SecretaryReport2026_27.pdf                AGENDA            POSTAL VOTE

Following a recent Club Committee review regarding our operational viability - specifically the unsustainably rising costs of hiring club-provided transport - the Committee has made the difficult decision to recommend the formal dissolution of the club.

A General Meeting will be held in St Mary’s Church Hall, Heworth, NE10 0PA, on Thursday 17th September commencing at 18:30 for members to consider both this proposal and informal arrangements for those who wish to continue walking as a group. Because our Constitution requires a three-quarters (75%) majority of voting members to pass a dissolution order, we are providing a postal ballot to ensure all absent members can cast their vote should they be unable to attend the meeting in person for whatever reason.

What You Are Voting On

The attached voting form is split into four distinct, binary Agree/Reject motions:

1. Agenda Item 3 Minutes: “To Approve the Minutes of the SGM held on 5^th March 2026.”
2. Agenda Item 5.1 Dissolution of Gateshead Civic Walking Club: The core vote to close the club and clear our liabilities.
3. Agenda Item 6.1 Asset Distribution: A specific proposed donation of £2,000 to TynesideOutdoors (Charity No. 1156445), which aligns with our objectives to encourage outdoor participation.
4. Agenda Item 6.2 Asset Distribution: A proposal to include Northumberland, Cleveland, and Yorkshire Dales Mountain Rescue Teams as beneficiaries alongside our constitutionally mandated default charity, the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA).

Please note that Motions 3 and 4 will only take effect if the main dissolution motion (5.1) is passed by the required 75% majority. If dissolution is approved, any remaining funds not specifically allocated by these motions will automatically transfer to LDSAMRA as dictated by our Constitution.

How to Cast Your Vote

Members can either vote in person or, if unable to attend the meeting for whatever reason, complete the attached Postal Voting Form. Please ensure that your name is included before submitting your votes to civicwalker@gmail.com.

Submission Deadline

Your completed form must be returned to civicwalker@gmail.com no later than 6pm on Thursday 17^th September 2026. Votes received after this deadline will not be included in the final count at the General Meeting.

Apologies for Absence: Ania Retkowska (Assistant Secretary), Roger Smith (Committee) [P], Ian Goodman [P], Natalie Goodman [P], Helen Mullarkey.

Thank you for your continued support, your dedication to the club, and your prompt attention to this important matter.

Yours sincerely,

Graeme Page

Club Committee Member
Gateshead Civic Walking Club

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR MOTION 6.1

Why Members Should Vote AGREE to Donate £2,000 to TynesideOutdoors (Charity No. 1156445):

• Direct Alignment with Club Objectives: Our constitution explicitly states our goal is to “encourage and enable members to participate in hill-walking events.” TynesideOutdoors works directly within our community to get people outdoors, run local walking programmes, and improve fitness and accessibility, ensuring our club’s legacy lives on through a shared mission.
• Keeping Funds in the Local Community: Unlike regional mountain rescue teams covering massive geographical areas, TynesideOutdoors focuses heavily on the local Tyneside and Gateshead areas. Voting for this donation ensures that the financial assets built up by our local members are directly reinvested into improving outdoor access in our immediate community.
• Supporting Inclusion and Transport Relief: Our constitution highlights a commitment to helping those “totally reliant on public transport to participate.” TynesideOutdoors actively works with disadvantaged groups, young people, and individuals who face socio-economic barriers to accessing the countryside, directly carrying forward our club’s values of inclusive transport and outdoor equity.
• Direct Accountability via a Fixed Amount: Because this proposal specifies a clear, fixed amount of £2,000, members know exactly how much money is being pledged, providing total financial transparency for this portion of our remaining assets.

 APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR MOTION 6.2

Why Members Should Vote AGREE to Include Regional Mountain Rescue Teams:

• Direct Safety Support for Hill-Walkers: Our club’s core objective is to enable members to participate in hill-walking events. Mountain rescue teams provide an essential, life-saving service that directly protects and supports the safety of hill-walkers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts in the rugged terrains our club has frequented.
• Encompassing Our Core Walking Venues: While Club transport departs from the Civic Centre, our actual walking venues span across the North of England. By including Northumberland Mountain Rescue, Cleveland Mountain Rescue, and Yorkshire Dales Mountain Rescue, we ensure our club’s assets support the volunteer emergency services covering the exact hills and national parks where our members have walked for years.
• A Fair Regional Distribution: Our constitution automatically designates the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA) as the default beneficiary. Voting “Agree” to this motion allows us to expand that footprint, ensuring we do not overlook the equally vital, 100% volunteer-led rescue teams operating in our neighbouring northern regions.
• Committee Discretion for Financial Flexibility: Because the total remaining funds cannot be known until all Club liabilities are cleared, leaving the donation amounts flexible is a responsible approach. This motion empowers the Club Committee to evaluate the final balance and distribute the funds equitably among these teams, rather than forcing a rigid financial commitment.

OS_Durham.pdf

OS_North_York_Moors.pdf

OS_Northumberland.pdf

OS_Yorkshire_Dales.pdf