Name of Organisation:
The Organisation shall be called the ‘Milton Keynes Foster Carers Association’ and may be referred to as MKFCA.

Aims:
The aim of the MKFCA is to;
a) Promote the welfare of fostered children and young people under the care of Milton Keynes Council.
b) Represent foster carers as a group, to promote working partnerships with Milton Keynes Council’s Foster Services, Develop Awareness, knowledge and skills, share experiences and provide mutual support for Foster Carers. Create opportunities for children and Young People to meet together and raise funds and organise events.

Powers:
For enhancement of the aims of the MKFCA, the executive committee may exercise the following powers:
a) To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions to benefit the MKFCA.
b) To co-operate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in enhancement of the MKFCA’s aims.
c) To organise events for the enhancement in of the MKFCA’s aims.
d) To establish or support any other charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the MKFCA’s aims.
e) To appoint and constitute such sub groups or advisory committees as the executive committee shall think fit.
f) To do all such other lawful things as are necessary to meet the aims Of the MKFCA.

Membership:
Membership of MKFCA is open to the following;
Those working directly for or fostering directly for Milton Keynes Council’s Fostering services.
Associate members shall be Agency Fostering services who’s employee’s care for children or young people on behalf of Milton Keynes Council’s Fostering Services. These carers must be interested in enhancement of the MKFCA’s Aims. These members shall be appointed at the discretion of the executive committee and will have no voting rights.
All Executive committee members must hold a recent up to date DBS. Any Executive committee members not in possession of a DBS, obtained from the appropriate issuing authority by Milton Keynes Council’s fostering service will have their position of office revoked immediately and the said person will become an ordinary member.
Milton Keynes Council’s fostering services may inform the Executive committee of the MKFCA that a member has had a renewal of a DBS refused by the issuing authority.
Younger Foster Carers who are living with their parents may be part of a family membership; however a Foster Carers own child (Younger Foster Carer) aged between the ages of 15 and 18 may become a member within their own rights. A younger foster carer must be a member within their own rights to enable them to have voting rights.

Structure:
a) The quorum for executive committee meetings shall be one third of the elected executive committee, plus one. The elected executive committee will not exceed 9, one of these positions will be held for representation of our Younger Foster Carers ( a younger foster carer is aged between 15 and 18)
b) The quorum must be maintained throughout all meetings, in cases where a meeting started and the quorum reduces below the stipulated minimum, the chair must adjourn the meeting.
c) Adjourned meetings through depletion of the quorum must be reconvened within 14 working days. If this is impractical the Chair may extend the reconvention. All decisions made whilst the meeting was quorate, remain valid.
d) The quorum for AGM’s will be two thirds of the elected Executive committee and minimum of 5% for membership greater than 50, 10% for membership greater than 20 and 20% for membership less than 20.
e) The executive committee may co-opt further members to the executive committee at its discretion, (providing they are not associate members) but they must stand for election at the next AGM. The co-opted members shall have full voting rights (providing they are not associate members). f) Half of the committee shall stand down at theAGM but shall be eligible for re-election.
g) The officers shall hold the same post for no more than two years but may stand for other posts.
h) No person shall be entitled to act as a member of the executive committee whether on first or subsequent entry into office until their details have been entered into the MKFCA’s minutes noting their willingness to act as an executive committee member in the enhancement of the aims of MKFCA.
i) No member of the executive committee shall receive remuneration or be interested in (other than as a member of the executive committee) any contract entered into by the executive committee.

Meetings:
a) The executive committee shall hold a minimum of two ordinary meetings each year. A special meeting may be called at any time by the chair on behalf of the executive committee upon not less than 5 working days notice being given to members. If at least 10 members or two thirds of membership (if membership is less than 10) request a special meeting in writing, due to exceptional circumstances, stating the business, the executive committee can call the meeting giving at least 5 working days notice.
b) The executive committee chair shall act as chair at general meetings.
c) The vice chair shall substitute in the absence of the chair.
d) Every matter shall be determined by a majority vote. The chair has a second or casting vote in the case of equality of voting.
e) The Secretary of the executive committee shall keep minutes, for the purpose, of the proceedings, meetings and sub committees. These minutes will be consecutively numbered and each page initialled by the chair of the said meeting.
f) The executive committee may appoint a sub committees provided that all acts and proceedings shall be fully and promptly reported to the executive committee.
g) The executive committee shall comply with provisions under the Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of the Act) with regard to keeping of accounting records for the association. (minimum of 6 years for both minutes and treasurer’s reports).
h) The Executive Committee can invite a non- elected person to their meeting, this may be to give professional advice in a specialist field, or the chair of a sub-committee, however this said person or persons will have no voting rights.

Annual General Meeting:
a) An annual general meeting shall be called no later than 8 weeks following the end of the tax year (April 5th), or as soon as practicable thereafter for the purpose of members receiving reports from the officers of the executive committee and for elections to the said committee.
b) The Secretary shall give at least 15 working days notice to members of the annual general meeting. Members shall be entitled to attend to vote.
c) Nominations for election to the executive committee must be made in writing to the Secretary at least 10 working days prior to the meeting. If nominations exceed the vacancies there shall be an election, decided by the majority.
d) The constitution can only be altered at an AGM or a Special Meeting if called for that purpose, and not less than two thirds majority is required for rule changes.

Dissolution:
If the Executive Committee decides that it is necessary to dissolve the organisation, the MKFCA, it shall call a meeting of all members, giving at least 15 working days notice, stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed. If the proposal is confirmed by a two thirds majority of those present and they are eligible to vote, the executive committee shall have the power to realise assets held on behalf of MKFCA. These assets, after realisation of any debts, shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution having similar aims and objectives as the MKFCA. If the proposal is rejected, a new executive committee should be formed to continue with the aims of MKFCA. If a new Executive committee is not to be formed, then elected executors of Milton Keynes Council’s Fostering Service will hold all minutes and assets of MKFCA until a new Executive Committee is formed.