Aims of Earth Moves Cooperative Limited

LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Articles of Earth Moves Cooperative Limited

THE AIMS OF THE COOPERATIVE

Our aims are:

To provide an umbrella co-operative that generates economic activity to facilitate well-being and transformation, through a mixture of arts activities and immersion with nature, to promote social ecological awareness across both rural and urban environments and communities.

We aim to;

ii) develop and promote economic democracy alongside social-ecological understanding and spiritual unity with the Earth

iii) facilitate community engagement through linking creative application to environmental concerns and the promotion of progressive principles of nurturing, tolerance, compassion and connectedness.

iv) generate collective endeavors for social change and ethical communication.

v) create cultural bridges for and between various strands of the community.

vi) promote education - and through education to facilitate awareness - and well-being projects that involve nature, the arts , crafts, dance, music, media and food growing as well as to promote spiritual, personal, community and social ecological development”

MEMBERSHIP

a) The initial membership of the Co-operative shall be up to six members. The number of members the Co-operative has may be increased subsequently by agreement of the current members.

b) Full membership is open to people who

•Have a proven track record in supporting, adhering to and applying cooperative principles, values and ethics

•Are in agreement with and support Earth Moves aims (see above) apply Earth Moves' rules, philosophy and ethos and to accept the responsibilities of membership.

•Have a background of commitment in any combination of at least 2 of the following: the arts and creative sectors, ecological and environmental skills, sustainable horticulture and food production /distribution, health and wellbeing, and social and community activism.

•Be able to provide support for and promote LGBTQ+ community

c) Associate Membership offering the right to participate in the work and activities of Earth Moves is open to any person who supports the aims of the Co-operative and is offered Associate Membership by the unanimous decision of the Core Group.

d) No person shall become a member of the Co-operative unless

—

i)They have completed an application for membership in a form approved by the directors;

ii) They can provide evidence that fulfils the above requirements of membership

iii)They have been recommended by an existing member followed by an interview and agreement by all members to their membership through consensus

iv)They have completed a successful probationary period of provisional membership and co-operative education and training

RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

Members:

i)Have the right to participate in decision-making

ii)May engage with decisions about the application of any surpluses

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

a)A member ceases to be a member:

i)When activity/work for the Earth Moves Co-operative stops

ii)When activity/work of the Earth Moves Co-operative ceases

iii)If the core group of members decides during an annual review of members that membership should cease

iv)A person’s membership terminates when that person dies or ceases to exist.

The Co-operative will give one month's notice of the intention to terminate membership unless the member or members are responsible for serious infringement of rules or behaviour considered to be detrimental to the co-operative (see below). In this case membership is immediately suspended, the decision to suspend to be approved by at least three-quarters of the membership voting to uphold the suspension at an emergency meeting. Membership terminates if it is the consensual agreement of all members following a review of the decision to suspend membership which must take place within one month of the suspension being confirmed.

Under these rules, a serious infringement of the rules is:

•use of discriminatory words and/or deeds,

•acts or threats of harassment, bullying, violence, stealing, harming someone

•maliciously damaging cooperative or members property,

•sexual misconduct or harm to the detriment of members, clients, and the community.

•not functioning in accordance with cooperative rules, illegal activity, or other practices detrimental the workings and reputation of the cooperative

•Through inactivity or failing to make a positive contribution to the Co-operative and its activities.

b)A member may withdraw from membership of the Co-operative by giving 7 days’ notice to the Co-operative in writing.

c)Membership is not transferable.

LIABILITY OF MEMBERS

The liability of each member is limited to £1, being the amount that each member undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Co-operative in the event of its being wound up while he is a member or within one year after he ceases to be a