Constitution

1. Name

The name of the group is Greater Manchester Vis ("the group").

2. Aims

The aims of the group are to:

• provide inclusive sport, physical activity and social opportunities for blind and partially sighted people across Greater Manchester;
• remove barriers to taking part, by providing trained guides, adapted equipment and accessible information;
• build a welcoming community that improves the wellbeing, confidence and friendships of its members;
• promote the inclusion of visually impaired people in sport and community life more widely.

3. Membership

• Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of the group, regardless of level of sight.
• Family members, friends, carers, volunteers and supporters are welcome to join.
• The Management Committee may keep a register of members.
• A member may leave at any time. The committee may, by a two-thirds majority and only for good reason, ask a member to leave — for example, where behaviour seriously harms the group or its members. The member has the right to be heard before a decision is made.

4. Equality & inclusion

The group is committed to equality of opportunity. No one will be treated less favourably on the grounds of disability, age, sex, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic. Accessibility for visually impaired people is central to everything we do.

5. Management Committee

• The group is run by a Management Committee, elected by the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
• The committee includes the officers: a Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer, plus other members as agreed.
• The committee meets as often as needed to run the group, and at least three times a year.
• Committee members serve for one year and may stand for re-election.
• The committee is responsible for safeguarding, for following the group's policies, and for acting in the best interests of the group and its members.

6. Meetings

• An Annual General Meeting (AGM) is held once a year. All members are invited and given at least 14 days' notice.
• At the AGM the committee reports on the year, the accounts are presented, and the committee is elected.
• An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called by the committee, or on the written request of a reasonable number of members.
• Every member present has one vote; decisions are made by a simple majority unless this constitution says otherwise. Meetings are run in an accessible way so every member can take part.

7. Finances

• The group's funds come from sources such as donations, grants and fundraising, and are used only to further the aims of the group.
• The group keeps proper accounts, which are presented to members at the AGM.
• Any bank account is operated by the Treasurer and at least one other officer.
• No part of the group's funds may be paid to members as profit; reasonable out-of-pocket expenses may be reimbursed.

8. Amending the constitution

This constitution may be changed only at an AGM or Extraordinary General Meeting, by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. Members must be given at least 14 days' notice of any proposed change.

9. Dissolution

The group may be wound up by a two-thirds majority at a general meeting called for that purpose. Any assets remaining after debts are settled will be given to another organisation with similar aims — for example, a charity supporting visually impaired people or inclusive sport — and not distributed among members.