Thank you for your interest in becoming a Member of Guild Care. We welcome anyone living in our community to become a Member and are especially keen for more people who use our services, are relatives of a service user, volunteer with us, or are unpaid carers to join us.

If you have any questions, or would like to talk to someone informally about the role, please call Nicola Sampson on 01903 863111 or email [email protected] and she can arrange an informal discussion.

What do Guild Care Members have to do?

Guild Care Members have some specific responsibilities:

• They are expected, if possible, to attend Guild Care's Annual General Meeting (AGM). This usually takes place in September.
• Members are responsible for electing Trustees at the AGM.
• Members also vote at the AGM to approve the statutory accounts, approve the appointment of auditors for the coming year, and any other motions brought to the meeting.

Championing Guild Care in the community

Guild Care hopes that our Members will be people who wish to champion the charity in the local community. There are many ways in which you can do this, including:

• Helping to raise awareness of Guild Care and its services and activities to individuals and other organisations that you are involved with, such as churches, choirs, social and community groups, as well as relevant professional networks and contacts (if you judge this to be appropriate).
• Attending and taking part in fundraising activities in aid of Guild Care and/or arranging your own.
• Providing input and advice where appropriate, or being a ‘sounding board’ where your particular expertise is required. For example, one Member who is a solicitor helped us plan an Open Evening at the Guild Care Centre to promote gifts in Wills.

There may be other ways that you can help raise Guild Care’s profile. Even just telling your family, friends and other people you know all about Guild Care and the work that we do is very valuable.

Your feedback and impressions of Guild Care services, and how they could be developed and improved further, are also extremely useful.

How will Guild Care keep Members informed?

All Guild Care members will get:

• An invitation to the AGM and copy of the Annual Review each year.
• Invitations from the Chief Executive and other senior managers to attend Guild Care events.
• The chance to meet informally with Guild Care Trustees and Senior Managers, at least once per year (in addition to the AGM).
• Regular updates with our newsletter.
• Additional updates from the Chief Executive, to ensure Members are kept up-to-date with developments at Guild Care.
• The opportunity to visit all Guild Care services, to find out more about what they do and how they work.

What else do I need to know?

Membership is free and Members are appointed by the Board of Trustees. Membership is for a period of three years and this can be renewed. Members have limited liability – they are required to pay £10 in the unlikely event that the charity goes into liquidation.

What should I do next?

If you would like to become a Guild Care Member, please write a brief letter to Suzanne Millard, Guild Care Chief Executive, Methold House, North Street, Worthing, BN11 1DU, with the following:

• Your name, address and contact details.
• Why you are interested in becoming a Guild Care Member.
• Your current and previous contact with Guild Care.
• Any particular skills or experience that you could offer Guild Care.