How UKU works
In 2008, UK Ultimate (UKU) became a company limited by guarantee. We are a not-for-profit organisation.
The members are effectively the “owners” of UK Ultimate, rather like the shareholders of a company, except that in particular the organisation cannot distribute any profits.
The members elect a Board of Directors to act on their behalf in looking after the interests of the organisation.
The Board in turn appoints a number of people and committees to take responsibility for various activities and/or areas within the sport.
Board of Directors
UK Ultimate Ltd is the governing body for the sport of Ultimate in the UK. UKU Ltd is a company limited by guarantee, accordingly Board members are company directors.
The Board’s role is summarised as follows:
- Determine UKU Ltd’s mission and purpose ensuring that UKU Ltd complies with it’s governing document, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- Determine and monitor UKU Ltd’s activities and services – ensuring that appropriate practices and policies are in place, defining goals and setting targets
- Appoint, support and review the performance of the CEO/Administrator and UKU Ltd as a whole against agreed targets ensuring effective and efficient administration of the organisation
- Ensure the availability of adequate resources, approve annual budgets and ensure that UKU Ltd uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its governing document and is financially stable
- To protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of funds
- Safeguard and enhance the public image of both the sport and the organisation
- Assess its own performance and account to the members for the organisation’s performance
- Serve as a Court of Appeal
Other duties
In addition to the above statutory duties, and role-specific responsibilities below, each Board member should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board reach sound decisions. This will involve:
- Have regular access to email/internet and read email at least once a week (other than during planned absence). Weekly email volume is less than one hour – but does increase around Board meetings
- Attend Board conference calls (approx 6 calls per year) plus one face-to-face meeting and respond to correspondence within 5 working days
- Read all emails posted on UKU Ltd Board e-group and UKU Ltd Member Updates
- Scrutinising board papers
- Leading discussions
- Focusing on key issues
- Providing guidance on new initiatives
- Other issues in which the Board member has special expertise
There are up to eight elected positions on the Board as follows:
Chair:
The chairperson is responsible for leading the Board:
- Ensure regular board meetings/calls occur
- Chair board meetings – and support/encourage activity and discussion between meetings
- Ensure Board meetings are effective
- Support, advise and manage the CEO/Administrator
- Member of Remuneration committee
Treasurer
The Treasurer has overall responsibility for all UKU finances and budgets. In particular the Treasurer should work with the CEO/Administrator to:
- Supervise accounting
- Authorise payment of UKU bills
- Ensure tax obligations are met
- Chair Remuneration committee
- Member of Grants committee
Director of Competitions (DoC)
The DoC is responsible for planning the UK ultimate events calendar across all divisions and for coordinating all UKU events and the associated rules – including ensuring we have a clear strategy for the ongoing evolution of the national competition structure.
These activities should be done by leading two key groups of volunteers:
- UKU Competitions Committee
- UKU Scheduling Committee
The Director of Competitions’ role is to lead these groups to deliver “the calendar”, the UKU competition rules and the UKU competition structure.
University Coordinator
The Uni-Coordinator is elected by University Members annually in the Summer and is responsible for University Competitions and promotion of student ultimate. The role includes:
- Chairing the Uni Coordinators Committee
- Answering queries from student players
- Ensuring AGM and e-AGM take place
- Attend and chair AGM
Director for Junior Ultimate
One member of the Board is required to be or become an active member of the Junior Ultimate committee in order to ensure we maintain good communication between the Board and the Junior committee. This role include:
- Ensuring that the organisation continues to review and improve its approach to Safeguarding/Child Protection
- Supporting the administration of the Enhanced CRB disclosure process.
Without Portfolio
The remaining positions on the Board are all "without portfolio" in order to offer an opportunity for individuals to propose and take a key role in an area that they feel is important.
A Vice-Chair is appointed from the without-portfolio board members:
- Takes role of Chair when s/he is not available
- Provides support to Chair when needed
Current Board Members
Current board members are:
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Chairman: Graham Mynott I started playing ultimate as a student at Southampton University in 1985, I still have the Glyn Lewis designed shirt still (a bit thin now mind). My main ultimate playing career in this country was with Catch 22 and LeedsLeedsLeeds on sand and grass, in domestic, european and world competitions: legendary times. I'm the proud owner of a gold medal from the Euros in 2003 representing the Masters (got the winning point disc as a memento too) and a bronze from the Turku Worlds the following year , although my first Masters foray was in Sweden back in 1996. I don't play any more apart from an annual trot at Glastonbury with the Catch family. My son's got the golden arm though. |
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Treasurer: Wayne Davey I started playing ultimate at Warwick in 1985. Since then I’ve played at all levels, in mixed, masters and open divisions and I’ve been lucky enough to play in World Championships on 5 continents. I have captained the GB Masters team several times on both grass and sand, including leading the team to success in the 2003 European Championships. I've also been on winning teams at UK Nationals in open, mixed and indoors. In 2011 I was part of the GB mixed masters team that won the World Beach Championships. Unfortunately, injury now limits my ultimate to 2 or 3 beach tournaments a year. Off the field I have been the treasurer of UK Ultimate for the last 3 years or so. I was also the first treasurer of the UK Ultimate's predecessor organisation. While I have been on the Board I chaired the UKU Spirit of the Game Committee for 2 years. I also spent a couple of years on the BULA Beach Ultimate Committee. |
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Director of Competitions: Chris White I've been part of the competitions committee since 2008, starting as the Mixed Coordinator for 4 years and serving without portfolio until 2014 when I became DoC. I have kept a working knowledge of the competitions structure & rules central to my work. These areas are vital to steering the structure of UKU competitions in the coming years as we need to find new ways to grow with the number of teams & players. |
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University Coordinator: Tom Daly I am a Sports Development and Enterprise graduate from University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). I started playing Ultimate in my first year at University after working abroad for 5 years. In my 2nd year I was club secretary and in my final year of studying I became President. I was elected UCLan’s VP of Sport for a year after I graduated. As I play various other sports, my playing time for club is limited but I enjoy picking up where I can and concentrate on indoors with my alumni team, Prone. I'm looking to increase ties between local clubs and universities, provide more support for new or small university teams and develop an Ultimate network where different universities can share best practice and pass on ideas to the University sub-committee that can be used to influence any changes for the wider University Ultimate community.
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Director for Junior Ultimate: Joe Wyatt I have taught beginner juniors, supported club level teams that have included juniors, helped to promote ultimate in schools through the Matalan Sports Promise and I managed the GB juniors U20s for a 2-year cycle. |
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Without Portfolio: Willis Bruckermann In this country, we have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience when it comes to ultimate. However, the institutional structures that underpin the sport remain poorly understood by many in the sport itself. I've played this sport for all of my adult life, and as I begin to transition out of the competitive playing phase of my career I would like to continue contributing to the community at the institutional level. Among the issues I would be interested in addressing are: |
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Without Portfolio: Georgie Winborn I started playing in Edinburgh in 2003. I have played at women's tour every year since then for Swift and then Nice Bristols. I have just attended World Clubs with the latter and have attended EUCF several times with both teams. I have also played World Clubs in the mixed division. I have represented GB in the mixed division in 2007/8 and 2011/12. I was elected to the UKU Board of Directors in 2009 and continued in that role ever since. I have been on the women's committee for several years and am in the process of redeveloping the committee's function to further develop Ultimate for UK women. I am pasionate about promoting and developing women in Ultimate and as a physiotherapist encouraging women to do more sport/exercise in general. I also co-ordinate the medical support services for GB teams and UKU tournaments. I have enjoyed my role in making decisions to help UKUltimate grow and develop over the last 5 years and I feel I can contribute further if re-elected. I think it is vital that there is women's voice on the Board. |
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Without Portfolio: Nick Smith Nick Smith is a consultant in the sport, education and charity sectors, specialising in corporate social responsibility, fundraising and brand communications. Following 5 years in the telecommunications sector, Nick has enjoyed various commercial and strategic roles including at the University of Cambridge, The Prince’s Trust, Right To Play UK and brand design agency, Navyblue. When not consulting, he is also Head of Development at the University of Roehampton. A keen sportsman, he has tried his hand at most things, goes for a run whenever time allows, loves a game of chess and still tries his hand at tennis and squash. He played a lot of Ultimate from 1995-2005 including appearances for GB Open in 2000 and 2003. |
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CEO/Administrator: Simon Hill |
UKU Staff
UK Ultimate employs a number of staff members in either full time or part time roles.
Si Hill - CEO
Reports to the Chair of the Board, and is responsible for the management of UK Ultimate and overseeing the day-to-day activities of the organisation.
At a high level the purpose of the CEO role is:
- Work with the Chair to ensure that the Board formulates and regularly review the UKU’s mission and strategic plan; ensure it is able to monitor annual plans and targets
- Be responsible for staff/volunteer leadership, management and administration of the organisation in executing the agreed plans and fulfilling its obligations – which includes dealing with important, but unexpected issues that arise
- Work with the Chair to ensure that the Board receives appropriate advice and information on all relevant matters and hence enable it to fulfil its governance responsibilities
- Promotion of the sport and the organisation – ensuring that both are appropriately presented to stakeholders, e.g. UKU members, sports teachers, fund-awarding bodies, WFDF, etc
- The CEO is also a director and Company Secretary
Chris Bamford - Administrator
The administrators activities include:
- Managing UKU membership
- Admin of Board meetings – i.e. dates and minutes
- First point of contact to players and public approaching UKU
- Providing UKU staff with administrative support
- Maintenance of club affiliation scheme
- Administer Board elections
- Administration of Enhanced CRB checks: managing checks, member details, etc, maintaining list of checked people; and any other administrative activities that arise from running these CRB checks.
CEO-Administrator
Reports to the Chair of the Board, and is responsible for the management of UK Ultimate and implementing the day-to-day administrative activities of the organisation.
At a high level the purpose of the CEO role is:
- Work with the Chair to ensure that the Board formulates and regularly review the UKU’s mission and strategic plan; ensure it is able to monitor annual plans and targets
- Be responsible for staff/volunteer leadership, management and administration of the organisation in executing the agreed plans and fulfilling its obligations – which includes dealing with important, but unexpected issues that arise
- Work with the Chair to ensure that the Board receives appropriate advice and information on all relevant matters and hence enable it to fulfil its governance responsibilities
- Promotion of the sport and the organisation – ensuring that both are appropriately presented to stakeholders, e.g. UKU members, sports teachers, fund-awarding bodies, WFDF, etc
- The CEO/Administrator is also a director and Company Secretary
The administrative activities include:
- Managing membership data and sending membership packs (e.g. membership cards)
- Admin of Board meetings – i.e. dates and minutes
- First line of response to players and public approaching UKU
- Ensure tournament calendar is available and accurate
- Maintenance of Insurance arrangements
- Administer Board elections
- Administration of UKU coaching courses – attendees, material, venue, etc.
- Administration of Enhanced CRB checks: managing checks, member details, etc, maintaining list of checked people; and any other administrative activities that arise from running these CRB checks.
For the time being these roles are both filled by a single individual (Si Hill - see picture). We have an expectation that as the organisation continues to grow we will be able to separate these roles.
Governing Documents and Reports
Governing Documents
* Memorandum and Articles of Association of UK Ultimate Ltd.
Annual Reports
AGM Minutes
* Nov 2017
* May 2011
Accounts
Other Documents
* Minutes of General Meeting Sat 9 November 2013
* Strategic Plan Summary 2013-16
* Conduct and Complaints Policy
* Anti-Doping Policy document (also see online anti-doping pages)
* Expenses Policy and expense form
* Risk Management Assessment 2011
* Conflict of Interests Policy
* Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures 2018
* Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
* UKU Terms & Conditions of Tournament Entry
Conduct Committee Reports
| Date | Report Date | Complaint By | Complaint Against |
| Dec 2013 | April 2014 | Nick Brownbill | James Bush |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 20140402 UK Ultimate Conduct Committee Report.pdf | 431.57 KB |