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Overview

Established in 1982, the Alliance Française de Glasgow (AFG) is recognised by the French government as the official French Language and Cultural Centre for Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

It is one of eleven Alliances Françaises in the United Kingdom and one of 832 Alliances Françaises located in 131 countries over the five continents; it is the world's largest cultural network.

Having previously been a Limited Company and Scottish Charity, the AFG became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in August 2019, managed by a Board of Trustees.

As part of this change, our constitution has been re-written and we have become a two-tier SCIO.

The Board of Trustees

The AFG is registered as a SCIO with OSCR, the Scottish charity regulator, and as such it has a ‘Board of Trustees’.

What should the governing body do?

The Board of Trustees is there to lead, control and supervise the organisation’s activities. It is the part of the organisation with formal power and responsibility which are detailed in the governing document, our Constitution.

Trustees need to be aware of this responsibility of accountability and act in the best interests of the organisation and its beneficiaries, following all requirements of law and regulation. This is sometimes referred to as the need for ‘due diligence’.

To enable the organisation to meet its goals, trustees should perform the following functions:

• Set and maintain the vision, mission and values of the organisation.
• Develop direction, strategy and planning.
• Ensure the organisation has the structure and resources for its work.
• Establish policies and procedures to govern organisational activity, including guidance for the board, staff and volunteers.
• Establish systems for reporting and monitoring.
• Manage risk and ensure compliance and accountability with the governing document, external regulators and the law.
• Make certain that the financial affairs of the organisation are conducted properly and are accurately reported.

A two-tier SCIO

This structure is very common in the charity sector. With this two-tier structure the board is elected by and reports back to a wider body of members at an annual general meeting (AGM).

A wide-ranging membership is seen as a more democratic structure and as making the charity more representative of the interests of its community.

Further information on the governance of SCIOs can be found on OSCR's website and on the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations's website.

Members of the SCIO

Members of the SCIO have the right to attend members' meetings, including the AGM, and vote on all business at the AGM. They can stand for election to the Board and vote in that election.

Membership is open to any person, including representatives of partner bodies, who shares an interest in the development and understanding of the French language and culture, and who wishes to help promote the purposes and objectives of the organisation.

The constitution of the AFG distinguishes between the members of the SCIO and members of the library or members of a class. Members of the library, for example, are not considered members of the SCIO per se.

Those wishing to become a member of the SCIO must apply to the board.

Partner bodies as corporate members nominate a single representative to attend and vote at the AGMs. That nominee has all the rights of a member.

If you are prepared to become a member of the SCIO please submit a short application to Mr Gerry Toner, Chair of the AFG.

Your application can be sent via email to director@afglasgow.org.uk.