Forum membership criteria

All member organisations will be expected to meet the criteria list below and be able to supply evidence that they do so. (Failure to comply with any of these criteria may result in membership being refused, suspended or withdrawn by the Forum’s board of directors).

1. Membership is only available to voluntary sector organisations and charities providing mental health services
2. Membership is only open to not-for-profit organisations that have charitable status
3. Provision of health and social care services to people with mental health needs must be a key strategic objective of any member organisation
4. Members must be committed to a recovery-based approach to service delivery
5. Members must be able to demonstrate formal processes for involving service users in developing and monitoring services
6. Members must be able to demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity within their organisation
7. Members must be willing to demonstrate a commitment to any code of practice and compliance with quality standards
8. Members must be committed to working in partnership to further the objectives of the Forum, in the best interests of service users
9. Members must pay the relevant annual charge for membership that is set and will be reviewed annually

There are two categories of Forum membership:

• Full membership is open to voluntary sector organisations that directly deliver services
• Affiliate membership is open to regional umbrella bodies for voluntary sector organisations directly deliver services

To join the Forum you will need to fill in your completed full or affiliate membership application form and return it by email or post. Applicants will need to supply:

• A copy of your organisation's most recently-filed annual report and accounts
• Evidence that your organisation meets the membership criteria 1-3
• Evidence that your organisation has in place already or is actively developing the policies and practice to meet the membership criteria 4-9

Each organisation joining the Forum will need to pay an annual membership fee. The support of our members through paying these annual fees will be vital to ensuring the future development of the Mental Health Providers Forum.

Membership fees are based on your organisation's annual turnover:
(Membership fees for 2008 excl. of vat)

• Over £50 million turnover: yearly fee at £10,736.93
• £25 million to £50 million turnover: yearly fee at £8,052.70
• £5 million to £25 million turnover: yearly fee at £4,294.77
• £1 million to £5 million turnover: yearly fee at £1,610.54
• £750,000 to £1 million turnover: yearly fee at £536.85
• less than £750,000 turnover: yearly fee at £408.00
• Affiliate membership: £52.02