Social History Curators' Group

SHCG seeks to change status to Charitable Incorporated Organisation

In 2011 the SHCG committee proposed that the group apply to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (known as a CIO).  To do this we needed to adopt a more robust constitution and so at the time, we drafted one based on templates and advice from the Charity Commission.  As per our current constitution we put this before our AGM in 2011, and AGM approved both the draft constitution and the move to CIO status.  Our current constitution now requires that we put any changes to our constitution to a postal ballot of our membership.  Further details and the background are in the document for download below, which also contains FAQ and the proposed constitution.

All members will shortly receive a postal ballot paper asking whether you think we should adopt the proposed constitution. This is a big and a significant change for SHCG and committee feels it will have many benefits, but as a membership organisation your say is important.

You need to return your completed ballot paper in the pre-paid envelope provided.  It should be received by the Independent Scrutineer (Electoral Reform Services Ltd) no later than NOON on WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE, 2013. 

If at least two-thirds of postal ballot votes cast are in favour, the new constitution will be formally adopted as the first item of business at the AGM, to be held at 3.30 pm on 27 June 2013 at the Ulster Museum, Belfast.  The result will also be announced via our this website, twitter, Facebook and the email list as soon as possible after AGM and the full breakdown of votes in the Autumn/Winter edition of SHCG News.

After AGM the Trustees (i.e. the elected committee) will prepare an application to the regulatory bodies for charitable status.  We would certainly hope that by the time of our AGM in 2014, SHCG will be a charity.

If you have any questions, please contact one of the committee members (details can be found on the contact us page)

Happy voting!