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Governance
The Alfa Project started as an ad hoc committee of seven people who oversaw and guided the process to the inception in September 2001 when Alfa first opened its doors to 14 students. This committee managed the day to day running of the project. In February 2002 this group become the sponsors and Directors of the limited company, Ard Aoibhinn Community Initiatives Ltd., the company has charitable status and was set up to oversee the Alfa Project. At the time we saw that this company could support other groups wanting to work socially in an innovative way, so the main objectives cover a wider remit than the purely educational work of the Alfa Project. Ard Aoibhinn supports three other projects under its umbrella, Fishbowl Youth Club, CLAI – Clare Lifesharing Initiative, and ICAN supporting Travellers’ Advocacy. Each group is represented by a Director on the board of Ard Aoibhinn. Over
the past 6 years the Governance of Alfa has evolved into its present
day form that is still in process. The Alfa community of
teachers, parents and friends have set up Alfa so that structures of
governance reflect the ethos of Alfa and all decisions made have the
education of the students to the fore. The Management Group The management group meets monthly is made up of 7 members, 2 staff, 2 parents, and three volunteers who are professional people living locally. The management group meets monthly to hear reports from the development officer, the administrator and the student mentor/coordinator. The Management Group nominates a Director to the board of the Company; this person then stands for election at the AGM in accordance to the Articles of Association. The ALFA Management and teachers have just completed the second weekend looking at our vision and strategy with facilitators from the Building Bridges network.
Administration Alfa employ an administrator to look after the day-to-day running of the Project as well as looking after the finances within the annual budget set by the Management group. There are many areas of administration that need a wider group so we have formed an administration/finance group.
The administration group carries the responsibility for all procedural issues, employment, health and safety, grievance etc. all of which have a legal basis and need to be applied with equality. Equality is the underlying principle at work in all legal issues, employment issues and procedures.
Development Alfa employs a full-time Development Officer who is being support by funding from the ONE Foundation to drive our strategy for sustainability forward. The Development Officer is working on ensuring a steady funding stream into ALFA to support the education. In the long term ALFA is working towards income generation through offering its services to the wider community, to ensure the stability and security of the education. Alfa is open to encouraging choice in education for parents and will help other groups working from a similar ethos in whatever way it can. In providing a role model for others it can give something back to the wider community. Summary The governance of Alfa is in process and it is important that Alfa develops its structures and procedures ahead of the inevitable challenges it will face as it grows. Decision-making is on the basis of consensus, not voting, and the groups are non hierarchical (no School Principle, CEO, Chairman with a casting vote etc.). There is a hierarchy of responsibility each person takes responsiblity for a task; when the task is completed the responsibility is handed back to the group. Therefore trust is the most important quality for working together and that good relationships between each other are vital to the decision making process.
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