A private members’ club is an association dedicated to a particular interest or activity. Membership is voluntary and admission to a club (if you are not a founder) is often based on a set of established criteria. People start clubs for a variety of reasons, most typically to bring together people with a shared background, profession, education or hobby.
If your club does or is likely to collect subscriptions from members or engage formally in leagues or with other clubs, then having a defined club structure is often the best way of ensuring your members are happy and the club thrives.
What is the basic legal structure
rivate members’ club?
There is no legally prescribed structure for a private members’ club. It can take the form of an unincorporated association, a trust or a private limited company limited by shares or guarantee. The most appropriate of these structures will likely depend largely on your club’s size and activities. A common theme whichever form the club takes is that it should have a club constitution, so that all members are clear about the rules of the club and how it operates.
constitution
This is the foundational document of a club. A constitution will typically set out:
- The particular interest or activity to which the club is dedicated;
- The office bearers of the club;
- How the club will be managed;
- Requirements for membership; and
- Rules for the conduct of members.
A constitution can take a variety of forms but at a minimum it should be in writing and made available to all members of the club
The club office bearers
There are usually three key office bearers:
- The chairperson – this is the leader who is typically elected to the position by the other members;
- The club secretary – this person manages the administration of the club. The club secretary is usually responsible for taking the minutes at official meetings and ensuring that all other aspects of the club run smoothly;
- The treasurer – this person handles the finances of the club. They will prepare accounts and report to the members on the club’s financial position and disbursement of their subscriptions.
Management of private members’ club
The constitution will set out in some detail how the club should run. This can include procedures for:
requirements for membership
The club constitution should set out the requirements for club membership. However, it is important to bear in mind that if your club consists of more than 25 members then the Equality Act 2010 will apply to your membership requirements. Your membership requirements must not discriminate against an applicant on unlawful grounds such as their race, religion, gender, age or any other protected characteristic.
THE TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS
A club can establish different grades of memberships. This may include junior membership for children, an ordinary membership for adults and a senior membership. These memberships often have different subscriptions and may dictate whether the member can be elected to an official office or the management committee. Again, care must be taken to avoid any unlawful discrimination in the grades of membership. It is acceptable to have a provision that junior members may not be office bearers within the club.
