Constitution

The group shall be called ‘Watford Area Humanists’ or ‘WAH’ (hereinafter ‘the Group’).

The Group shall be a Partner of Humanists UK, as defined by the Partnership Agreement between Humanists UK and the Group.

• Make a positive contribution to Humanism locally by providing a forum for humanists to meet, to develop their knowledge and thinking, and to develop the sense of a local community of humanists within the wider community.
• Act locally to promote and increase the understanding of Humanism as a positive world view.
• Represent atheist, humanist and secularist people in the area, and provide a balance to religious groups influence in local affairs.

• The Group shall welcome anyone, regardless of ability, age, gender, race, or sexual orientation, and who has an interest in atheism, humanism or secularism.
• Anyone who takes part in the Group’s activities, or who signs up to one of the Group’s lists, shall be defined as a ‘Supporter’ of the Group. Anyone who has paid the Group’s membership fee, see point 7.2, shall be defined as a ‘Member’ of the Group. Voting rights at general meetings shall be reserved for Members of the Group only, see point 6.4.
• The Group will safeguard the confidentiality of membership information, and any other information communicated in confidence by Humanists UK.
• The Group retains the right to refuse or withdraw membership from any members, including Officers, who fail to support its constitution or Partnership Agreement, or who brings Humanists UK or the Group into disrepute.

• An executive committee, ‘the Committee’, shall manage the Group and ensure that it pursues the Group’s aims and fulfils the requirements of the Humanists UK Partnership Agreement.
• The Committee shall have a minimum of three elected officers, including the Chair, Vice-Chair, Social Media Officer, Treasurer and Secretary roles agreed by the Committee, and may co-opt up to two further members.
• The Officers shall be individually elected every year at the Annual General Meeting.
• The Committee will be in quorum when at least three Officers are present.
• The Chair, and any other elected officer who would like to be, shall be a Humanists UK Local Representative.
• The Chair shall be the main contact in the Group for interactions with Humanists UK.

• The group shall hold an Annual General Meeting in October each year to receive accounts and reports, elect Officers, and discuss or vote on resolutions, policy or constitutional items.
• An Exceptional General Meeting may be convened by the Committee or by petition to the Secretary of at least one fifth of the Members.
• Members shall be given at least three weeks’ notice of AGMs and at least two weeks’ notice of EGMs.
• Only Members as defined in point 4.2 shall have voting-rights at general meetings.
• A General Meeting shall be in quorum if at least three of the Officers are present and at least four other members are present.
• In any dispute concerning the affairs of the Group a general meeting shall be the final authority.
• Meetings may be held in person or online or a combination of both.

• As a Partner of Humanists UK, the Group is expected to maintain financial viability and pay the annual Humanists UK Partnership fee on time.
• There will be a monthly membership contribution of a minimum £1 paid by Standing Order to the group bank account.
• The Group may hold events explicitly for the purpose of raising funds, either for the Group or an appropriate charitable cause.
• The income and property of the Group shall be devoted to the promotion of the Aims of the Group.
• Any bank accounts opened for the Group shall be in the name of the Group, and shall be looked after by three signatories: Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
• Regular financial commitments will be agreed at the AGM.
• Additional expenditure and contributions to causes and campaigns will be voted on by members via email.
• The Chair or Treasurer will send regular financial statements to all members.
• The Officers may not receive payment for their services to the Group.
• In the event of the Group being dissolved, all remaining funds after payment of liabilities shall go to Humanists UK.

• The Group may affiliate to any appropriate body, subject to approval at a general meeting.
• The Group may not affiliate to, or publicly support, any political party.
• When engaging in external activities and dealing with third parties, the Group shall support Humanists UK’s aims, strategy, policies and values, and will not take any action that brings Humanism or Humanists UK into disrepute.
• If there is a conflict between activities in support of another organisation and those in support of Humanists UK’s aims, values and policies, the Group will give priority to the latter.

The constitution may be amended by a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the Members present at a general meeting. Notice of resolutions to change the constitution must be included in the notice of the general meeting.

Panos Fellas, Chair, 18 October 2025.