Policy on membership

1. The rules for membership of Community Base are governed by Community Base's articles of association and this policy.
2. Membership of Community Base is open to all community and voluntary groups licencing space at Community Base, such membership lapsing when a group ceases to licence space at Community Base.
3. To ensure Community Base's membership includes community and voluntary groups that are not Community Base licencees, and community groups that do not employ staff or rent office space, membership of Community Base is also open to other community and voluntary groups, excluding political parties, using Community Base's services, as decided by the board of trustees.
4. In order to become a member of Community Base a group must complete an application for membership of Community Base form and have it signed by its chairperson or most senior staff member working at Community Base (in the case of a licencee) or a member of the group known to Community Base (in the case of a community or voluntary group that is not a licencee).
5. A group may only become a member of Community Base by having its membership approved by a meeting of the Community Base board of trustees, such membership being indicated by the member being listed on Community Base's register of members.

6. All members of Community Base agree to

   • accept Community Base's core values
   • act in the interest of Community Base rather than in their own interest when participating in Community Base's general meetings and polls
   • abide by decisions that are taken fairly and within the rules of Community Base
   • their membership ceasing when they cease to licence space at Community Base or, if a non-licencee, use Community Base's services
   • be listed on Community Base's register of members.

7. All members of Community Base have the right to

   • be given notice of, and send two representatives to, Community Base's general meetings
   • participate in Community Base's general meetings and polls in accordance with Community Base's articles of association
   • along with other members, appoint Community Base's auditors and trustees
   • receive copies of Community Base's newsletters and development plans.
8. The Community Base board may withdraw membership from an organisation under article 2 of the articles of association. If the board does so, the board will give the member the reason or reasons for doing so and the member will have the right within 15 working days of the board doing so to appeal in writing against the ending of its membership to a committee of two trustees, such an appeal to be decided within 15 working days of the appeal being lodged with the Community Base director.
9. An organisation's membership or non-membership of Community Base will not affect its relationship with Community Base as a licencee or service user.
10. This policy will be reviewed by the board of trustees at least every calendar year.