Constitution

Surrey Heath Muslim Association

Constitution

Name: Surrey Heath Muslim Association

Address: Camberley, Surrey, United Kingdom.

1.0 Aims

The association aims to provide the following for the resident Muslim community that is comprised of diverse ethnic and national backgrounds in the Borough of Surrey Heath, Surrey, UK and surrounding areas

1.1. Establish educational support for the children through a Weekend Support School

1.2. The Support School will focus on improvement in core subjects of the national curriculum

· English, Mathematics, Sciences, Information Technology, & Islamic Studies

· Moral behaviour and conduct to encourage and instil good citizenship and sense of belonging in the local and the wider community

· Establish activities that would encourage girls in the community to pursue post -16 education

1.3. Establish activities and events(educational and sports) for youth in the community to encourage them to pursue higher educational achievement, identify and pursue better employment and career opportunities

1.4. Establish links with local education authorities (schools) and the Muslim community through participation in the affairs of local state schools

1.5. Establish links with local police authority and the Muslim community through participation in the affairs of the local police

1.6. Establish links with local health authorities and the Muslim community through participation in the affairs of the health authority

1.7. Develop understanding about culture of various ethnic communities in the wider community through religious education talks (National curriculum) at local schools and community forums

1.8. Develop inter faith links with various faith communities through discussion and activities

1.9. Help, support, and provide assistance for vulnerable/elderly members of the community

1.10. Help and support charitable activities for the needy in the UK and the developing world and raise awareness about such activities in the community

1.11. Help support, and provide assistance to families in the event of bereavement and organise funeral and burial arrangements

1.12. Encourage healthy, positive, and proactive participation of youth and senior members in

the local and national politics of the UK and remove alienation from the wider British

Community

1.13. The association will establish links with other similar organisations that have similar aims

to the association and if necessary request support to further the aims of the association

2.0 Sister Activities

Sisters’ activities will be encouraged by the association and at least two office bearers must be elected from amongst the sisters to represent the sisters in the committee of the association. The Sisters will form their own sub-committee to carry out their activities in the community.

3.0 Management

The association will be managed by seven officers: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, two brothers and two sisters as activities organisers. Sub committees will be formed by the officers on need basis only. The committee may co-opt another member to act on the committee as acting office bearer in case of prolonged absence of an office bearer. The committee reserve the right to require a committee member to resign his/her office after three consecutive meeting absences

4.0 Finance and Financial Year

The financial year will be from 6^th April of the current year to 5^th April of the subsequent year. A bank account will be opened in the name of the association at a local high street bank in Camberley, Surrey. All monies received on behalf of the association will be paid into the account and a receipt will be issued. Cheques will be signed jointly by the treasurer and the chairman of the association

5.0 Office Bearers

The office bearers will be elected at a general meeting of the members every two years. A quorum of 60% of the total membership is required for the election of the office bearers and failure to meet this quorum requirement would lead to postponement of the meeting and at a subsequent meeting office bearers will be elected by the attendees to the meeting irrespective of the quorum requirement.

6.0 General Meeting

Annual general meeting will be held every year to discuss the projects and finance of the association.

7.0 Extraordinary General Meeting

An EGM will be called if the committee deems it necessary to do so.

8.0 Committee Meeting

The committee shall meet as often as necessary for the management of affairs of the association. All office bearers will be required to be present for the meeting. A prior two week notice of all meetings shall be given in writing or by e-mail to members.

9.0 Amendments

Any amendments to the constitution can be made after discussion at the annual general meeting. Proposals for an amendment or change to the constitution must be received by the committee not less than thirty days before the AGM. Each proposal must be signed by the proposer and by at least two supporters for the change or amendment. Amendment will be accepted once 80% of the members vote in favour of the amendment or change.

10.0 Membership

Membership will be open to all Muslim(Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaah) residents (male or female), who are eighteen years of age and above of Surrey Heath and surrounding areas.

11.0 Membership Fees

A yearly membership fee of £5/- will be charged to members of the association

12.0 Auditors

The auditors shall be appointed by the Committee and shall not be member/s of the committee.

13.0 Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, all assets remaining after the dissolution shall be paid or transferred to another charitable organisation in the UK with similar aims to this organisation.

14.0 Guiding Principle to Sustain Multiethnic and Multinational Representation

The members of the association and especially the office bearers will ensure that members of all national and ethnic backgrounds are represented in the association. This will be achieved through proactive membership recruitment from various backgrounds and through election of office bearers of different national origins and ethnicities in the committee and sub committees of the association. No particular group of ethnic or national origin will monopolise the offices of the association.

The principle will be implemented by ensuring that no particular national origin or ethnicity is repeated within any of the committees or sub-committees. This will assure the multicultural and multiethnic dimension of the association to the wider Muslim community. The Committee will be empowered to form sub-committees to help organise activities in the community.

The association will encourage participation of the wider non-Islamic community through dialogue and communication within the Islamic beliefs and traditions.