The Constitution

"We, members of Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym, those who have been and will be, do hereby adopt, enact, and give to ourselves this Constitution."

1. Name of the Society

1.1. The Society shall be known as Cymdeithas Dafydd ap Gwilym (hereinafter referred to as “the Society”).

1.2. The Society was founded in 1886 and is named after the medieval Welsh poet Dafydd ap Gwilym.

1.3. The Society is affiliated with the University of Oxford.

1.4. Although the Society may colloquially be referred to as “Y Dafydd”, “Cymdeithas Dafydd ap”, or “y Gymdeithas”, the use of “Oxford University Welsh Society” (or its Welsh equivalent) is strongly discouraged.

1.5. It was formerly traditional for each meeting to begin with a reading from the works of Dafydd ap Gwilym by the Chaplain, followed by discussion, though this practice is no longer mandatory.

2. Language of the Society

2.1. Welsh shall be the official language of the Society.

2.2. All Committee meetings shall be conducted through the medium of Welsh, and therefore all Committee Members must be proficient Welsh speakers.

2.3. Where events and meetings are open to non-Welsh speakers, such events shall be conducted bilingually.

2.4. In all bilingual communication, whether spoken, written, or digital, the Welsh language shall precede the English language.

3. Aims and Objectives

3.1. The aims of the Society are to:

• Provide a forum and community for Welsh students, staff, alumni, and friends of Wales at the University of Oxford.
• Promote the Welsh language, Welsh culture, and Welsh identity within the University and beyond.
• Organise regular social, cultural, academic, and networking events.
• Preserve and celebrate the traditions and history of the Society.
• Promote knowledge sharing, inclusivity, and community engagement.

3.2. The Society recognises the importance of promoting Wales, Welshness, and the Welsh language within an environment where minority languages and cultures may often be underrepresented.

4. Membership

4.1. Membership shall be open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Oxford.

4.2. The Society may also extend membership privileges to staff, alumni, and other individuals.

4.3. All members of the Society shall be considered equal, provided that they make a sincere effort to use the Welsh language and respect the long history and traditions upon which the Society is founded.

4.4. The Society welcomes members of all backgrounds regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, or nationality.

4.5. Members may be required to pay a one-off membership fee as determined by the Committee and approved at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

4.6. All members shall be entitled to:

• Attend Society events and meetings;
• Vote in Society elections and constitutional amendments;
• Stand for elected positions where eligible; and
• Benefit from Society activities and privileges.

5. Management Committee

5.1. The business of the Society shall be managed by a Committee consisting of elected Office Bearers.

5.2. The President of the Society shall be known as the Caplan.

5.3. The mandatory core Executive Officers shall be:

• Caplan (President): Oversees the general running of the Society and chairs meetings.
• Treasurer: Manages the Society’s finances, budget, and bank accounts.
• Secretary: Maintains membership lists and handles official correspondence.

5.4. The Society may also elect:

• Up to two Co‑Caplans;
• Social Secretaries;
• Welfare Officers;
• Cultural Officers; and
• Any other officers deemed necessary by the Society.

5.5. All Committee Members must be fully matriculated students of the University of Oxford.

5.6. Committee elections shall be held annually during Trinity Term at the Annual General Meeting.

5.7. Committee positions and responsibilities may vary from year to year according to the needs of the Society.

5.8. All Committee Members are expected to carry out their duties diligently and respectfully in service of the Society, Wales, Welsh culture, and the Welsh language.

6. Events and Traditions

6.1. In addition to regular weekly events, the Society shall organise an annual Eisteddfod.

6.2. Invitations may be extended to schools across Wales to compete in a variety of competitions associated with the Eisteddfod.

6.3. The winner of the principal competition may be invited to visit the Society during the Eisteddfod and may be ceremonially chaired in accordance with tradition.

6.4. Members of the Committee shall conduct Society traditions respectfully and in a manner that honours the heritage of the Society.

6.5. The Society shall conclude meetings and events with the singing of the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

7. Finance

7.1. The Society shall be non-profit making. All funds raised must be used solely for carrying out the aims and objectives of the Society.

7.2. The Treasurer shall maintain a dedicated bank account in the name of the Society.

7.3. The Treasurer is authorised to open and manage a PayPal Business account, linked directly to the Society’s official bank account, for the purposes of processing membership fees, ticket sales, and other Society transactions.

7.4. The financial year of the Society shall run from 1 August to 31 July unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

7.5. The Treasurer shall provide a financial report at the Annual General Meeting.

8. Meetings

8.1. The Society shall hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) once per academic year.

8.2. The AGM shall:

• Receive reports from Committee Members;
• Approve the Society’s accounts;
• Elect the incoming Committee; and
• Consider constitutional amendments.

8.3. An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be called by the Committee or upon the written request of a reasonable number of members as determined by the Committee.

9. Constitutional Amendments

9.1. This Constitution may only be amended by a vote of the members of the Society at an AGM or EGM.

9.2. Notice of proposed amendments must be circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

9.3. Any amendment shall require a majority vote of those present and eligible to vote.

9.4. Neither article 10 nor article 9.4 may be amended.

10. Dissolution

10.1. The Society cannot be dissolved.

11. Adoption of the Constitution

11.1. This Constitution was adopted at the Annual General Meeting held on:

Date: 20/05/26

Caplan / President: David Ingham

Treasurer: Megan Evans

Secretary: Adam Griffiths