Dear Voting Members,

You will shortly receive an email concerning a special resolution to alter the objects as described in the Articles of Association of the FSA (please make sure that the email address provided within your account is up to date). It reads:

Dear Member,

This is an important communication from the Forest School Association (FSA) regarding a proposed special resolution that requires your attention.

Vote

In order to vote on this proposed special resolution can you delete one of the following statements;

I  (insert name)  hereby AGREE with the proposed resolution to change the object(s) of the FSA Articles of Association

I (insert name) hereby DISAGREE with the proposed resolution to change the object(s) of the FSA Articles of Association.

This vote needs to be made by DELETING one of the two statements above, inserting YOUR NAME and CLICKING RETURN ON THIS EMAIL. This needs to be returned by Thursday, January 9^th.  Please keep in the subject line ‘Vote on Special Resolution to change the Objects in the Forest School Association Articles of Association’.

The Special Resolution

Your directors propose that the following resolution be agreed by the membership of the FSA;

That article 4 in the articles of association for the Forest School Association, relating to the objects of the organization, shall be changed;

Article 4 shall read

The charity’s objects (‘Objects’) are specifically restricted to the following:

“‘The advancement of education for public benefit through promotion and support of quality Forest School in the United Kingdom using any means to enable all children, young people and adults to benefit from increased opportunities for high quality and varied educational experiences in the natural world.”

Rationale

The FSA are currently applying to become a charity.  This will enable the FSA to look for further support to achieve our aims.  It will mean we can apply for funding for the organization, for supporting National Forest School projects and locally delivered projects.  In order to fulfill the Charity Commission’s requirements we have been looking at the FSA objects as outlined in the articles of association.

Having had advice form the Charity Commission our objects are too detailed and outline the ways we will fulfill our aims rather than the broad aims.  We are therefore proposing a special resolution to change our objects to be encapsulated in a shorter broader statement that does indeed outline our overall aims and fits with the Charity Commission requirements.  This does not mean we will not continue to pursue the operations we are currently engaged with, as these all fit under these new broad aims.

The current article 4 reads as;

The charity’s objects (‘Objects’) are specifically restricted to the following:

(1) provide the professional voice for Forest School in the UK to ensure quality assurance and provide central co-ordination and information;

(2) formulate National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Forest School;

(3) build on the current qualifications, develop new qualifications, structures and path. The Forest School Association will be the national governing body for the Forest School qualifications across the UK;

(4) establish the qualification on the qualification frameworks in the respective UK countries i.e. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland;

(5) provide a framework and signposting service for the delivery of continuing professional development for Forest School practitioners;

(6) share and promote best practice and principals for Forest School across the UK, through the FSA membership, local groups and partner networks;

(7) research and share data for further research and development;

(8) explore funding opportunities for Forest School;

(9) promoting the learning, health and wellbeing of Forest School participants irrespective of age, sex, ethnicity, ability, religion or political view;

(10) promote environmental improvement and conservation by educating, encouraging and assisting local populations in environmental practice, working in partnership with similar groups and organisations.

Thanking you in anticipation of your involvement with this vote.