We’re a charitable company limited by guarantee

Constitution

Care Rights UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and membership is open to any individual who has an interest in our work. The Trustees, all elected by the members and unpaid, are responsible for directing our activities.

Governing objects

The charitable objects which govern everything we do are:

i) to alleviate distress and suffering amongst older people by any means considered necessary from time to time and deemed by law to be charitable.

ii) to alleviate the conditions of life amongst people (including relatives) who are caring or who have cared for older people and who are in necessitous circumstances, and of the dependants of such carers being dependants who are themselves in necessitous circumstances, and for that reason to promote the material welfare of such carers as aforesaid.

iii) to advance education by the provision of advice and counselling, and the dissemination of information to older people and to persons (including relatives) caring for or having cared for older people.

iv) to assist in achieving and maintaining the highest possible standards of care for older people resident in care homes, and other care settings including their own homes.

Origins

The charity was originally set up by Dorothy White OBE in 1992 as the “Relatives Association”. Read the history of how we started.

Powers and rules

The governing documents have been amended from time to time but the current powers and rules for the running of the charity are set out in our Memorandum and Articles as revised and duly adopted by Special Resolution of the 23rd Annual General Meeting on 26 February 2016.

Guiding principles of co-operation

Significantly, the constitution mentions expressly that the charity may:

a) work in co-operation with people resident in such care homes, their advocates, and all other relevant bodies and people…;

b) advise and counsel relatives and friends on any matters concerning the residential care of an older person including their own problems in regard to this…

c) on behalf of relatives take up and explore matters of individual or common concern…

d) link together the relatives of people resident in such care homes by all appropriate means…

e) work with the management and staff of such care homes in considering how the quality of life of residents can be maintained and improved and to seek ways in which relatives can contribute…