Constitution

NOTTINGHAM FOREST DISABLED SUPPORTERS ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION

1. Name: 

The name of the organisation is the Nottingham Forest Disabled Supporters

Association (from now on referred to as Nottingham Forest DSA).

2. Aims and Objectives 

Aims: To work independently and in partnership with Nottingham Forest Football

Club (The Club) to promote awareness and seek equality for all Nottingham Forest

Supporters with a a visible or hidden disability.

 Objectives

2.1 To enable members to share a collective interest in Nottingham Forest Football 

Club

2.2 To enhance the match day experience for all supporters with a disability both at 

Home and Away grounds by promoting understanding, respect and recommending 

measures for improvement.

2.3 To collect, collate and communicate the experiences, views, ideas and concerns 

of Nottingham Forest supporters with disabilities.

2.4 To promote the welfare of Nottingham Forest DSA members by encouraging and 

facilitating the sharing of information and good practice with The Club and other 

interested organisations.

2.5 To represent disabled supporters of Nottingham Forest in their dealings with The 

Club, primarily through regular meetings with the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO)

2.6 To support disabled fans of The Club to travel to away matches by providing 

information where possible.

2.7 To work with The Club to ensure current and future developments at the City 

Ground are fully accessible, and follow best practice

2.8 To arrange information and / or social events that will bring together members, 

fans, the club and the community.

2.9. To further develop links with other Disabled Supporters Associations, (DSAs), 

Level Playing Field and other organisations as appropriate, for the benefit of all 

disabled football supporters.

2.10. To promote a positive image of people with disabilities, their value and 

contribution to football and the community.

3. Membership 

3.1 Membership is open to any disabled person or any individual who feels that they

may be able to contribute to the aims and objectives of the Nottingham Forest DSA.

3.2 The Membership year runs from 1st January to 31 December.

3.3 The Annual membership fee for Nottingham Forest DSA will be determined by

members voting at the AGM.

3.4 Applications for membership will be considered by the Management Committee

at the earliest possible Management Committee Meeting. The Management

Committee has the right to refuse an application if the applicant does not agree to

abide by the principles and rules of the Nottingham Forest DSA or is deemed not to

be suitable as far as the interests of the Nottingham Forest DSA are concerned.

3.5 Members’ contact information will be held by the Secretary for administration

purposes only and will adhere to all GDPR and Data Protection Legislation and

guidance. 

3.6 Members may be subject to disciplinary action or have their membership

terminated if it is deemed that he or she has brought the Nottingham Forest DSA into

disrepute or that their continued membership is not in the interests of the Nottingham

Forest DSA. Disciplinary action and any termination of membership will be dealt with

by the Management Committee. A member will have the right to be heard and to

appeal the decision. An independent arbitrator may be called upon to advise in

difficult cases.

4. Management Committee 

4.1 The Responsibilities of the Management Committee are to:

a) Manage the day to day running of the Association in line with its Aims and

Objectives.

b) Ensure the Association keeps within legal guidelines and good practice

c) Obtain, collect and receive money or funds, by way of membership fees,

contributions, donations, grants and any other lawful method for the aims of

the group.

d) Do all such lawful actions as will further the aims of the Nottingham Forest

DSA.

4.2. Code of Conduct

All members of the Management Committee and all members of the Nottingham 

Forest DSA, should respect one another and work constructively to achieve common 

goals. All those acting on behalf of the Nottingham Forest DSA should take personal 

responsibility for undertaking the following:

a) To be a positive ambassador and take no purposeful action or make any 

comment which might damage Nottingham Forest DSA.

b) To show respect to all and commitment to access and inclusion for all 

individuals, understanding that no form of discrimination will be tolerated.

c) To recognise that Nottingham Forest DSA is a democratic organisation and

so to abide by decisions made by its elected committee, and to work with 

others to resolve any conflicts that may arise.

d) To respect confidentiality

e) To take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of individuals 

and DSA property

f) To be committed and reliable in the role(s) within the DSA, and not to use 

the position to pursue personal issues, or policies which conflict with those of 

the DSA.

g) To accept the need for reasonable training, guidance and support relating

to the role(s) within the DSA.

4.3 The Management Committee shall comprise of no fewer than six and no more

than 12 members who will be elected at the AGM and shall include where possible

 Chair

 Vice-Chair

 Secretary 

 Treasurer

 Social Media 

4.4 The term of office for each post will be one year. However, any member of the

Management Committee may seek re-election at the AGM. Candidates for the

Management Committee must be proposed and seconded by members and elected

by a majority vote of the members. In the event of a split vote, the Chairperson will

hold an additional casting vote.

4.5 The Management Committee shall have the authority to co-opt replacements

onto the Management Committee ‘if needs’ arise before the next AGM. This will be

by a majority vote and such co-opted members will have the same voting rights as

those elected at the AGM. 

4.6 In the event that less than six members are available to serve on the

Management Committee, members may hold more than one post, except the

Chairperson. However, they will continue to have one vote only.

4.7 Management Committee meetings will be held monthly, at times and venues to

be agreed by those elected and communicated by the Secretary.

4.8 The Secretary shall ensure that minutes are kept of every meeting which will be

available and distributed as soon as possible after the meeting.

4.9 The quorum for Management Committee meetings will be at least 3 or 50% of

elected Management Committee members (whichever is the greater).

4.10 At all meetings, every member is entitled to one vote with The Chairperson or

Acting Chairperson having a casting vote only in the event of the number of votes

cast being tied. 

4.11 The Management Committee may appoint one or more Sub-Committees to deal

with specific issues. Sub-Committees will be directly accountable to the Management

Committee and any decision of a sub -committee shall be subject to ratification by

the Management Committee 

4.12 Members may have view of the accounts or any business transaction carried

out by the Nottingham Forest DSA Management Committee upon written request to

the Secretary.

5. Annual General Meeting. (AGM)

5.1 The AGM of the Nottingham Forest DSA will be held in January each year at a

date and time to be set by the Management Committee.

5.2 At least 21 days advance notice of the details of the AGM should be sent out to

members and publicised by other means such as social media. 

5.3 The Secretary will set the agenda in conjunction with the ChairIt will be

distributed to members at least 7 days in advance along with a copy of the previous

year’s account and minutes of the last AGM. 

5.4 Any voting resolution by a member must be notified to the Secretary at least 7

days before the AGM. It must be seconded by a member and approved by the

Committee to be included on the agenda. 

5.5 The minimum quorum for the AGM will be 20 non- Committee voting members.

In the event, that a minimum quorum is not reached, the AGM will be rescheduled

within 28 days. If at the second meeting, a quorum is not reached again, all issues

will then be resolved by the Committee

5.6. At the AGM, the Chair will ask the members to approve the previous year’s

minutes. The Chairperson will also present an annual report to the members

summarising the activities of the previous year and proposing the future direction and

development of the Nottingham Forest DSA.

5.7 The Treasurer will present the accounts for the previous financial year from

January to December. The Chairperson will ask the members to approve the

accounts.

5.8 All registered members. of at least 21 days duration before notice of AGM, have

a vote. 

5.9 Voting may be at the discretion of the Chair, held by a show of hands or by secret

ballot. 

5.10 A vote is based on a simple majority of all members aged over 18 having one

vote each. The Chairperson will have a casting vote only in the event of the number

of votes cast being tied. 

5.11 Elections to the Management Committee will take place at the AGM.

Nominations for committee positions should be sent to the Secretary at least 7 days

before the AGM, with names of the proposer, a seconder and the nominee

5.12 Minutes of the AGM will be taken and made available to all members, and

others, upon request. 

6. Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) 

6.1 An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called at any time by the Management

Committee, or by the request of a minimum of 20 full members sent to the Secretary

stating the nature of the business to be discussed. A notice explaining the place,

date, time and reason shall be sent to all members three weeks beforehand.

Minimum quorum and voting will be as for an AGM

7. General and Open Meetings

7.1 Nottingham Forest DSA will organise at least one general meeting, social event

or Open Forum each year.

8. Finance

8.1 The Treasurer will be responsible for the management of the Nottingham Forest

DSA funds.

8.2 All funds will be paid into an account operated by the Nottingham Forest

Committee and the account name will be Nottingham Forest DSA.

8.3 Two signatories will be required to make any transactions. The signatories will be

members of the Management Committee including Treasurer and at least one other

of the officers - Chair, Vice Chair or Secretary 

8.4 Approval of any expenditure shall be required by at least 2 officers of the

Management Committee.

8.5 An updated Nottingham Forest DSA statement of accounts should be presented

at each Management Committee meeting and the accounts will be available for

review by any member upon written request. 

8.6 The Nottingham Forest DSA annual statement of accounts shall be presented to

the AGM. They will be subject to audit if necessity arises. 

9. Record Keeping

9.1 The Secretary and Treasurer will collect, collate, retain and share all

correspondence, records and information in line with GDPR and Data Protection

Legislation Guidelines.

10. Safeguarding 

10.1 NFDSA will abide by child protection and vulnerable adult legislation

10.2 The DSA reserves the right to inform without delay, the Police, social services 

or other external bodies if any incident of abuse against a DSA member is made 

known to the DSA Committee . All such reports will be treated in a confidential and 

sensitive manner.

11. Alteration to the Constitution

11.1 The Constitution can only be altered by a majority vote of the members at an

AGM or EGM. Any alteration will require the approval of a two thirds majority of

members present before being implemented

11.2 An individual member’s proposal to alter the constitution must be seconded and

delivered in writing / email to the Secretary of the Nottingham Forest DSA not less

than 28 days before the date of the AGM. Alternatively, an Extraordinary General

Meeting may be requested (as described in 6.1 to consider an alteration to the

Constitution.

11.3 The Management Committee may propose to alter the constitution providing it

has already been approved in principle at a Management Committee meeting, not

less than 28 days before the date of the AGM. 

11.4 The wording of any proposed alteration shall be fully distributed to all members

at least 7 days in advance of meeting at which it is to be considered.

12. Dissolution:

12.1 If the Management Committee decides at any time that it is necessary or

advisable to dissolve the Nottingham Forest DSA it shall call an EGM of all members

giving not less than 28 days’ notice. Such a decision must be confirmed by a two

thirds majority of those voting members present, provided that there is a quorum of at

least 20 members.

12.2 Any funds or property of Nottingham Forest DSA will be distributed based on the

most appropriate method, as decided at the dissolution meeting.

Adopted by the Nottingham Forest DSA AGM on 13th January 2024