The Role of Members

The constitution of the charity and the role of Members is set out in full in our Memorandum and Articles of Association document. Here we provide a brief summary of the rights and responsibilities of members for people who interested in joining the charity.

Our constitution

The Technology Association of Visually Impaired People (TAVIP) is constituted as a Charitable Company (with limited liability).

For historic reasons TAVIP is incorporated in Scotland and is regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), but serves the whole of the UK. TAVIP is registered Charity Number SC023234 and Company Number SC155406.

The charity was originally founded in 1969 as the British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB) but changed its name in November 2018 as part of a move to appeal to a wider audience including people who are partially sighted as well as people who are blind.

The ‘objects’ of the charity

The formally stated objects of the charity are “the advancement of education by helping Beneficiaries to make the best use of contemporary technology to overcome the barriers arising as a result of their sensory impairment. To this end it will: (a) Operate as a forum for identifying problems and possible solutions; (b) Provide education either directly or by putting Beneficiaries in touch with suitably qualified trainers; (c) Persuade or commission manufacturers to develop appropriate new technologies. (d) Ensure that employers, manufacturers and service providers comply with their legal obligations to Beneficiaries.”

The role of members

TAVIP is a membership organisation and there are currently 165 members.

Members have ultimate control over the charity, because they make decisions relating to changing the charity’s constitution, appointing and removing trustees and determining whether a charity should be wound up.

All members have the right to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which normally takes place in November, and at least 15 members must be present for the meeting to be valid.

The business at each AGM includes a report by the Chair on the activities of the charity, consideration of the annual accounts, and the election/re-election of trustees.

Members nominate and elect up to 9 trustees who are responsible for the day to day operation of the charity and decide on specific projects and priorities which fall within the objects of the organisation. Trustees serve for an initial period of three years. The constitution states that at least two-thirds of Trustees should be visually impaired.

Members also vote on any changes to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the charity.

Trustees elect from amongst themselves a chair, a treasurer and other roles as appropriate.

The Liability of Members

In the unlikely event that the charity is wound up and has debts or liabilities that it cannot meet, then members undertake to contribute a maximum of £1 to meet these debts.

Classes of members and Eligibility for membership

There are three classes of members:

(a) Full Members – Any individual who supports the objects of the charity. Members are not required to be visually impaired.

(b) Organisation Members – any commercial organisation or not for profit corporation which has an active interest in the development of equipment or services for use by visually impaired people.

(c) Honorary Members – An individual appointed by the Trustees. Honorary Members are not be required to pay any subscription or to make any formal application for membership.

Employees of the charity are not be eligible for membership; any member who becomes an employee of the company after admission to membership shall automatically cease to be a member.

Withdrawal from Membership

Members can withdraw from membership of the charity at any time.

How to apply for Membership

We hope that this document will have answered any questions you may have had about membership, and we hope that you do indeed decide to join us. Follow this link to go back to details on how to join.

Further information

The constitution of the charity and the role of Members is set out in full in our Memorandum and Articles of Association document. If you would like a copy email info@tavip.org.uk