In October 1998, the Global Centre Association was established. The formal constitution was accepted at the first General meeting in October 1999 and amended on 28th February 2001 .

The Association provides a democratic forum for the community to influence the development of the Global Centre.

Becoming a member:

Association members are asked to pay £5, and sign a statement in support of our ethos. Groups or organisations can join on the same basis, making a payment of £10. Members are encouraged to participate on sub-groups committees and to attend the monthly meetings, held at the SUST shop

The Association has four key posts, Sheila Thornton(Acting Chair), Debbie Greaves (vice Chair), Kodzo Serlomey (Treasurer) and Secretary (Jo Busby).

The Association has been created to:

• promote the idea of the Global Centre in MK and to work towards achieving such a Centre;
• provide a forum in which people who wish to see the creation of a Global Centre for Milton Keynes, both individuals and groups, can debate ideas in a democratic and fair way;
• handle funds that may be raised for the project or donated to the project in a way that provides for accountability.

Milton Keynes Global Centre Ltd

The Global Centre Association owns a 50% share of Milton Keynes Global Centre Ltd (MKGCL). The other 50% is owned by Global Education Milton Keynes (GEMK).

MKGCL is the risk taking arm of the Global Centre. MKGCL operates Sust! and runs the different Global Centre projects. A team of 10 directors manage MKGCL on a day to day basis. The directors are

• Andrea Leonard-James (Marketing)
• Bill Whiffen (No Portfolio)
• Carol Barac (Business Plan and GC Centre Development)
• Caroline Lancaster (Shop)
• Debbie Greaves (Projects)
• Hugh Starkey (No Portfolio)
• Jo Busby (HR)
• Ken Harris (Funding)
• Kodzo Selormey (Finance)
• Peter Hughes (Premises)

Each Director has a responsibility for a different area of MKGCL operations. The area of operation is shown in brackets after the Directors name. Volunteers are welcome to assist the directors on their areas of responsibility.

The operations of Sust! are managed on a day to day basis by Ruth Minich. A management meeting is held on a monthly basis to discuss and decide on key Sust! operational issues. The members of this committee include the shop staff, a representative of the volunteers, the company directors with Sust! responsibilities and a manager of the Sust! shop reports to a management committee made up of the Directors, A representative of the Global Centre Association, the shop staff

To support the long team development the Global Centre Association's building group has been re-established and we are looking for volunteers on that GCA subgroup.

The Global Centre only thrives because of it volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering either with Sust! or the Global Centre Association then
please contact us at globalcentre@yahoo.com

23rd November 2004

For further information contact the Global Centre Association.