SMN NEWS: Changes to Articles of Association Passed!

Thank you to all our members who attended our General Meeting or submitted proxies, we are pleased to say that the changes to our Articles of Association have been passed!

Last Friday, we held a General Meeting for members in order to pass some amendments to our Articles of Association. For the past few months, the SMN Board of Directors have been working to make the proposed amendments, so that they can better reflect our current operating context.

The changes that were approved were:

• A change to the definition of the Operating Area from "within Scotland" to "primarily within Scotland and in the rest of the UK, but with the ability to work more widely within Europe where there is a need". We have advised OSCR of the proposed change. • The following changes to our objects:

• Delete clause 4.1 "to relieve poverty in Scotland"
• Replace with 4.1 "The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage"
• Amend clause 4.2 from " To advance education within the Operating Area" to "To advance education within the Operating Area, to relieve unemployment within the Operating Area in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment"
• Change clause 4.4 from "4.4 "To help young people resident in the Operating Area to develop their physical, mental health and spiritual capacity wellbeing so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and as members of society" to "4.3 To help young people resident in the Operating Area to develop their physical, and mental health and wellbeing so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and as members of society
• Change existing clause 4.5 to new clause 4.4
• ­ Delete clauses 5 and 6 as they simply set out OSCR's regulatory requirements in respect of objects.

There are many other changes made to our constitution in order to update it in line with the way the charity operates in 2023. The four most significant changes are:

• Removing the need for an AGM; • Reducing our quorum for general meetings from one quarter to one fifth; • Incorporating our use of digital technology in communications with and between our trustees and with our members; • Ensuring all clauses are gender neutral.

In addition, we have changed the way SMN Directors are selected. A new Nominations Committee considers all applications to join the Board and makes recommendations to full Board. Previously, General Member Directors were elected at the AGM.

The Articles have been updated to reflect this (replacing clauses 83-90 with clauses 92-95).

This allows the Board to consider the range of knowledge, skills and expertise it needs and recruit where there are gaps.

We greatly appreciate all your support in ensuring that these changes were approved.