Context
1. The Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) Association provides practical friendship to its members both serving and retired, irrespective of rank or time served. The Association maintains and supports the ethos and traditions of the Corps and assists in raising the Corps profile.
2. The Association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Registered Charity Number 1163821.
History
3. The QARANC Association was founded in 1947 by Dame Louisa Wilkinson DBE RRC. The Association was then able to support the many thousands of members of the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) who were leaving the service after the Second World War, having shared experiences their civilian nursing colleagues would not have done. This continues today through Headquarters and branches countrywide.
Purpose and Charitable ‘Objects’
4. The ‘Objects’ of the CIO are to promote the efficiency of the Army by:
(a) Maintaining contact between past and present members of the Corps, fostering mutual friendship between them and providing for social gatherings for them; and
(b) Fostering Esprit de Corps, comradeship and the welfare of the Corps and preserving its traditions;
(c) Relieving either generally or individually, members of the Association or past and present members of the Corps and their dependants, who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.
5. Association funds are maintained through donations, legacies, investments and contributions from members which may be used to give financial assistance to those who are in need or distress whether they be serving or retired. Members may be remembered in appreciation and recognition of their service, commitment or friendship. Support may be afforded to members on operational duty or through grants for representative activities.
Activities
6. The Association helps members keep in touch with one another by organising social gatherings. This is mostly done within the branches which are located countrywide. Members who wish to enjoy the benefits of the Association and do not wish to join a branch may become a member of Headquarter Roll. The Association publishes the QARANC Gazette twice a year to which all members and all Branches may contribute articles of interest. Serving members are encouraged to submit items relating to current activities within the Corps.
Management
7. The Association is managed by a Board of Trustees in accordance with its Constitution. The Board comprises Ex Officio, Nominated and Elected members who represent the membership, whether they be officer or soldier, serving or retired and regular and reserve personnel.
8. The Board will normally meet quarterly, with a number of sub-committees including Governance, Finance and Grants, Marketing, Media and Communication, Heritage and Chattels, meeting as required to achieve the Charity’s objectives.
Administration
9. The General Secretary of the Association manages the day-to-day running of the Association and can offer advice as required.
The Constitution
10. The Constitution of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps Association revised from the original Constitution as adopted and approved by the first subscribers on 5th December 1947 incorporated subsequent amendments approved by Members at the Annual General Meetings held on 9th June 1984, 8th June 1985, 2nd June 1990, 1st June 1991, 1st June 1996, and 3rd June 2000. A revised Constitution for Charity Number 270278 was adopted at the Annual General Meeting on 10th May 2003 to incorporate the amendments and the Association’s changing needs.
11. In 2014, it was agreed by the then Central Committee/ Board of Trustees following a governance review to change the charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. A revised constitution was agreed and the new Charity (Number 1163821) was approved by the Charity Commission on 2 October 2015. The Board of Trustees elected to make this operational from 1 January 2016.
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(Version 2018.1 updated February 2018)