Constitution

• The name of the organisation is Street Lights Collective CIC.
• Street Lights Collective CIC is a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales under company number 17300794.
• The registered office of the Organisation is Prime Apartments, 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4FG.
• The bank account name of the Organisation shall be Street Lights Collective CIC.
• For the purposes of this Constitution, Street Lights Collective CIC may also be referred to as the Organisation, the CIC, or Street Lights.
• The official tagline of the Organisation is Presence. Power. Purpose.

Street Lights Collective CIC is a registered Community Interest Company. It exists for community benefit and must use its income, assets and resources to further its community purposes.

This Constitution works alongside the Articles of Association and the Community Interest Statement submitted as part of the CIC registration process. The Constitution sets out the Organisation’s purpose, governance, values, programmes, leadership structure, decision making arrangements and standards of accountability.

Where there is any conflict between this Constitution and the Articles of Association, the Articles of Association shall take precedence.

The Organisation shall operate in accordance with company law, CIC regulations, safeguarding duties, data protection law, equality duties, health and safety requirements, finance requirements, contractual obligations and funder requirements.

Street Lights Collective CIC is rooted in Presence. Power. Purpose.

Street Lights exists to bring consistent presence, community power and purposeful direction into communities affected by trauma, violence, fear, social disconnection, postcode division, school exclusion, family breakdown and loss of hope.

The Organisation recognises that many young people are growing up in environments where identity is often tied to postcode, estate, online image, peer group, gang affiliation or area representation. This can create division, conflict, fear and violence.

Street Lights challenges this narrative by helping young people and families reconnect with identity, family, cultural heritage, emotional literacy, community, responsibility, leadership and future direction.

Street Lights is not simply a programme provider. It is a collective, a movement and a community vehicle for healing, guidance and transformation.

The vision of Street Lights Collective CIC is to see young people guided, families strengthened and communities restored.

Street Lights seeks to support communities to move from fear to unity, from postcode division to collective responsibility, from survival mode to purpose, from trauma to healing, from disconnection to belonging, and from serious youth violence to serious youth guidance.

The Organisation believes that young people should not have to define themselves by violence, territory, online reputation or survival based status. Young people should be supported to understand their value, develop their voice and build meaningful futures.

The mission of Street Lights Collective CIC is to deliver culturally contextualised, trauma informed and community led programmes that address the root causes of serious youth violence, family breakdown, school disengagement, poor emotional literacy, community fear and low self worth.

Street Lights achieves this by delivering youth guidance, mentoring, psycho education, family support, leadership development, school based programmes, cultural identity work, NEET prevention, employability support, community engagement, professional training and partnership led community development.

Street Lights Collective CIC exists for community benefit. Its work benefits children, young people, families and communities affected by trauma, violence, exclusion, poverty, social isolation, discrimination, fear, school disengagement and reduced opportunity.

The Organisation’s primary beneficiaries are young people aged 8 to 25, with particular focus on those affected by childhood trauma, exclusion, serious youth violence, care experience, youth justice involvement, family breakdown, school disengagement, poor emotional wellbeing, NEET risk and community violence.

The Organisation also benefits parents, carers, families, schools, youth organisations, local authorities, community groups, faith groups, local businesses, professionals and wider communities.

Street Lights recognises that young people do not exist in isolation. To support a young person effectively, the Organisation must also support the family, the school, the community and the professional systems around them.

The objects and purposes of Street Lights Collective CIC are to benefit young people, families and communities, particularly those affected by trauma, serious youth violence, knife crime, postcode conflict, exclusion, poverty, family breakdown, social isolation and reduced access to opportunity.

In order to carry out its objects and purposes, Street Lights Collective CIC shall have the power to do all lawful things necessary, useful or incidental to furthering its community benefit purposes.

Design, develop, fund, manage and deliver programmes, workshops, mentoring, training, events, youth activities, community education, family support, school based programmes, employability initiatives and community engagement activities.

Provide one to one mentoring, group mentoring, youth guidance, leadership development, peer support, ambassador training, personal development and positive activities for young people.

Develop and deliver psycho educational programmes, including TIPS, Theory Into Practical Solutions.

Work with schools, colleges, alternative provision settings, pupil referral units, youth services and education providers.

Organise community blasts, festivals, fairs, cultural events, celebrations, youth showcases, sports activities, arts activities, awareness campaigns and public engagement events.

Deliver programmes for parents, carers, mothers, fathers, young people and community members around childhood, brotherhood, sisterhood, motherhood, fatherhood, adulthood, trauma, attachment, communication, identity and purpose.

Support young people into education, employment, training, apprenticeships, work experience, volunteering, placements, enterprise and other positive progression pathways.

Provide training, consultancy, advice, resources and support to schools, local authorities, charities, faith groups, youth services, professionals, community organisations and statutory agencies.

Employ staff, appoint sessional workers, engage consultants, contract trainers, appoint volunteers and work with specialists, subject to appropriate recruitment, safeguarding, supervision and compliance procedures.

Enter into partnerships, collaborations, service agreements, memoranda of understanding and joint working arrangements with organisations that support the objects of Street Lights Collective CIC.

Apply for, receive and manage grants, donations, sponsorship, contracts, service income, consultancy income, training fees, fundraising income and other lawful forms of income.

Acquire, lease, rent, licence, manage or use premises, equipment, materials, digital resources, vehicles, supplies and other resources needed to further the Organisation’s objects.

Open and operate bank accounts in the name of Street Lights Collective CIC and put in place appropriate financial controls.

Produce educational materials, toolkits, publications, digital content, videos, resources, training packs, workbooks, campaigns and other materials aligned with the Organisation’s purposes.

Promote the Organisation’s work through websites, social media, newsletters, public events, media, reports, campaigns and community engagement, subject to safeguarding, consent and ethical storytelling standards.

Collect data, feedback, case studies, testimonials, attendance records, outcome measures and evaluation evidence to improve delivery, demonstrate impact and report to funders and stakeholders.

Street Lights Collective CIC delivers a connected programme ecosystem rooted in Presence. Power. Purpose.

The programmes are designed to help young people, families and communities move from disconnection to relationship, from fear to confidence, from survival to purpose, and from isolation to community.

As a Community Interest Company, Street Lights Collective CIC does not operate as a traditional unincorporated membership association unless the Board formally decides to create a membership structure. For the purposes of governance, accountability and participation, the Organisation recognises the following categories of involvement.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall be managed by its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for strategic leadership, governance, safeguarding oversight, financial oversight, risk management, compliance, community benefit, programme accountability, organisational sustainability and protection of the Organisation’s reputation.

The Board of Advisors supports Street Lights Collective CIC by providing specialist guidance, strategic challenge, professional insight and sector knowledge. Advisors strengthen the Organisation’s credibility and decision making, but they do not hold legal responsibility unless formally appointed as directors.

Street Lights Collective CIC places safeguarding at the centre of its governance. The Organisation works with children, young people, families and communities who may be affected by violence, trauma, exploitation, neglect, online harm, family breakdown and contextual risk. Safeguarding must therefore be embedded in all programmes, partnerships, events and activities.

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Phillip Chockochen.
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead leads safeguarding practice across the Organisation.
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead receives safeguarding concerns and supports staff and volunteers with safeguarding decisions.
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead makes referrals to statutory services where required.
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead keeps safeguarding records secure and reports safeguarding themes to the Board.
• The Organisation shall maintain a safeguarding policy covering children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• The safeguarding policy shall be reviewed at least annually or sooner if required.

The funds and property of Street Lights Collective CIC shall only be used to further the objects and community benefit purposes of the Organisation.

The Finance and Compliance Lead is Marisa Ferguson.

The Organisation shall maintain a bank account in the name of Street Lights Collective CIC. This name must match the Organisation name used for registration and funding purposes.

• The Board shall approve budgets and monitor financial performance.
• The Organisation shall keep proper financial records.
• Receipts, invoices and financial evidence shall be retained.
• Restricted funding shall only be used for the purpose agreed with the funder.
• Payments shall be properly authorised.
• Related party payments must be declared and managed under the conflict of interest process.
• Annual accounts shall be prepared and filed in accordance with legal requirements, CIC requirements and funder requirements.

As a Community Interest Company, the requirement for an Annual General Meeting depends on the Organisation’s Articles of Association. However, Street Lights Collective CIC shall hold an annual governance review meeting, referred to in this Constitution as the Annual General Meeting or AGM, to promote transparency, accountability and good governance.

The AGM shall be held once each calendar year, no later than 15 months after the previous AGM.

The AGM shall include receiving and reviewing the annual report, receiving and reviewing the annual statement of accounts, reviewing progress against the objects and community benefit purposes, reviewing safeguarding governance, reviewing programme impact, reviewing financial sustainability, reviewing the Board and governance structure, confirming directors where applicable, appointing or confirming an accountant, auditor or independent examiner where required, reviewing major risks, reviewing key policies, considering community feedback and youth voice, and setting priorities for the coming year.

The Board may establish sub committees, advisory groups or working groups to support the Organisation’s work. These may include safeguarding, finance and compliance, programme quality, youth voice, community advisory input, funding and sustainability, events and risk planning, and monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Sub committees and working groups may advise, develop recommendations and carry out tasks delegated by the Board. They may not make decisions outside the authority given to them by the Board. The Board remains ultimately responsible for governance, safeguarding, finance, risk and strategic decisions.

Street Lights Collective CIC has a delivery team of six trauma informed practitioners. The practitioners are not named publicly in this Constitution for privacy and operational reasons, but they form part of the Organisation’s delivery capacity.

The six trauma informed practitioners support outreach, mentoring, workshops, group work, school delivery, family support, community engagement, youth development and programme delivery.

All staff, sessional workers, volunteers and practitioners shall receive appropriate induction, role information, safeguarding guidance, supervision, reporting lines, conduct expectations and health and safety information.

Where practitioners work directly with children, young people or vulnerable adults, the Organisation shall ensure appropriate safer recruitment, DBS checks where applicable, safeguarding training and supervision.

Street Lights Collective CIC may work with external partners to further its objects. Partnerships may include schools, local authorities, youth services, police and community safety teams, faith groups, charities, community organisations, local businesses, mental health practitioners, artists, creatives, sports providers, funders, housing providers, families and residents.

Current named external partner and specialist advisor: Solomon Fagbayi, Step Now CIC.

Partnerships should be based on shared values, clear roles, safeguarding alignment, community benefit, transparency, mutual respect, non duplication, accountability and clear communication.

Formal partnerships should be supported by a written agreement where appropriate. Such agreements may include purpose, roles, safeguarding arrangements, data sharing, finance, reporting, branding, insurance, dispute resolution and exit arrangements.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall ensure that young people are active contributors to the Organisation’s work. The current Youth Voice and Ambassador Forum representative is Mikha'El Stevens Robinson.

The Youth Voice and Ambassador Forum may support youth messaging, campaign development, peer insight, programme design, event planning, social media ideas, feedback, evaluation, community engagement, ambassador development and leadership opportunities.

Young people involved in ambassador roles must be properly supported, supervised and safeguarded. They must not be placed in unsafe situations or used as unpaid labour without structure, recognition and care.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall maintain appropriate risk management arrangements. The Board shall review key risks regularly and ensure that programmes, events and partnerships are delivered with proportionate risk assessment and control measures.

• Safeguarding risk.
• Event safety risk.
• Financial risk.
• Reputational risk.
• Partnership risk.
• Data protection risk.
• Community conflict risk.
• Social media risk.
• Transport and travel risk.
• Venue risk.
• Funding sustainability risk.
• Staff and participant wellbeing risk.
• Delivery capacity risk.
• Legal and compliance risk.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall handle personal information carefully, lawfully and securely. The Organisation may collect names, contact details, emergency contacts, attendance records, referral information, safeguarding concerns, case notes, feedback forms, photographs, videos, testimonials, programme outcomes and staff and volunteer records.

The Organisation shall collect only necessary data, explain how data will be used, gain consent where required, store data securely, limit access to those who need it, protect children’s information, have clear retention periods, report data breaches where required, use secure systems for online communication and gain media consent before using images, videos or stories.

Confidentiality must be respected, but it cannot be guaranteed where there is a risk of harm.

Street Lights Collective CIC is committed to equality, dignity and inclusion. The Organisation recognises that communities are shaped by race, culture, class, faith, gender, disability, migration history, poverty, trauma, exclusion and social inequality.

Programmes should be accessible and respectful to people from diverse backgrounds. The Organisation shall not unlawfully discriminate and shall consider physical accessibility, language needs, cultural sensitivity, faith considerations, gender specific spaces where appropriate, neurodiversity, disability inclusion, financial barriers, food and dietary requirements, safe travel and digital exclusion.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall take reasonable steps to provide safe environments for staff, volunteers, participants, young people, families, partners and the public.

Health and safety arrangements may include venue checks, risk assessments, fire safety arrangements, first aid provision, emergency contacts, accident reporting, food safety, equipment safety, crowd management, transport planning, lone working procedures, safe ratios for children and young people, weather plans for outdoor events and accessibility considerations.

No major event or programme should proceed without appropriate risk assessment and safety planning.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall maintain a clear complaints process. Complaints may relate to staff conduct, volunteer conduct, programme quality, safeguarding, discrimination, financial concerns, partner behaviour, unsafe practice, miscommunication, data or confidentiality issues.

Complaints shall be taken seriously, recorded, responded to within a clear timeframe, investigated fairly, escalated where needed and used for learning. Safeguarding concerns must follow safeguarding procedures and must not be treated only as general complaints.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall monitor, evaluate and learn from its work. The Organisation recognises that impact includes both measurable outcomes and human stories of change.

Quantitative measures may include the number of young people engaged, parents and carers engaged, community events delivered, schools supported, professionals trained, attendance rates, completion rates, referrals, signposting, youth ambassador participation, placement outcomes, progression outcomes, self reported emotional regulation, confidence, aspiration and engagement in education, employment or training.

Qualitative measures may include participant testimonials, parent feedback, young people’s stories of change, practitioner observations, community feedback, case studies, mentor reflections, partner feedback, evidence of improved family communication, increased cultural identity, purpose, trust and community cohesion.

Learning shall be used to improve future delivery and strengthen governance.

Street Lights Collective CIC shall maintain a conflict of interest policy and register. A conflict of interest may arise where a director, advisor, staff member, volunteer, partner or connected person could benefit personally from a decision.

Conflicts must be declared early, recorded and managed. Where necessary, the conflicted person must withdraw from discussion and decision making.

As a Community Interest Company, Street Lights Collective CIC is subject to an asset lock. The Organisation’s assets and surpluses must be used for community benefit and must not be distributed for private gain except where permitted by CIC regulations and the Articles of Association.

The transfer of assets must comply with any restrictions on the transfer of assets for less than full consideration as set out in the Articles of Association and applicable CIC law.

If Street Lights Collective CIC is wound up or dissolved, after all debts and liabilities have been satisfied, any remaining assets shall be transferred to an asset locked body with similar or compatible community benefit purposes.

The nominated asset locked body shall be: [Insert name of nominated asset locked body].

If the named body is no longer available or suitable, the remaining assets shall be transferred to another asset locked body selected by the Board and permitted under CIC regulations, whose purposes are similar to those of Street Lights Collective CIC.

No remaining assets shall be distributed to directors, members, staff, volunteers or private individuals, except where permitted by law.

This Constitution may be amended by decision of the Board of Directors, provided that any amendment is consistent with the Articles of Association, complies with company law and CIC regulations, furthers or supports the Organisation’s objects, does not undermine the asset lock, does not remove the Organisation’s community benefit purpose and is properly recorded in Board minutes.

Where amendments affect the Articles of Association, the correct legal process for changing company articles must be followed.

This Constitution was adopted by the Directors of Street Lights Collective CIC, company number 17300794, whose registered office is Prime Apartments, 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4FG.

Date of adoption: ______________________________________________

Location of adoption: ___________________________________________