Between August 2023 and January 2024, all branches were invited to review the first draft of the proposed new constitution. All feedback received was collated and reviewed by the Constitutional Working Group on conclusion of the consultation phase for final amendments to the document.

A membership vote was planned to take place in September 2024 (postponed from May 2024), so that the results could be announced at our planned Special Conference. However, since May 2024 there have been two different vote processes delivered to the membership, both of which have not been without issues. Once concluded, the most recent votes were announced on 1 August.

It was the decision of the Board of Trustees to delay until 2025 a final vote on the governing document, rather than push forward for a further vote in 2024. This will allow the delivery mechanism for the voting process to be reviewed, and ensure it is managed by an external agency.

We appreciate this will have been disappointing for many and indeed frustrating, but it is crucial to ensure a vote on a document of this importance is concluded at the right time with a good process.

Please look out for your voting papers in 2025 when the final vote on the draft constitution will be put forward to the membership, along with any other motions tabled at that time.