Barnet Counselling Association

BARNET COUNSELLING ASSOCIATION
The Association of Primary Care Counsellors in Barnet

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Constitution

1. The name of the Association is Barnet Counselling Association.

2. The aim of the Association is to develop and promote good counselling practice in primary care, working to the highest professional standards by:

supporting members professionally and practically
liaising with Barnet Primary Care Trust

3. Membership is open to any counsellor working and paid as part of a primary health care team in Barnet and who also meets the criteria laid down in BCA's guidelines, which include accreditation by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, or equivalent body, and has paid the annual subscription as agreed at the annual general meeting.

4. The Association will be managed by a committee consisting of a chairperson, treasurer, and at least four other members. The quorum for a committee meeting will be four members. The committee will be elected annually at a general meeting, and may co-opt other members. The committee may set up sub-committees and may make and alter rules for the conduct of the business of such sub-committees, providing these are compatible with this constitution. Minutes of meetings will be taken and will be made available on request. Committee members will not be paid for committee work.

5. The committee will be responsible for arranging meetings, making recommendations to the Association, and liaising with outside bodies.

6. Meetings of the Association will be held at least four times a year. Additional meetings will be held as required or when requested in writing by at least four members. Changes to the constitution and subscription rates must be approved by a general meeting. Notice of an annual general meeting, together with the agenda and any proposed change to the constitution, must be circulated at least two weeks before the meeting except in cases of urgency.

7. The accounts of the Association will be audited annually by an auditor appointed at a general meeting, and will be presented to the annual general meeting for approval.

8. Decisions will be taken by a majority vote of paid up members present. In case of a tie the chairperson of the meeting will have a second casting vote.

9. If the Association is wound up at a general meeting, any remaining assets will be distributed equally among the paid up members.

10. This constitution was adopted on 15 November 1995. Amendments were agreed at annual general meetings in January 1997 and 1998 and at an extraordinary general meeting in June 1999.