MODEL MEMORANDUM & ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION THE COMPANIES ACT 1985
COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND NOT HAVING A SHARE CAPITAL
MEMORANDUM of ASSOCIATION
of
YouScotland
1. The Company’s name is “YouScotland”
2. The Company’s registered office is to be situated in Scotland.
3. The Company’s objects are:
(1) Promoting citizen self-empowerment through providing education, training and information about the internet's democratic and campaigning potential;
(2) improving citizens' participation in the democratic process in Scotland and beyond;
(3) providing a forum for informed debate about Scottish democracy and democratic processes generally; and
(4) encouraging debate in economic, social, political and cultural issues of relevance to Scotland and the world.
In pursuance of those aims (but not otherwise), the Company shall have the following powers:
(a) to establish an Advisory Group to oversee the policy direction and conduct the day-to-day business of the organisation;
(b) to maintain a website with news, blogs and discussion boards whereby Members can discuss issues; and
(c) to engage in education, training, campaigning and other activity
(d) To carry on any other activities which further any of the above objects.
(e) To promote companies whose activities may further one or more of the above objects, or may generate income to support the activities of the Company, acquire and hold shares in such companies and carry out, in relation to any such company which is a subsidiary of the Company, all such functions as may be associated with a holding company.
(f) To acquire and take over the whole or any part of the undertaking and liabilities of any body holding property or rights which are suitable for the Company’s activities.
(g) To purchase, take on lease, hire, or otherwise acquire, any property or rights which are suitable for the Company’s activities.
(h) To improve, manage, develop, or otherwise deal with, all or any part of the property and rights of the Company.
(i) To sell, let, hire out, license, or otherwise dispose of, all or any part of the property and rights of the Company.
(j) To lend money and give credit (with or without security) and to grant guarantees and issue indemnities.
(k) To borrow money, and to give security in support of any such borrowings by the Company, in support of any obligations undertaken by the Company or in support of any guarantee issued by the Company.
(l) To employ such staff as are considered appropriate for the proper conduct of the Company’s activities, and to make reasonable provision for the payment of pension and/or other benefits for members of staff, ex-members of staff and their dependants.
(m) To engage such consultants and advisers as are considered appropriate from time to time.
(n) To effect insurance of all kinds (which may include officers’ liability insurance).
(o) To invest any funds which are not immediately required for the Company’s activities in such investments as may be considered appropriate (and to dispose of, and vary, such investments).
(p) To liaise with other voluntary sector bodies, local authorities, UK or Scottish government departments and agencies, and other bodies, all with a view to furthering the Company’s objects.
(q) To establish and/or support a or any charitable body, and to make donations for any charitable purpose falling within the Company’s objects.
(r) To take such steps as may be deemed appropriate for the purpose of raising funds for the Company’s activities.
(s) To accept grants, donations and legacies of all kinds (and to accept any reasonable conditions attaching to them).
(t) To oppose, or object to, any application or proceedings which may prejudice the Company’s interests.
(u) To enter into any arrangement with any organisation, government or authority which may be advantageous for the purposes of the activities of the Company, and to enter into any arrangement for co-operation or mutual assistance with any charitable body.
(v) To do anything which may be incidental or conducive to the furtherance of any of the Company’s objects.
And it is declared that
(i) in this clause, “property” means any property, heritable or moveable, wherever situated
(ii) any reference in this Memorandum of Association to a provision of any legislation shall include any statutory modification or re-enactment of that provision in force from time to time.
4. (a) The income and property of the Company shall be applied solely towards promoting the Company’s objects (as set out in clause 3).
(b) No part of the income or property of the Company shall be paid or transferred (directly or indirectly) to the Members of the Company, whether by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise.
(c) No Director of the Company shall be appointed as a paid employee of the Company; no Director shall hold any office under the Company for which a salary or fee is payable.
(d) No benefit (whether in money or in kind) shall be given by the Company to any Director except (i) repayment of out-of-pocket expenses or (ii) reasonable payment in return for particular services (not being of a management nature) actually rendered to the Company.
5. The liability of the Members is limited.
6. Every Member of the Company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £1) to the Company’s assets if it should be wound up while he/she is a Member or within one year after he/she ceases to be a Member, for payment of the Company’s debts and liabilities contracted before he/she ceases to be a Member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.
7(a) If on the winding-up of the Company any property remains after satisfaction of all the Company’s debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the Members of the Company; that property shall instead be transferred to some other body or bodies (whether incorporated or unincorporated) whose objects are similar (wholly or in part to the objects of the Company.
(b) The body or bodies to which property is transferred under paragraph (a) shall be determined by the Members of the Company at or before the time of dissolution or, failing such determination, by such court as may have jurisdiction at the time.
(c) To the extent that effect cannot be given to the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this clause 7, the relevant property shall be applied to some other object or objects.
8. Accounting records shall be kept in accordance with all applicable statutory requirements and such accounting records shall, in particular, contain entries from day to day of all sums of money received and expended by the Company and the matters in respect of which such receipt and expenditure take place and a record of the assets and liabilities of the Company; such accounting records shall be open to inspection at all times by any Director of the Company.
WE, the subscribers to this Memorandum of Association, wish to be formed into a Company pursuant to this Memorandum.
Names and addresses of subscribers
1.
2.
3. etc.
Dated
Witness to the above signatures:-
