UKAGP Constitution
1. Name
The name of the association shall be the United Kingdom Association for Gestalt Practitioners (UKAGP).
2. Registered Address
The registered address of UKAGP is communicated via the website.
3. Definitions
In this constitution:
i) The Association means United Kingdom Association for Gestalt Practitioners.
ii) UKAGP means United Kingdom Association for Gestalt Practitioners.
iii) The Committee means the Organising Committee (OC).
4. Aims & Objectives
a) To support and voice the interests of the UK Gestalt community in the UK and the wider field.
b) To represent the interests of the UK Gestalt community in EAGT and in the wider field, and to represent the interests of EAGT within the UK. The National Organisation of Gestalt Therapy agreement between UKAGP and EAGT can be found at Appendix 1.
c) To act as a gateway for EAGT membership
d) To support education, research and clinical expertise in the field of Gestalt practice in the UK
e) To promote training and cooperative exchange between Gestalt practitioners and Institutions in the UK and the wider field.
f) To support the professional development of the members of the Association.
g) At the heart of our aims and objectives as an association is a clear declaration of intent that the principle of equity and inclusion inform every response we make and every decision we take as Gestalt practitioners.
5. Membership
Membership encompasses all practitioners of Gestalt including organisational consultants, psychotherapists, counsellors, coaches, trainers, and supervisors.
5.1 Membership Structure
Anyone can apply to become:
a Friend of Gestalt, Trainee Member or Member.
or/ a Joint Member of the UKAGP and EAGT if the applicant also meets the current membership criteria of the European Association of Gestalt Therapy (EAGT).
Trainee Membership is for any person in training at a nationally accredited gestalt training institute for a maximum of 5 years, after which their membership will be converted to ‘Member’.
Further details of each of the membership categories are available on the Association’s website accessed here: https://www.ukagp.org.uk/membership.
5.2 Application for Membership
Application for membership of the Association, at whatever level, and whether for UKAGP, or for UKAGP and EAGT jointly, should be made to the Community Administrator via the Association’s website accessed here: https://www.ukagp.org.uk/membership.
5.3 Register of Members
The Association shall maintain a register of all members. Information held on the register about a member shall be freely available to that member on request.
5.4 Termination of Membership
Membership of UKAGP can be terminated as follows:
a) By Resignation
By the notification of resignation to the Community Administrator in writing.
i) a pro-rata refund of unused months, minus processing fee, may be requested by contacting the community administrator when membership is cancelled within 90 days of subscription.
ii) Trainee Members
Any trainee member whose training organisation has discontinued their training will need to apply for alternative membership upon renewal.
Any decision of the Committee to terminate membership shall be delivered to the member in writing to the postal or email address held on the Register of Members.
c) Due to Unpaid Membership Fees
If a member has not paid their membership in full following two reminders, then their membership will automatically lapse, two months after the second reminder without any further communication.
6. The Organising Committee
The Association shall be managed by elected members who represent the Association on an Organising Committee which should meet at least three times a year between each Annual General Meeting.
The Organising Committee shall comprise the offices of :
Chair,
Secretary, and
Finance Officer,
supported by other roles as required, whether individually or as a Sub-Committee.
The Organising Committee as a whole at any one time shall be no larger than 11 members.
6.1 Committee Membership
a) Members of the Committee will represent the UK Gestalt community including the relevant organisations, categories of practice (i.e. counselling, organisational, executive coaching and educational work) and independent psychotherapy practitioners. For this purpose independent practitioners are deemed to be an organisation.
b) The Committee can co-opt the Chair of any Sub Committee until the next AGM.
6.2 Elections to the 3 principal roles of the Committee.
a) Elections for offices in the Organisation take place annually and members are elected for a term of 3 years, after which they must stand for re-election.
b) Members are eligible for a second term for a period of one, two or three years, after which they must stand down and not offer themselves for election for a further three years.
c) Should a vacancy on the Committee arise for any reason the Committee may co-opt a Member to fill the vacancy until the next AGM.
d) The role for Chair will be voted for by the OC one year before the current Chair stands down and the person elected will take on the role of Vice Chair.
6.3 Duties of the Organising Committee
The Committee shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Association and the execution of decisions made by the Committee. This includes but is not limited to:
i) Keeping the Register of Members
ii) Keeping account of all financial transactions and arranging for them to be annually audited and presented to the Members at the AGM.
iii) Appointing an auditor.
iv) Setting the level of subscription fees.
v) Collecting subscriptions
vi) Ensuring appropriate liaison with relevant national organisations and with EAGT.
vii) Approving membership applications
viii) Submitting applications by UK Gestalt practitioners to EAGT for registration, accreditation or certification.
iix) Keeping members and appropriate UK professional organisations informed of the EAGT Code of Ethics and Complaints Procedure
ix) Contributing as relevant, on behalf of the UK Gestalt Community, to the upkeep of the EAGT Code of Ethics and Complaints Procedure.
x) For the three officers of the Organisation, taking final responsibility for the work and recommendations of any Sub- Committees and Working Parties.
7. Sub-Committees and Working Parties
a) The Committee shall appoint the Chair and members of sub-committees as are needed to further the aims and objectives of UKAGP.
b) Working parties, local and interest groups can apply to the Organising Committee to be listed.
8. Committee Meetings
8.1 Quorum
a) Two thirds of the members of the Organising Committee need to be present for the meeting to be quorate. If this is not possible issues may be discussed but not voted on.
b) Each member of these committees has one vote with the Chair having a casting vote in the event of a tie.
9. Ethics
a) UKAGP does not process any complaints and will defer such issues to the relevant accrediting and training organisations.
b) UKAGP will defer all issues regarding professional and ethical practice to the relevant accrediting organisation.
c) Members may not use their membership of the UKAGP as a substitute for an accrediting body.
d) UKAGP wants matters of equity experienced by membership to provide awareness, learning and an opportunity for sharing between members. A volunteer equity board will be formed for these issues and reflect back to the membership the process facilitating all voices being heard and collective responsibility is supported.
10 General Meetings
10.1 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
a) The Secretary shall convene an Annual General Meeting of all Members (including Joint and Trainee Members) each year indicating the Agenda. Not less than 21 days notice shall be given.
b) Additional agenda items should be submitted in writing to the Secretary not less than fourteen days before the meeting.
c) Nominations for election to the Committee should be submitted to the Secretary not less than 14 days prior to the AGM. In the event that nominations have not been received for any of the named posts on the Committee then the Chair may take nominations from the floor at the AGM.
10.2 Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
An EGM shall be convened if either the Committee determine the need or one third of Members request one in writing to the Secretary indicating the reason. Not less than 21 days notice shall be given.
10.3 Voting
a) Members, Trainee Members and Joint Members may vote at an AGM or EGM.
b) Members who are unable to attend an AGM or EGM may exercise their right to vote by notifying the Secretary in writing, not less than fourteen days before the meeting, of the items they wish to record a vote on and what that vote should be.
c) There will be a full list of eligible voting members at the AGM or EGM, members will need to be on that list in order to vote.
10.4 Quorum for General Meetings
An AGM or EGM shall be deemed quorate if attended by ten percent of those Members eligible to vote at such a meeting – including those Members who have indicated that they wish to record a vote but cannot attend.
11. Finance
a) The Association’s Financial Year shall be from 1st January to 31st December.
b) The Finance Officer shall be responsible for maintaining the books of account of the Association together with supporting documents and shall make them available to the Committee and auditor on request.
c) There shall be a dual signatory system for cheques and other payments.
d) Reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in execution of the Association’s business may be reimbursed on production of a receipt or standard mileage form by Committee members, and subcommittee or Working Party members authorised by the Organising Committee.
e) The annual subscription shall be subject to Members’ approval at the AGM.
f) Subscriptions are due for payment each year on the members’ original subscription date, at which time payment will be taken automatically. A reminder shall be sent to members whose payment details are no longer valid, or who have not set up a recurring online payment schedule. A second reminder shall be sent to such members who have not paid their subscription a month afterwards.
g) Subscriptions for students are due for payment by the Training Institutes by 15th November each year at which time a reminder will be sent to the administration contact at each institute.
12. Amendments to the Constitution
a) Proposed amendments to the constitution can be made only if the motion proposing them receives a two-thirds majority of the votes cast at the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting.
b) Proposed amendments need to be sent in writing 28 days before AGM or EGM to allow the Secretary to inform the committee/membership 21 days before AGM/EGM.
Amendments to the Constitution will be published on the Association’s website along with the minutes of the AGM.
13. Dissolution
a) UKAGP may be terminated at a General Meeting only if the motion proposed receives a two thirds majority of the votes cast. Following such a decision any funds owned by UKAGP shall be transferred to a charity chosen by the membership.
b) In the event of an AGM or EGM where the agenda is the dissolution of the organisation not being quorate, there will be one further attempt to hold a quorate meeting. If the second meeting is not quorate, then the Organising Committee shall be delegated to make the decision.
Version 04.11.2 – Approved at UKAGP 2023 AGM
UK Association for Gestalt Practitioners
Appendices
Appendix 1 - UKAGP/EAGT NOGT Agreement