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UKSO – Why are we here? Maybe because of the unique interaction of recovery and commerce that is the UKSO, many NA members ask this question. We hope this will help. · Firstly, what is the United Kingdom Service Office? To quote the World Services Sales Policy: ‘Our mission is to provide services and support which facilitate the continuation and growth of Narcotics Anonymous… this policy has been founded upon two fundamental principals: equitable literature distribution, and overall fellowship continuity and growth through a centralised provision of services.’ The UKSO consists of two sections: Service Ltd., a legal entity known as a limited company, which takes care of the commerce bit; and the UKSO Committee - a sub-committee of Region - which represents the fellowship. The committee meets once a month and oversees the running of the company. · What is Service Ltd? Service Ltd is what you get when you call, write or visit the NA office. It’s based in London at 202 City Road. It has three Special Workers, working 42 hours between them. It deals with a turnover which has nearly doubled in the last five years to over £100,000 per annum. It acts as insurance agent for NA property, as guarantor for NA leases. It provides credit facilities for all the Areas of the UK Region. It maintains the database for UK meetings and publishes the Where To Find. It archives NA material, it’s a focal point for professionals. It’s a place you can come to buy a 1 year medallion. We don’t make a profit, if we did who would we give it to? We can’t donate to the fellowship, for this would be considered an ‘outside contribution’ (Tradition 7). So what we aim to do is break even: we price our literature to pay our expenses. There are no shareholders for Service Ltd, there are only the legally required Company Officers: a company secretary and a director. These positions are filled by NA members who either serve on, or report to, the UK Service Office Committee. · Why do we need a Limited Company? To deal with the business world, the Charity Commission recommends the limited company format as the best way of separating the legal responsibilities of trading from the fellowship. Who will sign the contract if we need to get an H&I leaflet printed? Or if we need to sign a lease for the Helpline? Is it fair (or in the spirit of the Traditions) to ask an NA member? With a limited company that is entirely independent and separate from, but responsible to, the Narcotics Anonymous fellowship there is no need, that’s why some fifteen years ago, our predecessors set up Service Ltd. As a legal entity, fully accountable to the authorities, Service Ltd presents a professional face to the business community. We submit audited accounts to the government, pay VAT; in fact, without Service Ltd, Customs & Excise would probably class all of NA’s financial dealings to be VATable, this could mean VAT would be liable for any NA event that generated revenue: fund-raisers, conventions, all would have to pay VAT. · The UKSO Committee. The UKSO Committee is a sub-committee of the UK Region; just like the PI committee or Clean Times or Hospitals & Institutions. We have only one designated role: the Chairperson, the other members take on roles on an ad-hoc basis, be it painting the office, or advising the special workers on how to deal with a copyright infringement. Their main function is, however, to oversee the running of Service Ltd. It meets on the second Tuesday of each month at City Road. A typical agenda would read: 1. Open meeting with reading of the 12 Concepts. 2. Approval of last month’s minutes. 3. Chair’s report. 4. Office Manager’s report – any items the committee needs to made aware of, or issues the Special Workers may need help or advice on. 5. Accountant’s report - consisting of a Profit & Loss Account and Balance Sheet for the preceding month; a vital opportunity for the committee to look at the companies financial dealings. 6. Any other business. The Chairperson attends each Region - as each sub-committee is obliged to do - presenting a general written report and a financial report, including Profit & Loss Account and Balance Sheet. It is in this way that the fellowship is kept informed about the activities of it’s Service Office. So… that’s the ‘NA office’. But the best way to see what we do is to come to a committee meeting, maybe you’ll even join us. |