Communities 1st is a membership organisation and members must pay an annual fee to belong.
Membership Application Process
Organisations and individuals applying for membership must complete the relevant Membership Application Form and pay the required Membership Fee. Organisations are also asked to provide information on their activities or services and a copy of their governing document for information.
Organisations must be voluntary bodies - i.e. independent, self-governing bodies of people who have joined together voluntarily to take action for the benefit of the community, and established otherwise than for financial gain.
Although organisations accepted into membership are registered charities, or Community Interest Companies, this is not an absolute condition; but, if the organisation is not a registered charity or a Community Interest Company, its aims, objects and methods of working should be stated in a document that is available for public inspection.
The organisation should be located in the United Kingdom.
In considering applications regard will be had to the following factors:
- the length of time the organisation has been functioning and its financial situation. Membership will generally be open to organisations which are properly constituted or working towards being properly constituted, and whose existence is not time limited for a particular purpose
- the extent to which the organisation provides a public benefit
- the extent to which the organisation is open to all members of the community with interests relevant to the organisation's publicly stated aims
- that a stated policy is in existence on equal opportunity values or there is a commitment to improved practice in this area; and
- organisations undertaking party political activity will not be eligible.
Membership is subject to confirmation by the Communities 1st Management Committee and acceptance of our equal opportunities policy.
Communities 1st reserves the right to refuse membership to any organisation it believes to be ineligible. The decision of the Trustees will be final.
Benefits
Members of Communities 1st will be able to access a range of services and benefits, each of which may have more specific terms and conditions separately. Member benefits are only accessible if membership is active. Member benefits change from time to time without prior notice.
Responsibilities of Membership
Members’ responsibilities are to:
- meet the membership criteria
- pay the annual Membership fee and any other fees charged for services
- complete the annual user survey
- complete the annual database pro-forma and keep Communities 1st informed of changes
- As a charitable company limited by guarantee Members’ liability for any debts the organisation may have, if it ceases to exist, shall not exceed £1.
Membership Renewal
Membership runs from the 1 May to the 30 April each year. Organisations taking out membership any time during January to March will have their membership extended to 30 April of the following year.
Each March Members will receive the annual membership mailing, which will include a covering message and links to the following:
- a Directory Update Form
- a User Survey
- the Membership Renewal Form
Organisations not in membership will also receive the annual membership mailing with an invitation to take out membership of Communities 1st (and a membership Application Form).
Renewal of subscriptions within the first three months
Membership may be renewed without loss of continuity or incurring a penalty within a period of three months (the ‘grace period’) after a subscription falls due.
Membership benefits will continue within this period.
Membership will lapse unpaid if the total subscription due has not been received in full by 30th June.
Reinstatement because of late payment
Membership may be reinstated without loss of continuity to anyone who pays the outstanding subscription pf the previous year and any other arrears in full during the current subscription year.
Rates for Membership Subscriptions are reviewed annually and the full rates for 2019-20 remain the same as 2018-19 and are as follows:
Charities and Constituted Groups
Annual income less than £20,000 £30
Annual income more than £20,000 £60
Non-member fee for advertising £15
CICs, Social Enterprises & Statutory Orgs
Within two years of operating £30
Annual turnover less than £20,000 £60
Annual turnover over £20,000 £100
Payment can be made by cash, credit card, cheque, BACS or online payment.
Methods of Payment
Membership may be paid by a credit or debit card by submitting details on the Subscription Renewal Form or online at (TBC). Communities 1st uses the payment processing and validating service provided by Stripe, so the credit or debit card used must be acceptable to this service. Communities 1st can accept no responsibility for any of the actions of Stripe.
If membership payment remains outstanding we will notify you by telephone, email or letter.
Termination of Membership
Membership is terminated if:
- the Member fails to renew their membership
- the organisation, ceases to exist
- the Member resigns by giving written notice to Communities 1st
- any sum due from the Member to Communities 1st is not paid in full within three months of it falling due;
- the Member is removed from membership by a resolution of the trustees that it is in the best interests of Communities 1st that membership is terminated.
By applying for membership of Communities 1st, each member agrees that Communities 1st may use their data for the following purposes:
- Communities 1st may use a member’s contact details to send promotional information relating to member benefits and potentially relevant opportunities
- Communities 1st may send information and briefing material about potentially relevant sector issues
- Communities 1st may provide a member’s contact details (including name, job title, and organisation) to other members who are expected to attend or participate in events and services which the member is expected to attend/participate in.
- Communities 1st may store a member’s details electronically in order to process applications, invoices and otherwise administer membership services
- Except in connection with the activities described above or where required to do so by law, we will not share your data with third parties without your permission.
Intellectual Property Rights
Copyright and all intellectual property rights in all material supplied by Communities 1st to its members rests with Communities 1st to the fullest extent possible.
Members may not reproduce, sell, hire or copy Communities 1st materials without consent.
Limitation of Liability
To the extent permitted by law, Communities 1st will not be liable by reason of breach of contract, negligence or otherwise for any loss or consequential loss occasioned to any person acting omitting to act or refraining from acting in reliance upon materials, information or opinion supplied by Communities 1st. Consequential loss includes, but is not limited to, any loss of profits or anticipated profits, damage to reputation or goodwill, loss of business or anticipated business, damages, costs, expenses incurred or payable to any third party or any other indirect or consequential losses.
Force Majeure
Communities 1st shall not be liable for any delays or failures in performance or breach of contract due to events or circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
Changes to Terms and Conditions
Communities 1st reserves the right to change or update the terms and conditions without prior notice.
Communities 1st also offers business and individual memberships.