How to join

Please contact the Shared Learning Group via the website if you are interested in joining or see our Need help with Involvement? page.

There are four types of membership available:

Full membership: Shared Learning Group on Involvement only

Full membership is open to medium or large national voluntary organisations (we define these as organisations which employ more than 15 staff and have an annual income of £1 million or more) with an interest in health or social care.  The nominated member (or their representative) is invited to 6 meetings per year, which are held in central London and last for about 4 hours.  At meetings, members can raise issues of concern / interest to them. They also discuss topics which have previously been identified by members as a priority.  Full members are able to access a password protected area of our website. This contains documents that members wish to share only with other members. They also have access to online discussion threads and contact details of other Shared Learning Group members. They have access to training events organised by the Shared Learning Group. They can use our impact assessment framework  and our e-learning template to train staff about involvement. They are also asked to sign up to our terms of reference.

The cost of full membership is currently £500 per year – this covers membership of the Shared Learning Group on Involvement only.

Full membership: Shared Learning Group on Involvement and Charities Research Involvement Group

Organisations can also apply to join the Shared Learning Group on Involvement and our sister group, the Charities Research Involvement Group. In addition to the above benefits, members are invited to attend four meetings of the Charities Research Involvement Group per year. They can use the template we have developed to train researchers about involvement. They also have access to online discussion threads and contact details of other CRIG members.

The cost of membership of both Groups is £600 per year.

Associate membership

Associate membership is available to small organisations at national, regional or local level that have an interest in service user / carer involvement.  Associate members are invited to come to at least one Shared Learning Group meeting of their choice every year.   Associate members are able to access a password protected area of our website. This contains documents that members wish to share only with other members. They also have access to online discussion threads and contact details of other Shared Learning Group members. They have access to training events organised by the Shared Learning Group, and are eligible to join our Charities Research Involvement Group. They are also asked to sign up to our terms of reference.

The cost of associate membership is currently £150 per year.  Associate membership is only open to small voluntary organisations (i.e. organisations which employ fewer than 15 staff and have an annual income of less than £1 million).

Charities Research Involvement Group membership only

Voluntary organisations can also apply to join our Charities Research Involvement Group only, if their particular interest is involvement in research. CRIG members are invited to attend four meetings of the Group per year. They have access to the password protected area of our website. They can use the template we have developed to train researchers about involvement. They also have access to online discussion threads and contact details of other CRIG members.

Membership of the Charities Research Involvement Group only costs £280 per year.

Fees are paid annually – invoices are usually issued in April. New members are charged pro rata, depending on when they join.