Club Constitution

Constitution of Camarthen Swimming Club
1) Name Swimming Club as at " May 20th, 2025 

a) The name of the Club shall be of Camarthen Swimming Club

2) Objects

a) The Club and all members of the Club (The Club Members) shall be bound by this
constitution (as varied from time to time) and that of Swim Wales
b) The Swim Wales Constitution means its Articles of Association and the Swim Wales Rules (as varied from time to time).
c) The primary objects of the Club shall be to foster encourage and develop Swimming. Swimming - means swimming water polo synchronised swimming open water swimming and diving.
d) The objects of Swim Wales as expressed in the Swim Wales Constitution shall -
where appropriate and relevant - apply to the Club - and its membership.
e) If there shall be any conflict between any provision of the Club's Constitution and the Swim Wales Rules - the provision of the Swim Wales Rules shall apply
f) The Club shall be affiliated to Swim Wales and such other bodies as the Club may
decide from time to time.

3) Management Committee
a) Duties
i) The management of the Club shall be conducted solely by the Management
Committee
b) Membership of the Management Committee
i) The membership of the Management Committee shall comprise:
(1) The Chairman Secretary and Treasurer; who may appoint;
(2) Others as Officers (and expressed to be Officers) to perform specific duties;
(3) At least two elected members (who must be aged 18 or over). The
Management Committee may prescribe a higher number
(4) Any co-opted members who may include any athlete representative and
swimming coach and who may be invited by the Management Committee to
attend meetings of the Management Committee from time to time
ii) The Officers of the Club shall be as defined in 3b)i)(1) and 3bi)(2)
iii) The Officers of the Club and the elected members in 3b)i)(3) above shall be
entitled to receive notice of and to attend and vote at all meetings of the
Management Committee
iv) Any co-opted members of the Management Committee who shall attend meetings of the Management Committee by invitation shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings
v) Every Member of the Management Committee must at all times be a fully paid up Club Member and a member of Swim Wales. Membership of Club Members of
Swim Wales in this constitution means the affiliation of Club Members to Swim
Wales which is derived from their membership of the Club
c) Election/Appointment of Members of the Management Committee
Subject to any prescribed maximum number of elected members - members shall
be elected or appointed to serve on the Management Committee as follows:
(1) By nomination by members (see Annual General Meeting (AGM) later)
(2) Members (from among nominated members) shall be proposed seconded and
elected by ballot at the Annual General Meeting of the Club every year or - at
the discretion of the Management Committee - at any other general meeting;
(3) By appointment by the Management Committee to fill a vacancy which may
occur by resignation or death or otherwise.
ii) The elected members and any member who may be appointed other than at the
Annual General Meeting shall remain in office until the next Annual General
Meeting after their election or appointment - and shall then retire.
iii) Retiring members shall be eligible for re-election except that members shall not
serve for more than 8 complete continuous years.
iv) Any member who shall have retired - having served for the said maximum period - may seek re-election as a member on the expiration of a period of 4 years after the said retirement.
v) In the case of Members of the Management Committee on the date of the
adoption of this constitution the maximum period of 8 years shall commence on
that date
d) Management Committee - General Matters
i) Frequency of Meetings
(1) Management Committee meetings shall be held not less than quarterly unless
the Management Committee shall prescribe more frequently held meetings..
(2) The Chairman and the Secretary shall have the discretion to call a meeting of
the Management Committee at any time.
ii) Notice of Meetings
(1) Not less than 7 days written or verbal notice of any Management Committee
meeting shall be given to all the Management Committee members
(2) Swim Wales shall have the right to attend any meeting of the Management
Committee and any club committee and sub-committee meetings if it deems it
to be necessary.
iii) Decision Making/Quorum
(1) All resolutions of the Management Committee shall be by agreement of all the committee.
Co-opted Members
(1) The Management Committee may co-opt additional members to serve on the
Management Committee for specific/designated purposes
(2) The attendances of co-opted members at Management Committee meetings
shall be at the discretion of the Management Committee
(3) The Management Committee may terminate the appointment of any co-opted
Member at any time
(4) Co-opted members shall not be entitled to vote at Management Committee
meetings and shall not be counted in establishing whether a quorum is
present.
Sub-Committees
(1) The Management Committee may create sub-committees to perform
specific/designated duties from time to time
(2) Any sub-committee members (who shall be members of the Management
Committee) shall be appointed by the Management Committee.
(3) All sub-committees shall periodically report their proceedings to the
Management Committee as required by the Management Committee. They
shall conduct their business in accordance with the directions of the
Management Committee - which shall have the sole power of decision
making in relation to any sub-committee's activities

vi) Employees
(a) The Management Committee shall:
(i) have the sole right of appointing and terminating the employment of employees of the Club;
(ii) shall determine the terms and conditions of service of the employees of the Club
(iii) Ensure full compliance with employee rights and related legislation. vii) Contracts/Financial Statements etc
(1) The Management Committee shall have sole power to enter into contracts involving the Club on behalf of all the Club Members.
(2) The Management Committee shall ensure: (a) that the day to day accounts and financial controls and record keeping of the Club are fully secure and up to date;
(b) that all record keeping shall facilitate the preparation and presentation of the annual financial statements of the Club by the Club's Accountant as a
true and fair view of the financial affairs of the Club
(c) That it shall immediately inform Swim Wales if it has any grounds for believing that any financial record keeping or transactions of the Club shall be defective or that the Club may be insolvent - and shall take immediate appropriate remedial action with the guidance of Swim Wales (3) The Management Committee may at its discretion submit its annual financial
statements to an Independent Examiner for examination - and shall do if directed by Swim Wales.
(4) The annual accounting period of the Club shall end on 31st March or as
decided otherwise by the Management Committee. (5) Any annual reports of Officers and the annual financial statements of the Club
shall be forwarded to Swim Wales within a period of 3 months after the end of
every accounting period
(6) The annual financial statements shall include a detailed income and
expenditure account and a balance sheet. The income and expenditure
account shall - by way of note - state the number of Club Members and the
fees actually paid by them
(7) All Club money shall be lodged at a bank or building society which shall be approved by the Management Committee (8) The Management Committee shall decide all matters relating to the Club's bank/building society account(s) (including account signatories)- But - all Club cheques - other payments and all instructions to the Club's bank must be
authorised by at least 2 approved signatories.
e) Indemnity
i) The Management Committee members shall be indemnified by the Club against all liabilities claims and demands which may be properly incurred by any of them in the course of carrying out duties as a Management Committee member. This shall not apply in the case of any dishonesty or negligence on the part of any Member
ii) The Management Committee may approve the purchase and maintenance of
insurance at the expense of the Club for the benefit of the Management Committee members in respect of any loss. A loss in this case means any loss or liability which has been or may be incurred by any such member in connection
with his or her duties and responsibilities for and to the Club
f) Termination of Membership of the Management Committee i) The Management Committee may terminate the membership of a member of the Management Committee:
(1) who shall be absent from three consecutive meetings of the Management Committee without a reasonable cause:
(2) who may - in the reasonable opinion of the Management Committee - have
acted in any way which harms or shall harm the reputation of the Club.
Revised 20th May 2025

g) Conflict of Interest
Every Member of the Management Committee must avoid any kind of conflict of
interests which he she may have with those of the Club and shall not participate in
any decision making in relation to any such conflicting interest. Any such conflict
and any interest which any Member may have in any business which may be
conducted by the Management Committee must be fully disclosed by the
particular Member to the Management Committee prior to any consideration of
the particular business. In that case the said Member shall vacate the meeting
and shall take no part in any such consideration or decision making in relation to
the particular business
h) Officers
i) The Officers of the Club shall be appointed by the Management Committee - and
by Club Members at the Annual General Meeting. The Management Committee
may terminate the office of any Officer at any time.
ii) Officers shall remain in office until the next Annual General Meeting after their
appointment or re-appointment - and shall then retire.
ii) Retiring Officers shall be eligible for re-appointment except that no Officer shall
serve for more than 8 continuous years. Any Officer who shall have retired -
having served for the said maximum period - may be appointed as an Officer on
the expiration of a period of 4 years after the said retirement.
iv) In the case of Members of the Management Committee on the date of the
adoption of this constitution the maximum period of 8 years shall commence on
that date
v) An Officer may not be an office holder of more than one office at any one time.
("Office holder" means - Officer of the Club or the holder of any other office or
designated role within the Club - whether paid or not). A family relative or partner
of any office holder or of any other member of the Management Committee shall
not be permitted to serve on the Management Committee in any capacity.
vi) Officers shall attend Swim Wales safeguarding courses at least once every three
years or as required by the Management Committee- and any other course which
Swim Wales believe to be appropriate
i) The Club Welfare Officer
i). The Club - as with all Swim Wales affiliated clubs - must have a Club Welfare
Officer
ii) The Club Welfare Officer - who shall not be an Officer of the Club - shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend but not to vote at meetings of the Management Committee. He or she can attend in an advisory capacity.
iii) Reference to the role of the Welfare Officer can be found in the Y Plant - Swim
Wales Safeguarding Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults or shall be as
otherwise defined by Swim Wales.
iv) The Club Welfare Officer shall attend:
(1) a Swim Wales "Time to Listen" course within a period of 3 months after his or
her appointment and whenever Swim Wales may require; and
(2) Swim Wales safeguarding courses at least once every three years or as
required by the Management Committee- and any other course which Swim
Wales believe to be appropriate
Revised 20th May 2025

4) Annual General Meeting (AGM)
a) Date/Business
i) The Annual General Meeting of the Club shall be held within a period of 6 months after the end of the Club's financial year.

ii) The business of the AGM shall be: (1) To receive any annual reports of the Officers
(2) To receive the annual financial statements of the Club
(3) To appoint Officers
(4) To elect members to serve on the Management Committee
(5) To consider any motion which may be proposed
(6) To confirm membership fees
(7) To consider any other appropriate business at the discretion of the Chairman.

b)President/Vice-President(s)
i) The Annual General Meeting may on the recommendation of the Management Committee elect a President and/or Vice-President(s) Notice of the AGM
i) Notice of the AGM shall
(1) shall be given in writing to the Club Members and to Swim Wales at least 21 days date of the AGM
(2) invite nominations for the appointment of Officers

(3) invite nominations for elected membership of the Management Committee

(4) Prescribe the latest date for the submission of such nominations

(5) Require that nominations shall be proposed and seconded by voting Club Members of the Club and shall be signed by the person nominated.

(6) be accompanied by copies of the annual reports and financial statements of the Club
d) Voting and Quorum
i) Voting at the AGM shall normally be by a show of hands. The Chairman of the meeting shall have the discretion to call a ballot - and shall do so if at least 5 voting Club Members request one ii) The quorum for the AGM shall be at least 10 voting Club Members - present in person. If this quorum shall be or shall become impractical it may be varied at the joint discretion of the Management Committee and Swim Wales

iii) An aggregate of - at least 10 voting Club Members or at least 10% of the number require of voting Club Members of the Club (whichever shall be the highest number) may require the consideration of a motion at the AGM by giving written notice to the 7 days before the meeting.

iv) All Club Members shall be entitled to vote at general meetings of the Club -
(1) Club Members who shall not have reached 16 years of age;

(2) Suspended Club Members. A suspended Club Member means a member
(3) who shall be deprived of membership rights pending an enquiry or appeal Lapsed Club Members. A lapsed member means a member who shall have failed to pay membership fees whose membership rights shall be withheld until all outstanding membership fees have been fully paid

(4) Honorary Club Members - and Presidents and Vice-Presidents - in those capacities
v) A parent or guardian may represent and vote on behalf of a Club Member under the age of 16 - on presentation of proof of his or her relationship with the particular Club member in a form approved by the Management Committee. A
parent or guardian of 2 or more of such Club Members shall be restricted to 2
votes on any motion
vi) Swim Wales shall have the right to attend any General Meeting - including any
Special General Meeting if it deems it to be necessary.
5) Special General Meeting (SGM)
a) A Special General Meeting:
i) may be called at any time by the Management Committee;
ii) shall be called on a written requisition in writing to the Club by not less than 20% of the number of voting Club Members; and
iii) shall be called on a written requisition by Swim Wales to the Club.
b) Any such written requisition shall set out precisely the specific and prescribed
purpose of the requisitioned meeting.
c) No other business shall be transacted at such a meeting. d) If the SGM shall not be called within a period of 4 weeks after the service on the Club
of any such requisition - the said Club Members or Swim Wales (as the case may be) may convene the meeting and may prescribe how it shall be conducted.
e) Otherwise the above provisions which apply to the AGM - as appropriate - in
relation to notice - voting and quorum shall apply to an SGM - except that in the
case of a Club Members' requisition - at least 80% of the voting Club Members of the Club who shall have expressly requisitioned the SGM shall be an additional quorum requirement for the meeting
6) Membership
a) Membership of the Club shall be open to all persons subject to the approval of the Management Committee - and to any written directions. of Swim Wales in accordance with the Swim Wales Rules.
b) The Club shall be required to affiliate all Club Members to Swim Wales. All Club
Members shall be bound by the Swim Wales Rules and constitution of Swim Wales
and of the Club which are in force at the appropriate time.
c) All Club Coaches and Teachers - Club Swimmers and other Club service providers must be or must become Club Members. Club service providers means any person (who may include a parent or relative or carer of any Club member) who shall carry out any swimming related activity (whether poolside or not) for and with the written authority of the Management Committee. No person shall be permitted to carry out any such activities for the Club or for any Club member unless he or she shall have been admitted as Club Member before doing so.
d) Coaches teachers and club service providers shall attend Swim Wales safeguarding courses at least once every three years or as otherwise required by the Management Committee - and any other courses which Swim Wales believe to be appropriate
e) Any person applying for membership of the Club who is already a member of another Club shall be admitted at the discretion of the Management Committee
f) Any person applying for membership of the Club shall do so on the prescribed form of the Club.
g) The Management Committee may appoint any person as an honorary Club Member for such period as it thinks fit. Any honorary Club Member shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership except that he or she shall not be entitled (in the capacity of honorary member) to vote at general meetings of the Club nor serve as Officer.
Any honorary Club Members must be included in the Club's annual return as to
membership.
Revised 20th May 2025
7) Membership Fees
a) Membership fees payable by Club Members shall include the Club joining fees and
the ongoing Club fees - and the subscription fees of Swim Wales
b) The Club joining and ongoing Club fees shall be reviewed annually (or as necessary
at other times) by the Management Committee. The said Club joining and ongoing
Club fees and the annual Swim Wales subscription shall be confirmed at the AGM
c) Membership fees - payable by Club Members - shall be due on the first day of
March in each year and shall be paid to Swim Wales before the 30th April in every
d)
year.
The Management Committee may lapse the membership of a Club member who
shall fail to pay all membership fees by the due date. Any such Club Member (while
he or she shall be a lapsed member) shall not be permitted to take part in any Club
activity whether competitive or not - nor to attend and vote at any general meeting of
the Club. The membership of a lapsed member may be re-instated by the particular
member paying up all membership fees which shall be due. It shall then be as if he
or she had not been a lapsed member
e) Any person applying for membership on or after the first day of April shall - for the
period to 31st March - be required to pay the Club joining fee and the Swim Wales
subscription fee - and such part of the ongoing Club fees for the period to 31st March
as shall be decided by the Management Committee. All fees shall be payable within
one month of acceptance of membership
f) Any person applying for membership on or after the first day of January shall for the
period to 31st March - be liable to pay the fees as in e) above - except that the Swim
Wales subscription fee shall be at its reduced rate for the period.
8) Resignation of Club Members
a) A
A Club Member wishing to resign membership of the Club must give written notice to
the Club of his/her resignation and must discharge all liabilities to the Club.
member's resignation shall only take effect when this rule has been complied with.
b) A Club Member whose membership Fees shall be more than 2 months in arrears
shall be deemed to have resigned. Where any membership shall be terminated in
this way the individual concerned shall be informed in writing of the termination of
membership by written notice handed to him/her or sent by post to his/her last known
address.
9) Disciplinary/Dispute matters
a) Whenever any dispute may arise which involves a Club Member or if any alleged
breach of discipline by a Club Member may occur - the Club shall endeavour to
resolve the dispute/breach as quickly - informally - and as amicably as possible and
in accordance with the Club's relevant Code of Conduct. Where appropriate the Club
Welfare Officer shall be involved and consulted from the outset.
b) Subject to the said Code of Conduct - any need to discipline Club Members for minor
incidents of misbehaviour or to resolve a dispute - can usually be done by the
Coach/Team Manager. If this fails or cannot be resolved within a period of 7 days or
if it is clearly necessary to discipline a Club member - the Club shall follow its
published Disciplinary Code unless the disciplinary process/dispute resolution shall
be conducted by Swim Wales.
c) If any dispute shall be employee related the parties shall be bound by the terms of
the employment contract.
d) Subject to the preceding clauses a) and b) - the following principles shall apply in the
case of any dispute/disciplinary action which involves a Club Member
Revised 20th May 2025
i) Any resolution of any dispute between the Club and a Club Member and any
disciplinary proceedings involving a Club Member shall be conducted by the Club
unless Swim Wales may be involved in any Appeal. The Club shall inform Swim
Wales of any such dispute or disciplinary action immediately.
ii) It will always be in the interests of the Club and the particular Club Member to
commence and conclude any dispute or disciplinary proceedings without delay.
iii) The Club shall commence and diligently follow its dispute/disciplinary procedures
which are prescribed in its Disciplinary Code within a period of 7 days after having
received notice of the dispute or alleged breach. The Club shall make all
reasonable endeavours to resolve any such dispute and to conclude any
disciplinary proceedings without delay and within a period of three months after
the dispute or alleged breach becomes known to the Club.
iv) If any dispute resolution or disciplinary proceedings shall not be commenced and
concluded within the above period - Swim Wales may at its discretion direct the
Club to refer the dispute/disciplinary proceedings to Swim Wales.
v) If Swim Wales shall exercise its discretion under the previous Clause the Club
shall refer the dispute/disciplinary proceedings to Swim Wales as soon as it is
directed to do so. Swim Wales shall then conduct the dispute resolution or
disciplinary proceedings in accordance with its Disciplinary Code
vi) Any dispute between a Club Member and a Club Member of a different Club or
between a Club Member and Swim Wales shall be referred by the Club to any
dispute resolution shall be conducted by Swim Wales. The Club shall refer the
dispute to Swim Wales as soon as it becomes aware of it. Swim Wales shall then
conduct the dispute resolution process in accordance with its Disciplinary Code
and shall make all reasonable endeavours to commence and conclude the
proceedings within the above period of three months
vii) The Club's and Swim Wales' Disciplinary Codes shall include the policies and the
procedures which shall be followed in the case of any disciplinary action and how
the process and any appeal shall be conducted. The Disciplinary Code shall also
include provisions relating to the procedures and policies which shall relate to the
resolution of any dispute involving a Club Member - and how any dispute
resolution shall be conducted
viii) The relevant Disciplinary Code shall be made available to the particular Club
Member at the earliest opportunity.
ix) The particular Club Member shall be treated fairly and shall be given opportunities
to present his or her case and responses - and shall have the right to be
accompanied by a suitable person at any hearing.
x) Every Club Member has a right of appeal to Swim Wales against any
determination by the Club of any dispute and any decision of the Club relating to
disciplinary action involving the Club Member. Any such Appeal shall be
conducted in accordance with the Swim Wales Rules.
xi) The Management Committee or Swim Wales (as the case may be) shall ensure
that all procedures which shall be followed shall be in accordance with the
relevant Disciplinary Code
xii) The Club's and Swim Wales' powers in relation to any disciplinary action shall be
at their discretion and may include a written warning - or suspension or expulsion
as a Club Member
10) Health & Safety
a) The Club will
i) take all reasonable steps to ensure compliance with health and safety obligations
by the Club and its members
ii) ensure compliance with
(1) all insurance policy provisions involving the Club
(2) all statutory regulations relating to the public display of insurance certificates
(3) Any directives which Swim Wales may make in relation to its insurance
policies which cover the Club
Revised 20h May 2025
11) Child/Vulnerable Adult Protection
a) The Club shall comply with all Vulnerable Adult/Child Protection legislation - Y Plant
Swim Wales Safeguarding Policy and related Swim Wales Rules which are in
force from time to time
b) The Club shall ensure that a risk assessment shall be carried out whenever it shall
have any direct responsibility for any child or vulnerable adult. The assessment shall
cover all persons - acting on behalf of or under the control of the Club - who shall
have any responsibility of any kind for - or any access to any data or financial
matters relating to any child or vulnerable adult. The risk assessment must
consider a person's well being to undertake any role and qualifications where appropriate. Anyone within these criteria must have a Disclosure and Barring Service check undertaken which shall be renewed every three years
12) Execution of Documents
a) Any document deed or contract entered into by the Club after prior approval of the
Management Committee shall be signed by at least two Officers of the Club
13) Indemnity
a) Every Officer of the Club shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Club against any
losses or liability of any kind which he or she may sustain or incur in or about the
proper and lawful execution or discharge of his her duties as Officer of the Club.
b) This indemnity shall apply in the same way to any Club Member who may incur any
such losses or liabilities in connection with any claim or demand against that Member
for any action or omissions of the Club
c) No Officer nor any Club Member shall be liable for any loss, damage or mis-fortune
which may happen to or be incurred by the Club in the proper execution or discharge
of his or her office or duties or in relation to such office or duties or as Club Member
d) The Management Committee may decide to purchase and maintain insurance at the
expense of the Club for the benefit of any relevant Officer or any Club Member in
respect of any such loss or liability as above.
14) Alteration of the Constitution
a) This constitution may only be altered by the agreement of all of its Members.
b) It is in the best interests of Swimming in Wales and its proper governance that every affiliated Club shall adopt this constitution as varied or replaced from time to time
15) By-Laws / Swim Wales Approvals
a) With the prior written approval of Swim Wales the Management Committee may make - repeal - or amend any by-laws which the Club may from time to time
consider necessary for the well being of the Club
b)  Any such approved By-laws shall have effect until set aside by the Management
Committee or at a general meeting
c) If there shall be a conflict between any by-law and the Club's constitution
provisions of the constitution shall apply and prevail.
d) References in this constitution to approvals by Swim Wales mean the approvals of the Directors of Swim Wales on its behalf exercising their delegated powers in accordance with the Articles of Association of Swim Wales

16) Cessation of Club Activities - Club Closure & transfer of club to local authority.
Revised 20th May 2025
a) The conduct of any cessation and closure of the Club shall be the sole responsibility of the Management Committee.
b) Before any such cessation and closure of the Club:
i) The Management Committee and Swim Wales shall engage in consultations and
discussions at the earliest opportunity to consider the future of the Club - when
up to date Club accounts shall be made available;
ii) If it shall then be proposed that cessation and closure of the Club should proceed - a Special General Meeting (SGM) of the Club shall be convened as soon as shall be practical to consider and decide on any proposed cessation and closure.
The Management Committee shall convene or Swim Wales may requisition the
Special General Meeting.
c) In the case of any closure of the Club - any assets which there may be after
settlement of the Club's financial commitments shall be applied towards the
furtherance of the Club's objectives and/or swimming in Wales. Management of any assets of the Club by Swim Wales will be provided in the event of a Management Committee not being in place.be approved by all members of the committee.

d) the transfer of the club to local authority can only be approved by all members of the committee.
17) Swimming in Wales - Organisation/Re-Organisation -
a) Swim Wales has the absolute discretion - with prior consultation with all interested
parties - to organise and re-organise the structure and conduct of Swimming in
Wales. This may include the amalgamation or other re-organisation or unification of Member Clubs. This may result in the reduction of the number of Member Clubs in Wales - periods of temporary membership of Member Clubs and the termination of the membership of some Member Clubs.
b) The Club - with the prior written approval of Swim Wales - may - by resolution of its Members - approve the continuity and conduct of the Club's swimming club and related activities as an incorporated body on terms which shall be approved by Swim Wales