Having a governing document

A governing document, also known as a constitution, is probably the most important document your association has as it sets out the rules and procedures by which committee members govern the association. 

A constitution gives your association a structure by which to operate and the basis for knowing whether the process followed for making decisions is correct.  This saves time and will help your association increase its effectiveness.  It is particularly important if there is any form of disagreement about decisions taken.  A PTA wishing to register as a charity will need to have adopted a constitution.

It is quite complex for a PTA to develop its own constitution and to assist members the NCPTA, in conjunction with its charity lawyers, has developed two model constitutions ; one for members in England and Wales and one for members in Northern Ireland.  Both reflect current charity law and PTA good practice and are accepted by the Charity Commission for England & Wales and HMRC Charities Division for the purpose of charity registration.

Checklist

• find out whether your association already has a constitution in place
• if not, or your current constitution is very old or does not reflect the aims and objectives of your association then consider adopting the NCPTA model constitution