FAQ's

Our Essentials and Membership Plus packages are designed to help locally based independent community organisations to be strong and successful. We also offer our Network package for organisations, groups and individuals who can’t sign up for the full benefits offered through paid membership but want to keep in touch with what we do and support our campaigns.

Other than being based in England, there are no membership requirements or criteria around organisation or group size, time established or legal structure, but all members must agree with our Value Statement for community organisations and other organisations..

There are many other types of organisations who also add depth to our membership. They share our values and help create a powerful and influential network to help communities thrive. Councils, housing associations, funders, universities, regional organisations, health trusts, national charities and corporate businesses are just some of those already part of our network. They’re united not by where they’re from but by their beliefs. They believe in the power of community and are welcomed as Partner members. We also provide a fully bespoke service called Partner Plus for businesses and other organisations looking to connect with communities.

A community organisation is locally focused, accountable to the local community and independent. It’s an organisation that directly delivers services which have broad community impact.

If your organisation operates over a wider geographical area, such as regionally or nationally, is a non-independent branch of a parent organisation, or exists primarily to support other community organisations, then please choose our Partner or Partner Plus package.

To join, go to our become a member webpage or become a partner webpage Chose the right package, fill in the application form and agree with our Value Statement for community organisations or other organisations..

If you have selected our Network package, we’ll approve your free membership immediately.

For all other membership packages we’ll get back to you within two working days with your membership number and information on how to get involved. We will also send you an invoice and details of how to pay by Direct Debit.

All applications are made online – it’s quick and easy and should only take five minutes.

If you select our Network package, we’ll approve your free membership immediately.

For all other packages we’ll get back to you within two working days with a link to pay your membership fee online.

That depends on the membership package you choose:

If this really doesn’t work for you, get in touch with us at members@locality.org.uk and we’ll be happy to help.

Yes, and you’ll benefit from a 10% discount too! Just select the two-year membership box on our application form.

If you haven’t yet joined or want to refer someone to us call Kathryn on 07818 570192 or contact joinus@locality.org.uk

If you’re a Network, Essentials or Partner member, contact Laura in the membership team at members@locality.org.uk If you’re a Membership Plus or Partner Plus member Laura will also be happy to help, or you can contact your Locality Advisor.

All members can join the Membership Facebook Group. Just send us a request and we’ll check you’re a member and approve you. And it’s not limited to you – any interested member of your staff team or Board is welcome! Like any group it works best if you use it actively, so be sure to ask questions and share resources – other members will be happy to help.

The Locality member advice service is available to all Essentials, Membership Plus and Partner members. If you have a question or query you can contact us by phone during office hours on 0207 336 9494 or by email at members@locality.org.uk You can ask for help finding resources or a fellow member to talk to about a specific issue, get details of Locality events or query any aspect of your membership package.

If you need more in-depth help, you’ll be referred to one of our regional or thematic advisors who’ll arrange an introductory chat with you.

If you have Essentials, Membership Plus or Partner or Partner Plus membership you can bring your colleagues to any member event or meeting, including those for specialist groups. If you’re a Network member you’re welcome to buy tickets for member events - just book and pay for the number of places you need – but you’ll need to upgrade your membership if you’d like to join a specialist group.

We currently run a number of specialist groups for organisations choosing our Essentials, Membership Plus and Partner packages Get in touch at members@locality.org.uk if you’d like to learn more and let us know if there’s a group you’d like to set up. We’ll always try to help!

If you choose our Membership Plus package, we’ll ask a little more about your organisation so we can match you to the most appropriate member of our specialist team. They’ll then be your first port of call if you need help. If you’re a Partner Plus member you’ll have a Relationship Manager to guide you.

If you’re a community organisation you can upgrade your membership once within each membership year.
Any remaining annual fees paid will be pro-rated and credited against the annual fee for the new package selected. The new package will commence from the first day of the following month.

Please note, the hands-on crisis support offered through Lifeboat in the Essentials and Membership Plus packages is only available once you have been a paying member for a minimum of twelve consecutive months.

We want to make sure the support we provide is flexible, as we know your needs might change. You can buy some benefits not available in your package as and when you need them. Details are on our membership for community organisations and membership for other organisations webpages. In some cases, you might find it better value to upgrade to a package that includes the benefits you need.

All members can access a ‘hidden’ area of our website via the log in button in the top right-hand corner of the site. To register, you’ll need your membership number (found in your welcome email and on your monthly edition of Member Only Mail) and the email address you joined with. Once you’ve logged in you can create a profile and tell other members your areas of interest and expertise. You’ll also be able to access contact details for other members, download archived updates and materials and apply for specific bursaries and grants, where applicable. Look out for announcements as we add new features to this part of the website.

Note: Each member organisation has just one log in to the members only section. So be sure to share the log in details with the rest of your organisation so they can use it too.

Peer learning grants are a fantastic benefit available as part of the Essentials and Membership Plus packages. We want to help you “look up and look out” to identify new opportunities and solutions to tricky issues. Let us know what you’d like to learn or discuss, and we’ll match you to people and organisations who can help, based on experience, background and interest.

We are able to offer up to £500 as a contribution to towards time you spend learning from another member and time they spend helping you. We can also help you set up an ongoing learning group or host a single meeting on an issue of interest to you and other members.

We send all members invitations to support or take part in our national campaigns. From time to time we’ll also invite selected members to take part in responses to consultations. Got a policy related question, or want to get involved in a campaign? You can get in touch with the Policy Team directly at policy@locality.org.uk

Our Policy Officer, Leon Osbourne, also posts weekly bitesize policy updates in our Facebook Group on a Friday. You can find updates from the six most recent weeks in the members-only section of the Locality website.

Our membership packages cover your whole organisation and your colleagues are welcome to join our mailing list.

Yes, just log in to the members-only section of the Locality website You’ll find archived newsletters, policy updates and information from member-only events.

If you’ve chosen our Essentials or Membership Plus package you have AGM voting rights (one member, one vote) and can self-nominate to stand for the Locality Board when vacancies arise. Members who have selected other packages are unable to vote or stand.