SELECT YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Thank you for choosing to become a Friend or Associate member 

Please read the new terms before purchasing your membership using the button below

The Trustees of the Friends of Arnold Circus (registered charity number 1114726), in accordance with section E paragraph 1 of our Constitution, have decided to require members to pay a membership fee.

Our Constitution defines members as:

a)    any person over the age of 18 years interested in furthering the works of the charity and who have paid any annual subscription laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee, and

b)    any body corporate or unincorporated association which is interested in furthering the Charity’s work and has paid an annual subscription (any such body being called in this constitution a ‘member organisation’) laid down from time to time by the Executive Committee.

There will be 2 individual levels of membership: 

  1. Friend Members: These are the legal members of the charity with full voting rights at charity general meetings.

  2. Associate Members: These are members who do NOT wish to be involved in the legal activities of the charity but still wish to be kept up to date with news and activities and to get access to special members-only events.

In addition, in line with our Constitution (section E paragraph 1b) there will be a Corporate Member level open to businesses or other organisations who wish to support the work of the charity.  These organisations will also have voting rights but only 1 per membership. The cost of corporate membership will vary according to the size of the organisation.

While on a day-to-day basis it is the trustees who control the operation of the charity, it is the members who elect those trustees.  In addition, members can:

  • remove and replace directors/trustees

  • amend constitutional documents

  • approve/reject transactions between the charity and trustees

  • control any remaining assets if the charity is wound up.

Most of this is done at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The two main reasons for this decision are:

  1. The need to ensure a basic level of regular support. The charity is entirely dependent on the generosity of its Friends and donors. We do not get any financial support from Tower Hamlets Council so need to continuously fundraise to ensure we can employ a gardener to look after the gardens.

  2. The need to emphasise the importance of being a charity member. Member participation in the legally mandated activities of the charity – such as attendance/participation in the AGM – is a vital mechanism to ensure the good governance of the charity. All the money we spend comes from the public which is why charity law requires members to have oversight of the accounts and to approve them.
    Unfortunately, in common with many other charities, getting a quorum (a legally defined proportion of members) to attend Annual General Meetings for this task has proved challenging. The Trustees believe that by giving members the opportunity to choose their level of membership involvement, the charity will have a core membership that has chosen to be actively involved in the running of the organisation, its direction, and its future.

We have set the fees at:

a)    Friend membership £10 per year.

b)    Associate membership £9 per year

However, if you are able to give more than the membership fee, please consider an extra gift to the charity to help us keep the gardens the beautiful, tranquil place we all love.

Gift Aid on membership fees

The HMRC Gift Aid scheme allows charities to claim extra money from HMRC on donations from taxpayers and this includes your membership fee. If you are a UK taxpayer, it would greatly assist us if you would complete the Gift Aid declaration.

If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to email us at helloarnold@gmail.com.  Please have a look at the FAQs below for further information.

FAQs

1)    Who can join (membership criteria)?

In order to be an individual member you will need to:

a.     be over 18 years old

b.     have paid your annual subscription within the charity’s financial year (running from April to March)

In order to be a corporate member you will need to:

a.     be a registered company, organisation or unincorporated association

b.     have paid have paid your annual subscription within the charity’s financial year (running from April to March.

2)    Why is there a membership fee?

We are entirely dependent on the generosity of our Friends and donors.  So the charity needs to ensure a basic level of regular support to enable us to employ a gardener to look after the gardens.  Having a basic level of income via our membership will allow us to plan our fundraising activities from a known starting point.


3)    How much is the membership fee?

Individual member fees are set at:

1.    Friend membership £10 per year.

2.    Associate membership £9 per year.


Corporate member fees vary according to the type and size of the organisation.

Membership fees are set by the trustees and can be varied from time to time as deemed necessary by giving appropriate notice to members.

However, to ensure cost is not a barrier to any local resident who wants to be a member, anyone in financial difficulty may be offered free or subsidised membership.  Please email the trustees at helloarnold@gmail.com for more information.

4)    What benefits come with membership?

The main benefits for Friend members are:

  • Full voting rights at the Annual General Meeting

  • Contributing to the work and future direction of the Friends

  • Invitations to special members-only events

  • Regular updates/newsletters

For Associate members the benefits are the same except they do not have voting rights and there is no formal contribution to the work/future direction of the charity. Corporate members have the same benefits as Friend members but voting rights are limited to one vote per corporate member organisation.

5)    What do charity members do?

Legally, the key members of a charity are our Friends members. They are the ones who elect the Trustees who are then tasked with the day-to-day running of the charity.
Member participation in the legally mandated activities of the charity – such as attendance/participation in the Annual General Meeting – is a vital mechanism to ensure the good governance of the charity.  All the money we spend comes from the public which is why charity law requires members to approve the charity’s accounts. 
Other key tasks for members include:

  • removing/replacing trustees

  • amending constitutional documents

  • approving/rejecting transactions between the charity and trustees

  • controlling any remaining assets if the charity is wound up

6)    How long does membership last and how is it renewed?

  • Each year members will receive a renewal reminder so please make sure our contact details for you are up to date.

  • Membership is annual and runs across the charity’s financial year from 1 April to 31 March.

7)    How and/or why would members be barred or removed?

All members, whatever their status, are required to “further the works of the charity” and to act in its best interests.  If a member is found not to be acting for the benefit of the charity through such actions as using the charity’s name to further a personal agenda or otherwise sullying our reputation, they can forfeit their membership and be barred from rejoining. However, before such a step is taken each individual (or the appointed representative of a member organisation) has the right to be heard by the Executive Committee.

8)    How are membership terms reviewed and amended?

Membership terms are reviewed from time to time by the Trustees.  However, members may call for a review at any time providing at least 10 members have requested it.

Purchase your Membership

(The password for the membership details page is in the email we sent you)