Friends of Horfield Common Constitution
10 October 2025                        ​
 
Name: Friends of Horfield Common (FoHC)
 
Status: Community voluntary group, Bristol City Council Friends of Park group; member of Bristol Parks Forum.
 
Aims and Objectives:
  • to promote understanding and knowledge of, concern for and interest in the Common by encouraging local people to participate in FoHC volunteer activities and to support FoHC events;
  • to maintain, improve and monitor the different habitats and areas of the natural environment of the Common with practical projects helping to reduce the effects of climate change and foster biodiversity;
  • to work to maintain Horfield Common as a healthy green space for the benefit and enjoyment of local people;
  • to actively seek public and private funding in common with our aims.

In furtherance of these aims we will:
  • develop and organise environmental projects for local volunteers
  • organise educational events for the community
  • run regular community events e.g. litter picks and fund raising
  • host a website and Facebook page and distribute regular newsletters.

Management: formal decisions to be made by a committee consisting of at least three named officers (normally Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) and up to three active members. Interim co-options where necessary may be made at the discretion of the committee. The FoHC official council contact to be ex officio a member of the committee, either as an officer or an ordinary member. The committee shall draw up Standing Orders for the conduct of meetings.
 
General (formal) Meetings: at least one per year (NB this is what the old constitution said: we can have as many as we like) for the Accounts to be presented and the year’s activities reviewed.
 
FoHC Membership: Membership of FoHC is open to anyone with an interest in Horfield Common, who agrees with the FoHC aims and objectives as laid out in the constitution and who undertakes to adhere to our policies when participating in FoHC activities.  An ‘active member’ is defined as one who attends meetings and / or takes part in activities.
 
Data Protection: FoHC will hold members’ contact details securely and in line with current data protection legislation (GDPR). Personal information will only be used for FoHC purposes and will not be shared with third parties without consent. Members will be offered the option to update their details or have their names removed each time a global email is sent.
 
Conflict of Interest: Active Members must declare any conflict of interest and withdraw from decision-making where such a conflict exists.
 
Volunteering: anyone willing to help with any of our projects can attend a regular meeting for details, or contact us. All officially organised FoHC activities involving the public will be subject to FoHC Policies and comply with Bristol City Council Health & Safety requirements.
 
Finance: Funds will only be used in furtherance of the objectives of FoHC and will be held in a dedicated FoHC bank account which is administered by the Treasurer. 
 
Dissolution: in the event of a decision being taken to dissolve the group, all assets shall pass to a group with similar aims.
 
Relationship with the Ardagh: FoHC and ACT are complementary organisations with distinct remits. FoHC has an official base/address at the Ardagh and where activities have appropriate overlap the two organisations may cooperate with each other
 
Amendments to this constitution: may be made by the committee when deemed necessary for the efficient running of the group, any significant changes being subject to the approval of the membership at a general meeting.

Policies: FoHC Policies are publicly available on the FoHC website.

FoHC website: The following documents will be publicly available on the FoHC:
  1. our governing document (constitution)
  2. our policies
  3. the yearly accounts