Governance and Transparency
Your Contributions. Your Society. Clear Accountability.
Mauritian Muslim Funeral Fund and Bereavement Society Limited is constituted to operate as a co-operative society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, and is run on that basis: owned by its members, one member one vote, and governed by its rules. An application to register the Society under the Act has been made and is awaiting decision.
The Society is not a registered charity and does not hold a charity number. It is a mutual society for the benefit of its members.
Member Ownership
One Member. One Share. One Vote.
Every member holds one non-withdrawable share of £1. This is a standard requirement of a co-operative society and its value is nominal: the share is the legal mechanism by which membership exists. It is what makes someone a member of the Society rather than a customer of it, it carries one vote whatever a member has contributed, and it is the limit of a member's liability.
The £1 is a nominal value, not a further charge. The total payable on joining is £50: the £30 registration and administration fee and the £20 held in advance, both described on the Membership page. No member receives greater control by contributing more money, and no member can be pursued for more than the £1 of their shareholding.
The Board of Directors
Elected By and From the Members
The Board manages the Society's affairs, implements its strategy, oversees risk and finances, and remains accountable to the membership. Directors are elected by and from the members, subject to the registered rules.
- Chair.
- Treasurer.
- Secretary.
- Other elected or properly appointed Directors.
Board Responsibilities
- Act in the best interests of the Society and its members.
- Apply the registered rules and approved policies.
- Oversee membership, contributions and funeral-assistance decisions.
- Protect Society funds and maintain financial controls.
- Manage risk and legal compliance.
- Declare and manage conflicts of interest.
- Report to members and support democratic participation.
Member Democracy
- Annual General Meeting within the required period.
- Proper notice of general meetings.
- Member participation in person, electronically or by permitted proxy.
- Election of Directors.
- Ordinary, Extraordinary and special resolutions where required.
- Member power to requisition a general meeting in accordance with the rules.
Decision-Making
Fair and Balanced
General decisions are made by the appropriate member or Board majority. The chair does not have a second or casting vote. A tied vote is therefore lost. Material constitutional decisions require the higher voting threshold specified in the registered rules.
Conflicts of Interest
- Directors must declare personal, material or financial interests.
- A conflicted Director must not vote on the affected matter.
- The Director may be excluded from the relevant discussion.
- Declarations and decisions must be recorded in the minutes.
- Claims involving a Director or Connected Person require independent consideration.
Financial Controls
- A bank account in the Society's registered name.
- Accurate accounts, balance sheets and contribution records.
- Appropriate payment authorisation.
- Annual accounts and returns submitted as required.
- Audit or independent examination where required.
- Clear separation of shares, registration income, contributions, reserves and assistance payments.
Transparency to Members
- Annual accounts and Board reports.
- Membership and funeral-assistance activity reported without exposing private information.
- Access to the latest annual return and appropriate financial summaries.
- Minutes maintained for general and Board meetings.
- A copy of the registered rules supplied to every member.
The rules are being drafted as part of the registration application, and the first annual report follows the first year of operation. Both will be published here once registration is complete.
-
01
Complaints and Appeals
Members may raise concerns about membership, contributions, claims, governance or conduct. Complaints are considered fairly, recorded appropriately and escalated through the approved procedure: written complaint, internal review, written final determination, appeal or mediation, and arbitration or legal recourse under the registered rules.
View Complaints Procedure -
02
Data Protection and Confidentiality
Membership, dependant and bereavement information is sensitive. The Society collects only information needed for lawful administration, protects it appropriately and restricts access to authorised persons.
View Privacy Notice -
03
Common Ownership and Dissolution
The Society operates as a common-ownership enterprise. If it is dissolved after all liabilities are satisfied, remaining assets cannot be distributed among members. They must be transferred in accordance with the registered asset-lock provisions.
Our Accountability Promise
Honest, Democratic, Accountable
We are committed to honest communication, democratic control, accurate records, responsible stewardship and compassionate decision-making.