meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time
by 4 members of the committee, upon not less than 4 days’ notice being given to the other members of the
committee of the matter to be discussed.
iii. The chair shall act as chairman at meetings of the committee. If the chair is absent from any meeting, the
Secretary hsall act as Vice-Chair.
iv. There shall be a quorum when at least 4 members of the committee are present at a meeting.
v. In consultation with the Music Director, the committee will make forward plans, including setting an appropriate
budget, for concerts and performances sufficiently in advance to have all preparations completed in time to
commence rehearsals at the beginning of the term of the concert.
vi. Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes by the members of the committee present, but in the
case of equality of votes the chair of the meeting shall have a second or ‘casting’ vote.

vii. The committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the committee and any sub-committee and shall
ensure that these are stored safely and that they are available for inspection as required.
viii. The committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business, the summoning
and conduct of their meetings and the custody of documents. However, no rule may be made which is inconsistent
with this constitution.
ix. The committee may appoint one or more sub-committees, consisting of 3 or more members of WS, for the
purpose of making any enquiry or supervising any function or duty which, in the opinion of the committee, would be
more conveniently undertaken or carried out by a sub-committee: providing that all acts and proceedings of any
such sub-committee shall be fully and promptly reported to the committee. {e.g. social group/publicity group)

6. Finance
i. The financial year shall end on 31 st December.
ii. A banking account shall be maintained in the name of Warton Singers and operated by a minimum of two
authorised persons including the Treasurer.
iii. All receipts, including subscriptions, donations, sponsorship, concert tickets, shall be paid into the bank account
in a timely manner.
iv. All payments shall be authorised by the committee. All monies paid out shall be properly vouched for and a
receipt obtained for the same.
v. The financial accounts shall be audited or examined annually to the extent required by legislation or, if there is
not such requirement, scrutinised by a person who is independent of the committee and then submitted to the
members at the Annual General Meeting.

7. Music Director & Other Professionals
The committee will co-operate with and support the Musical Director and Accompanist and agree their appropriate
remunerations.
The Music Director shall be responsible for selecting all the music to be performed in agreement with the committee.
The Music Director shall rehearse the group in the music selected and conduct any public performances.
The Music Director shall not incur any expense on behalf of the group, other than the provision of printed music,
without the express agreement of the committee.

8. General Meetings
At the end of each financial year, an Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held for which at least 21 days’ notice in
writing shall be given to all members.
A Special General Meeting may be called by the committee for which 21 days’ notice shall be given to member in
writing. A meeting may also be called upon written request signed by at least 5 members of the choir.
The committee shall present to each AGM reports and audited accounts for the preceding year.
Every member shall have one vote at general meetings, provided that they have sung in the choir and paid
subscriptions for a minimum of one term during the year.
Apart from constitution amendments, which require a two thirds majority, all decisions at a general meeting shall be
decided by a simple majority vote. Where votes are equal, the chairman shall have an additional ‘casting’ vote.
A record of the proceedings at every general meeting shall be kept by the secretary or other person appointed for
the purpose.
There shall be a quorum when at least 10% of the members of the group, or 10 members, whichever is the greater,
are present at any general meeting.

9. Policies
The group will adhere to the following policies:
i. Equal Opportunities – No individual shall be excluded from membership of the group or debarred from any
official capacity on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or political affiliation.
ii. An appropriate Safeguarding Policy will be maintained where there are adults or young people at risk.
iii. A Hardship Policy will be operated to maintain members involvement in the choir if they fall upon hard times.
iv. The data protection policy of the choir is that:

a) In the day to day running of the group it is necessary to record basic personal data to enable
communication with members.
b) This comprises, member’s name, address, telephone numbers, email address and emergency contact.
c) This information will not be shared with other parties and will be deleted one year after a member
leaves the choir.
d) Members have the right to request that their personal details be deleted or amended.
e) Members’ information and images in the public domain, such as the choir website, social media and
concert programmes shall be agreed by individual assent.

10. Alterations to the Constitution
This constitution may only be altered by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at a General
Meeting, providing that notice of the proposed alteration has been sent in writing to all members at least 14 days
prior to the meeting.

11. Interpretation of this Constitution
Any matter that is not covered by this constitution, or requires interpretation, will be resolved at the discretion of the
committee.
For avoidance of doubt, any notice or communication by email shall satisfy any reference