PURPOSE OF AREAS

The purpose of the Areas is to provide regional support for local Societies, by being actively interested in them and concerned for their success. A Society may not be in ‘need’ of support, but all our Societies should feel supported and cared for.

Area Support Teams are part of an extensive support system available to local Societies. They have particular responsibility for contributing their local knowledge, experience of Society activities and a personal touch. As the regional members of the central Arts Society team they are also able to bring new and different perspectives and experiences to the Societies in their Area, through the exchange with other Areas and other support teams; helping to spread ideas, initiatives and best practice across the organisation.

The support they can offer to local Societies includes, among other things:

• Networking for Societies;

• Motivating Society committees;

• Raising awareness for The Arts Society;

• Supporting recruitment activities;

• Facilitating communication and projects between Societies;

• Identifying opportunities for Societies;

• Making the full range of support services available to Societies (e.g. training).

This handbook sets out the ways in which Areas should support Societies.

Areas should also support the work of The Arts Society in the regions. With a team of 12 paid staff, the ‘reach’ of the centre is limited. The Arts Society nationally cannot support all Societies without the Area Support Teams, and ‘the Centre’ cannot fly the flag for The Arts Society at the many events up and down the country and abroad. So the Area Support Teams are The Arts Society in the regions: in other words, they represent The Arts Society as a whole, not just the Area. Members of the Area Support Teams are colleagues in the Areas.

This means they support The Arts Society’s work by:

• Representing The Arts Society as a whole, raising awareness and acting as ambassadors

• Creating programmes of events in the Areas;

• Contributing actively at Forums and other meetings involving Areas;

• Being part of a seamless support chain for Societies;

• Helping to mitigate perceptions of ‘London-centric’ and us vs. them

All activities organised by Area Support Teams should be based on the key consideration of: “Does this activity support local Societies?” If an activity does not support local Societies - tactically or strategically - the Area Support Team should not organise that activity: if in doubt, Area Support Teams should ask the local Societies: “Does this activity support you?”

COMPOSITION OF THE AREA SUPPORT TEAM (AST)

The Area Support Team (AST) should comprise a Chairman of the Area Support Team (CAST), Deputy Chair of the Area Support Team, Area Secretary, Area Treasurer (optional), Area Co-ordinator for Education (ACE), Representatives for each of the volunteering disciplines, Area Training Co-ordinator (optional) and Area Webmaster (optional).

All members of the AST should have a good knowledge of The Arts Society and relevant committee experience gained at Society level.

All members of the AST should be IT literate (training can be provided if necessary), have access to the internet and be prepared to travel within the Area and to meetings organised centrally such as the AGM or central Team Meetings, as necessary.

When attendance at meetings is referred to this can mean either in person or via Zoom. Each member of the AST will receive the monthly e-bulletin and should be familiar with its contents in order to be able to advise Societies or other volunteers as necessary.

SELECTION OF THE AREA SUPPORT TEAM (AST)

The CAST and their Team are responsible for recruitment to the AST. Nominees to the various roles should have a sound working knowledge of The Arts Society and at least three years relevant experience of serving on a Society committee, preferably in a senior role such as Society Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer or Honorary Secretary. However, members who have held other roles should not be discouraged from joining the AST.

• The Chair of the Area Support Team (CAST) should have been a Society Chair.

• Area Volunteer representatives should have experience in the relevant discipline.

• Members of the AST should not all belong to the same Society

• The CAST should not hold an officer role on a Society Committee simultaneously without the agreement of the Chief Executive.

NOMINATION AND SELECTION OF THE CHAIR OF THE AREA SUPPORT TEAM (CAST)

The outgoing CAST will be responsible for finding and managing the procedure for the selection of their successor.

The nominee should have the written endorsement of three separate Societies. The CAST will forward the details of the nominee to the Membership Director via a simple online form. After the Chief Executive has approved the nomination, the name of the new CAST will be announced at the spring Area Meeting and he or she will formally take up the role after the National AGM in May. The new appointment is announced at the spring Area Meeting.

The existing CAST will make adequate handover arrangements with their successor in sufficient time before the new CAST takes office.

The incoming CAST will attend relevant training / induction as arranged by the Centre before they take up office.

If there is more than one nominee, the Centre will arrange a simple ballot of Societies in the Area.

Right To Veto

The Arts Society reserves the right to veto the appointment of the CAST should they have reason to believe that the nominee does not have enough relevant experience to support Societies locally or is unlikely to uphold the values, charitable aims and objectives of The Arts Society. The right to veto should only be exercised in exceptional circumstances. Should the appointment of a CAST be vetoed, the role may be temporarily filled by a member of the Support Team who will support local Societies until an alternative nominee can be found.

In the event that a nomination is vetoed, the Chief Executive will share the reasons for doing so with the Area.

Appointment Of Other Members Of The Ast

The CAST and his/her Team will be responsible for the appointment of the remaining members of the AST; Deputy CAST, Area Secretary, Area Treasurer(optional), Area Co-ordinator for Education (ACE), Area Training Co-ordinator (optional) and Area Webmaster (optional).

The appointment of the Area Representatives for each of the volunteering disciplines should be in consultation with the Membership Manager and the relevant National Team.

All outgoing members of the AST should arrange a handover with their successor before they take up office.

All incoming members of the AST will attend relevant training / induction as arranged before they take up office.

New members of the AST will be announced at the spring Area Meeting.