Thorncombe Village Trust

            

     Thorncombe Village Trust - caring for Thorncombe's environment

Thorncombe lies in a very beautiful part of West Dorset, bordering Devon and Somerset. It falls within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) . The Parish is over 5,200 acres in extent and is principally agricultural land.  

Fields tend to be small and hilly with ancient hedgerows, while the access roads to the village are very narrow lanes, shaded in summer by tall trees including oaks, beeches and sycamores, and fringed with primroses, bluebells and cow parsley.

                                             Applications for Grants from TVT

Under the terms of its constitution, Thorncombe Village Trust (TVT)  invites applications for grants from individuals or organisations wishing to undertake a project or activity which reflects one or more of the aims of the Trust.

Namely  to:

i) encourage and promote a greater interest in, and understanding of, the local environment and its history

ii) protect historic buildings in the Parish and especially to conserve the character of the village of Thorncombe and of the other settlements in the Parish

iii) oppose unsuitable development in the Parish

iv) safeguard and enhance the countryside in the Parish.

The money granted must be used for the direct benefit of the Parish of Thorncombe only and for the public good, in such a manner and place that the Trustees can verify the grant has been appropriately used.

If you wish to make an application for funding, please request an application form in one of the following ways:

- Email the Secretary of the Trustees  on rsholt@eclipse.co.uk

- Pick up a form from inside the porch at The School House, Chard Street, Thorncombe (opposite the church)

- Download an application form and the guidelines from the TVT website         Application form   Aims Summary

Completed application forms need to be received by the 10th of October for an October decision  by  the Board of  Trustees.

For any further information or if you have any questions, please talk to one of the trustees: , Mark Agnew (30385), John Higgs (30994), Richard Holt (30428), Neil Croton,  Jan Walker (30212), John Whitbread (30525).

We recommend you discuss your application with one or more of the trustees before submitting it to the committee for consideration.

The latest minutes can be seen here

Home The Trust News & Events Nature History  Gallery Local Walks Links  Privacy Site map Contact  Us

DRAFT FOR APPROVAL

Constitution of the

THORNCOMBE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

1. NAME

The name of the group shall be the Thorncombe Environment Group

(TEG) (hereinafter referred to as the Group).

2. AIMS

A) The Group is established for charitable purposes only.

B) In particular the Group is established to:

(i) Encourage and promote across all ages a greater interest in, education and understanding of, the

local environment and its history.

(ii) Protect historic buildings in the Parish of Thorncombe (the Parish), and especially to conserve the

character of the village of Thorncombe and of the other settlements in the Parish

(iii) Safeguard and enhance the countryside in the Parish

(iv) Support nature conservation in the Parish.

(v) Support Climate Change mitigation initiatives

(vi) Promote and support sustainable living within the parish.

(vii) Support appropriate and sustainable development in the Parish.

C) In furtherance of these objects the Group may obtain, collect or receive money by way of

membership, contributions, legacies, donations, grants or other lawful methods, and may make

donations to individuals or organisations on application for reasons that are in accordance with

the Aims of the Group.

3. MANAGEMENT

a) The affairs of the Group shall be managed by a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 committee

members.

b) The committee members must all either live or work in Thorncombe Parish, or be closely

associated with the Parish.

c) Committee members shall hold an AGM at which audited accounts must be presented.

d) Committee members shall be elected annually by those members attending the AGM in

accordance with 3b)

e) At the AGM, having been elected, the committee members shall elect from within them the

officers of the Group, namely: a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Data Protection Officer/Membership

Officer and Treasurer.

f) If for any reason a committee member ceases to hold office, the remaining committee members

may co-opt a committee member who will hold office until the following AGM.

g) Four committee members shall constitute a quorum for all meetings.

h) Minutes of the Group’s committee meetings, signed by the Chair, shall be kept by the Secretary

and made available to all parishioners on request and published on the website, as well as all

Parish notice boards.

4. AGM – special provisions

The AGM shall be held normally in May, to elect committee, approve the accounts, receive reports

from the Chair and the Secretary, and conduct any further business. At such meetings the Chair or

Vice-Chair shall preside. In their absence those committee members present shall, before any

business is transacted, elect one of their number to preside. Not less than two weeks notice of the

time and place of the AGM shall be given by the Secretary who shall post notices of these details in

the Parish and on the website, and to the members. Minutes of the meeting shall be kept and be

available to all Parishioners on request, posted on the website, and all Parish Notice Boards. The

outgoing Secretary shall keep the minutes of that meeting.

5. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

a) A Special General Meeting may be called by resolution of the Committee or by written demand of

not less than 8 members acting together. Normally not less than two weeks notice of the time and

place of the Special General Meeting shall be given by the Secretary who shall post notices of these

details in the Parish and on the website, and to members.

b) At such meetings the Chair or Vice-Chair shall preside. In their absence those committee

members present shall, before any business is transacted, elect one of their number to preside.

Every matter, except as provided for under this Constitution, shall be determined by a majority of

committee present. The Chair of the meeting shall have a second and casting vote where there is an

equality of votes. Minutes of the meeting shall be kept and be available to all Parishioners and

posted on the website and all Parish Notice Boards, and to members.

6. GRANTS

a) TEG may award funds to Parish groups, individuals or organisations for projects which fall

within the aims of the Group. A Committee meeting will be held to discuss any applications.

b) At such meetings the Chair or Vice-Chair shall preside. In their absence those committee

members present shall, before any business is transacted, elect one of their number to preside

c) The funds so disbursed must comply with the Aims of this Constitution. (No 2 above)

d) If an application for funds should be considered by the committee to be urgent, then the

committee shall organise a committee meeting at the earliest convenient time.

e) The money granted must be used for the benefit of the Parish only and for the public good, in

such a manner and place that the committee can verify that the funds have been appropriately

used.

f) Decisions on granting funds shall be reached by majority vote of the committee present. The

Chair shall have a second or casting vote where there is an equality of votes.

g) Nothing shall prevent a committee member applying for a grant, provided that such an

application complies with the terms of this constitution.

7. PECUNIARY INTERESTS

If any committee member has a pecuniary interest, or a role within an application/project, in a matter

under discussion, they must declare it and withdraw from the meeting until a decision has been made.

However, he/she shall be entitled to make a statement and answer questions prior to such withdrawal.

8. FINANCE

a) The income of the Group shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Aims, subject to clause

6 g) above. No portion thereof shall be paid or transferred to any member of the committee, provided

that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable expenses incurred by a

committee member.

b) The Treasurer shall be responsible for the custody of the funds and for keeping a record of receipts

and payments. An audited statement of accounts shall be presented by the Treasurer at the AGM.

c) Cheques or electronic transfers shall require the authorisation or signature of two committee

members including the Treasurer.

d) The accounting year shall be from the first day of April to the last day of March.

9. MEMBERSHIP

Any person, from within or outside the parish, may join the Group as a Member. The annual membership

fees shall be set at the AGM.

Membership shall commence from the AGM.

10. DISSOLUTION

The Thorncombe Environmental Group may at any time be dissolved by a resolution supported by a

majority of all the members present at an AGM or SGM. Such resolution shall give instructions for the

disposal of the Group’s assets. Any funds remaining after debts and liabilities have been dealt with shall

be given or transferred to other body or bodies having aims similar to those of the Group. Failing such

body or bodies, then for such charitable purposes as the members shall decide.

11. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The rules of the Group may be altered only at an AGM or Special General Meeting by a majority of

Members. Notice of any proposed change must be given to the Secretary in writing at least one month

before the meeting.

This Constitution was adopted at the AGM on ____________ 2022, amended from the original

Constitution dated April 2015 which itself had been amended in May 1995 & March 2003 & May 2016

Latest News

      The A.G.M. will be held in the Thorncombe Sports and Social Club at 1930 on Thursday 19th May 2022.   

           There will be a speaker after a short business meeting at which the new  committee will be elected, and the        proposed new Constitution adopted. Refreshments will be served..

    We are also arranging a guided walk called A Celebration of Spring, to be followed by a scrumptious tea in the      Village Hall. This will be on Sunday 15th May , with everyone meeting at the Village Hall at 2.30.

   Everyone is very welcome to attend - it will be a lovely way for newcomers to the area to find out about the paths and     views of the village and to meet others.

   Just turn up at the Village Hall wearing walking boots - Neil promises a an easy stroll! Dogs on leads please.

     

   

                         The minutes of the latest meeting can be seen on the Minutes of Meetings page here.