Please select your home edition
Edition
RYA Membership

RYA seeks approval of new Articles of Association

by Loretta Spridgeon 20 Sep 2017 13:05 BST 20 September 2017
RYA © RYA

Changes proposed to ensure Sports Governance Code compliance

Since the RYA Board was formed in 2011 the sporting landscape has changed dramatically. All organisations seeking public funding for sport and physical activity must now meet new gold standards of governance, considered to be among the most advanced in the world.

The new Code for Sports Governance sets out the levels of transparency, accountability and financial integrity that are required from those who ask for Government and National Lottery funding. It seeks to ensure high governance standards because of the significant public investment being made.

Special resolution

To meet the requirements of the Code, an extensive review by the RYA Board and Council has resulted in a number of proposed constitutional changes and a special resolution on the agenda of the AGM (24 November 2017) which seeks the Members' approval of new Articles of Association. These changes are consistent with what is happening in other funded sports' governing bodies in the UK.

RYA Council has already approved the Articles and has also approved a revised set of Board Regulations, which sets out in detail how the Board will operate and how directors will be recruited and appointed. The revised Board Regulations will become operational if and when the proposed new Articles of Association are approved by the Members.

In addition to the changes to the way directors of the Board are recruited and appointed, the requirement to consult with members and stakeholders will be enshrined in the Articles. The RYA already engages with members and stakeholders on multiple levels: nationally, regionally, by boating discipline, and by expertise. The intention is to build on this to create a first class engagement strategy.

What will change?

Essentially the role of the RYA Council will change and Council will no longer appoint directors. The role of the Board as the ultimate decision making body will be clarified.

Following the changes and a transition period the Board will ordinarily comprise 9 directors:

  • Three "Nominated Directors" will be appointed by the Members
  • Three "Independent Directors" will be appointed by the Board
  • The Chairman will be appointed by the Board
  • The CEO will be a director by virtue of his/her office
  • The Finance Director will be a director by virtue of his/her office
The Board has taken the opportunity to update the provisions relating to the number of members required to convene a general meeting and to simplify the voting process so that each individual Member will have one vote and each organisation Member will have one vote per £100 of affiliation fee.

Engaging with members

Jeanette Hopkins, RYA Director of External Affairs, said: "One of the significant drivers for the proposed changes is the need to comply with the Sports Governance Code. Funding from UK Sport and Sport England contributes considerably to our performance pathways as well as our Sailability programmes and a large part of our vital sport development activity.

"For many years we have been embracing good corporate governance with open recruitment for Directors, based on competency, and our Association already meets the majority of the Code. The new Articles will see minor adjustments to our governance, in line with the direction we were already committed to.

"At the same time these changes provide the impetus and motivation to improve upon our existing members and stake holder engagement strategy and thereby increase our relevance and value to members, affiliates and stakeholders.

"The RYA continues to recognise the very large contribution made by Members on a voluntary basis to the Association. This will not change. We will remain a membership organisation that strives to maintain and promote safe and responsible recreational boating."

For more information on the upcoming changes, visit http://www.rya.org.uk/about-us/governance/constitution/Pages/constitution.aspx.

Related Articles

Next RYA Connected Webinar on 23rd June
Securing funding and finance for your club If you're interested in securing funding or finance to enable investment for capital infrastructure projects then we think you will want to know about this webinar... Posted on 13 Jun
Celebrating 20 years of OnBoard
One of the UK's largest grassroots programs dedicated to getting children aged 8–18 out on the water OnBoard is celebrating 20 years of impact—having already introduced more than 1.3 million young people to the transformative experience of sailing and windsurfing. Posted on 9 Jun
RYA named Official Community Impact Partner
Connecting the local community, children and groups in Portsmouth with the water. As excitement builds ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth this July, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is proud to be named the event's Official Community Impact Partner. Posted on 7 Jun
New British Sailing Talent Academies open
Four Academy host venues announced as programme applications open up The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is proud to announce the launch of four new British Sailing Talent Academies as part of its commitment to developing the next generation of high-performance sailors. Posted on 4 Jun
Nominations now open for the 2026 RYA Awards
Celebrate the people and organisations making a difference in our boating community The instructor who sparks confidence in new sailors. The person who quietly keeps things running behind the scenes. The young volunteer who turns up with a smile, rain or shine. Posted on 2 Jun
RYA Southampton International Boat Show deal
Take advantage of an exclusive discounted £5 ticket Southampton International Boat Show, Britain's biggest festival of boating and watersports is back on 19th-28th September 2025 for its 56th edition and RYA members (aged 16+) can now take advantage of an exclusive discounted £5 ticket. Posted on 31 May
Next RYA Connected Webinar tonight at 7pm!
Growing membership through non-competitive activity After a pause in April, it's time for the third in the series of webinars aimed at helping clubs boost membership and sailing participation. Posted on 12 May
£10 off RYA adult or family membership
This spring, make it official - join the RYA community Now's the perfect time to take the next step in your boating journey. Join RYA membership today and unlock exclusive benefits designed to help you get more from life on the water. Posted on 19 Apr
RYA launches 'The Female Futures Group'
Supporting and elevating women in sport A new wave of change is emerging in British sailing as the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) launches The Female Futures Group, dedicated to increasing female participation and unlocking new opportunities for women and girls in the sport. Posted on 9 Apr
RYA influences MCA's changes to regulations
Interview with Niall McLeod to see how Sport and Pleasure Code of Practice affects us The RYA have been working closely with the the government to make sure that new regulations for leisure vessels are not too restrictive. It seems that any group which operates a "coded" vessel should be thankful. Posted on 18 Mar