At an Extraordinary General Meeting of club members held on 17th September 2026 the following constitution was approved and adopted by majority vote.

1. THE CLUB
   
   1. The Club shall be known as “BEBINGTON ARCHERS”.
   2. The main purposes of the club are;
      1. To provide facilities for the amateur sport of Archery.
      2. To promote the participation in the sport of Archery.
   3. Bebington Archers shall be affiliated to the Cheshire Archery Association, the Northern Counties Archery Society and the Archery GB and shall abide by any Guidelines publicly published by Cheshire Archery Association, the
      Northern Counties Archery Society and Archery GB.
   4. Bebington Archers will abide by Archery GB Policy for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable
      Adults.
      
2. MEMBERSHIP
   
   1. Membership of the club shall be open to anyone interested in the sport on application, regardless of sex, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or other beliefs, except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of archery.
   2. Membership may be applied for only after completion of a beginners’ course either at this club or at another Archery GB Affiliated club, or an assessment of ability for experienced archers.
   3. The club may have different classes of membership and subscription on a non-discriminatory and fair basis.
   4. The club will keep subscriptions at a level that will not pose a significant obstacle to people participating.
   5. The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, accept or refuse any application for membership. The Committee shall not be obliged to give reasons for its decision
   6. The Committee may suspend or terminate membership where it reasonably considers that continued membership would be contrary to the interests of the Club, the safety or welfare of its members, or the reputation or proper functioning of the Club. Appeals against suspension of termination may be made to the committee.
   7. All new members will be subjected to a six-month probation period. At the end of this period, the Committee shall review the members probation and determine whether their membership should be accepted.
      
3. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
   
   1. The classes of membership shall be Senior, Junior, Honorary, Associate Senior and Associate Junior.
   2. Senior members shall be those of 18 years or older who have been accepted as a member of the Club and have paid to the Club the prescribed Club membership fee.
   3. Junior members shall be those under the age of 18 who have been accepted as a member of the Club and have paid to the Club the prescribed Club membership fee.
   4. Juniors shall be accepted from the age of 10 years.
   5. The Committee may use its discretion to allow shooting membership to anyone under 10 years of age on condition that their parent(s) are active shooting members of the club and are present when the junior is shooting.
   6. Junior archers will not be allowed to attend unaccompanied. On all occasions the Junior Archer must be accompanied by a responsible adult (i.e., parent/guardian or someone nominated in writing by the parent/guardian).
   7. Honorary members shall be those members proposed as such after meritorious service to the Club and agreed by open vote at an Annual General Meeting (AGM).
   8. Associate members shall be those persons who are full members of another archery club who wish to attend the Club for archery shoots and other supporting activities on a regular basis throughout the year. Associate members do not have voting rights or the right to claim club awards or shooting records.
   9. Visiting archers shall be those persons who are full members of another archery club who wish to attend the club for occasional archery shoots. Except for inter-club matches, friendly matches and club organised tournaments, visiting archers may shoot at the Club range only by invitation of a full Senior member of the Club.
   10. No visitor may be introduced more than three times in any one season unless agreed to by the Committee.
   11. It is a condition of membership that archers shall provide their own equipment unless a hire agreement is in place for newly joined beginners.
       
4. FEES
   
   1. 4.1 Membership fees shall be recommended by the committee for each class of membership and approved at the AGM or an EGM.
   2. A non-refundable deposit must be paid to secure a place on a beginners’ course. Any balance shall be paid 1 month before commencement of the course. On successful completion of the course, membership may be applied for to the Membership Secretary.
   3. Senior and junior membership fees are due annually on 1st April either in full (preferred), by quarterly or Monthly standing Order; any member not paid up or without a quarterly or Monthly Standing Order set up by the 1st of May shall lose the privileges of a full membership and will be required to pay the visiting archers target fee until arrears are paid.
   4. Members who have allowed their membership to lapse for two months or more and have not notified the membership secretary and/or club secretary of their decision to switch to Associate membership must re-apply for Club membership in the usual way.
   5. Individual competition fees shall be paid by the competitors concerned. The Club may pay club team fees from funds at the Committee’s discretion.
   6. Except for inter-club matches, friendly matches and club organised tournaments.
      
5. COMMITTEE
   
   1. The business of the Club shall be conducted by a Committee consisting of at least the following officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Records Officer, Equipment Officer(s), Competition Coordinator, Head Coach, Welfare/Safeguarding Officer, Webmaster, social media Officer and Catering Coordinators.
   2. A Junior Representative shall be elected if the number of Junior members warrants it.
   3. Further Officers may be elected as found desirable from time to time.
   4. The size of the Committee shall be kept under review, and all members must be elected annually at the AGM or a EGM.
   5. No less than 3 members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum or subcommittee, provided it includes either Chair, Secretary or Treasurer.
   6. Vacancies occurring in the elected Committee during any one year may be filled by members co-opted by the Committee.
   7. Additional members may be co-opted for specific purposes as the elected Committee considers necessary.
   8. The duration of the co-option to be limited to the duty concerned and to expire at the next AGM at the latest.
   9. Sub-committees may be formed for specific purposes and shall be disbanded on conclusion or otherwise as determined by the Committee. Reports on progress should be made to the Committee.
   10. Committee members must be current members of Bebington Archers in good standing (i.e., not suspended)
   11. A Committee meeting shall be held regularly, every two months where possible, to conduct the day-to-day business of the club.
   12. Club meetings may be called when required to discuss or disseminate non-constitutional matters impacting the club as a whole.
       
6. BYELAWS
   
   1. The Committee may make, repeal and amend bye-laws relevant to the day-to-day administration of the Club at
      any time, such byelaws shall have effect until set aside by the Committee or at the Annual General Meeting.
   2. The Bye-Laws are laid down in the Club Handbook.
      
7. Finance
   
   1. An audited statement of accounts shall be submitted for approval at the AGM, having been circulated to all
      members at least 10 days before the meeting.
   2. The club’s financial year will end on 31st March.
      
8. The Annual General Meeting (AGM)
   
   1. The AGM shall be held in the first quarter of each year.
   2. Notice of date and venue shall be circulated to all members at least one month prior to the meeting.
   3. Any propositions (under item 15 of the agenda) should be put in writing and sent to the Secretary at least 3 weeks
      before the meeting.
   4. The written agenda and the minutes of the last AGM shall be circulated to all members at least 10 days before the
      meeting.
   5. Committee members wishing to resign their post should give at least one month’s notice in writing to the Secretary or Chair prior to the AGM.
   6. Club members wishing to stand for committee officer roles must notify the Secretary at least 3 weeks before the AGM, excepting any roles remaining without nominations after that date.
   7. The following business shall be conducted at the AGM:
      1. Apologies.
      2. Minutes of the last A.G.M. and/or Special GM.
      3. Matters arising from the minutes.
      4. Chairman’s Report.
      5. Secretary’s Report.
      6. Treasurer’s Report, including Statement of Accounts.
      7. Matters arising from the Statement of Accounts.
      8. Records Officer’s Report.
      9. Head Coach’s Report.
      10. Social Media Report.
      11. Competition coordinator’s report.
      12. Safeguarding Officer’s Report.
      13. Webmasters Report.
      14. Equipment officer report.
      15. Election of Chair.
      16. Election of Committee and Officers.
      17. Propositions previously circulated.
      18. Date of next Committee Meeting.
   8. A EGM may be called at any time if at least 10 voting members or the Committee so request; the request must state the reason and be given in writing to the Secretary. The Committee must convene a meeting within one month of such a notice.
   9. The written agenda shall be circulated to all members at least 10 days before the meeting.
   10. Voting at any meeting shall be by show of hand or ballot at the discretion of the Chair.
   11. The Chair shall have a second (casting) vote, when necessary.
   12. Juniors under 18 may only vote to elect their own representative who shall have one vote at any meeting.
   13. A written record of the proceedings of all general and committee meetings will be produced and signed by the current chairman and kept until such time as their disposal shall be agreed at an A.G.M
       
9. Insurance
   
   1. All archers will be covered by Archery GB (AGB) insurance.
   2. It is the responsibility of all club members to ensure all members present hold a valid Archery GB Membership.
      
10. Non-profit making
    
    1. All surplus income or profits are to be reinvested in the club.
    2. No surpluses or assets will be distributed to members or third parties.
       
11. Dissolution
    
    1. Upon dissolution of the club any remaining assets once debtors are paid shall be given or ransferred to Cheshire Archery Association.
    2. No other party has any claim to its ownership unless the club becomes non-viable.
       
12. Safeguarding
    
    1. The club shall follow the guidance set out by Archery GB.
    2. The club shall follow the correct procedures when reports are made to the safeguarding officer, low level concerns shall be delt with at club level. Higher level concerns will follow escalation to Cheshire Archery Association,
       the Northern Counties Archery Society, Archery GB and the Police if necessary.
    3. The chair will be informed of all matters dealt with by the safeguarding officer.
    4. The safeguarding officer has the right to appoint an external panel to review cases.
    5. Up to date and regularly reviewed safeguarding policies and procedures can be found in the members area on the website and club notice boards.
    6. The Disciplinary committee shall deal with any matters according to the disciplinary policy.
       
13. Various
    
    1. The Constitution can be revised only at an AGM or a EGM called for that purpose.
    2. Crossbow shooting will not be permitted by the Club.
    3. Discretionary power is given to the Committee to decide any circumstances which are not specifically covered by this constitution. [Archery GB is the trading name of the Grand National Archery Society (G.N.A.S.)]

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The constitution will be reviewed at the next AGM to be held in first Quarter of 2027