Become a GMLC member

What is a ‘member’ of GMLC?

When GMLC began as a campaign for a new Law Centre, members were the people who drove the effort to set up the Law Centre. Without our membership, we wouldn’t exist.

Now we are a fully-fledged Law Centre with a staff team and premises, members play a slightly different role: they contribute regular donations, support our campaigning work, and get a say in the direction of the Law Centre through votes at our AGMs.

By donating a regular sum to the organisation, members help us to survive in the increasingly underfunded free legal and advice sector. Members’ donations create an independent income that helps us plan our annual activities separate from legal aid and grant income, which can vary year-on-year.

To say thanks to our members for their support, we now also give members priority tickets to our events, and reduced cost entry to our fundraising events.

In the past, these events have included film screenings with Directors, ceilidhs, access to justice discussions and pub quizzes. We also hope to hold prize draws for members in future.

Yearly membership contribution is a minimum of £5 unwaged and £20 waged. Many members set up a monthly standing order, which covers the yearly fee plus a little (or a lot) extra. The extra amount is considered a donation and if you are UK tax payer and tick the Gift Aid box, your support is increased by 25p for every £1 you give.

When you sign up, our management committee will confirm the membership, and you will:

• Receive our regular newsletter, including information about the many ways you can get involved with GMLC;
• Receive details of our upcoming events early, and with reduced ticket prices where the event has an entrance fee;
• Vote at our Annual General Meeting (AGM);
• Be entered into any prize draws we may hold.

As a member you agree to comply with the Constitution and Code of Conduct of GMLC, which will be sent to you.

In the form below we ask you to name any skills you could bring to GMLC. Please consider giving your time and expertise. Any help is greatly appreciated.

How do I become a member?

1. Fill in our online form here.

2. Set up your payment method through the Donate link – either on the online membership form, or using the button on the right of this page. You can set up a one-off or monthly recurring payment here using a PayPal account or a credit or debit card. The minimum membership contribution is £5 a year.

3. If you can’t set up payments online, set up your membership payment(s) in one of the following ways:

• Arrange a standing order with your bank for a monthly contribution to GMLC to be paid to: Greater Manchester Law Centre, account number 55658268, sort code 30-91-92. If you choose this method, please ensure you include your name as a reference.
• Fill in a paper Standing Order form here and send it in to GMLC at 667/ 669 Stockport Road, Manchester, M12 4QE or scan it to development@gmlaw.org.uk.
• Enclose a cheque for your yearly membership fee (£5 unwaged, £20+ waged), payable to Greater Manchester Law Centre, and send it to: Finance Officer, Greater Manchester Law Centre, 669 Stockport Road, Manchester, M12 4QE.

What happens once I have filled in the form and started making payments?

You should receive an acknowledgement once we have received your membership form. If we have any questions before we can confirm your membership, we will get in touch with you, usually by email. All memberships are passed through the management committee. Once confirmed, you will start to receive membership correspondence and get a vote at our AGMs.

If you are having any difficulties with the above forms or payment instructions, please feel free to email development@gmlaw.org.uk and we will try to help.