Membership

Loconomy Membership - Overview

Loconomy is a Community Benefit Society and as such, a membership and not-for-profit organisation that exists to deliver its mission and values and is open to individuals or organisations. Members will have the opportunity to contribute to shaping social justice by building strong local economies.

Individuals

Open to any individual 16+

Simple application process

  • Conversation with Board members

  • Reason for application

  • Explore interest and experience in community economic development

  • Statement of support of Loconomy’s Mission, Strategic Aims and Values

Organisations

Open to constituted not-for-profit organisations and public sector institutions

  • Of particular interest to organisations involved in community economic development, community wealth building and social economy innovation

  • Organisations are asked to nominate an individual as their representative

Why become a member?

As a Loconomy member you will: 

  • Be part of a local anchor organisation advocating for the wider community and play an active role in our mission for building strong local economies and tackling social and economic inequalities. 

  • Receive access to information on the conduct of business and governance.  

  • Have a voice in Loconomy by attending and participating at Annual General Meetings voting on resolutions; and electing the Non-Executive Directors or wider stakeholder and partner meetings.  

  • Have one share in the Society. 

  • Be part of a local organisation that: 

  • Has a clear mission and set of practices and methods in the field of community economic development that contributes to tackling disadvantage and inequalities.

  • Plays a bridging role connecting individual and organisational members with public and private institutions who play a role in economic growth.

  • Committed to working in partnership with other like-minded organisations and individuals and collaborate proactively with others in pursuit of its mission.

  • Advocates and provides support for local community organisations to play a part in local economic development and access funding.

  • Maximises opportunities to work in community consortia and networks on place-based community economic development and inclusive growth programmes; and connects local community organisations to wider networks that are working on social justice.

We will develop opportunities for our members to:

  • To learn, grow and develop as a volunteers or associates.

  • Access training and development on a range of methodologies and approaches to locality working - neighbourhood management, neighbourhood planning; and

  • Access training and development on community research and collaborative learning

We will keep our members up to date on:

  • Funding opportunities and innovation

  • Different governance and business models that support local delivery and place making.

  • Policy development and best practice in relation to community economic development

Need more information about our membership options?

Becoming a Loconomy Member Q&A

  • We are a Community Benefit Society that seeks to serve the broad interests of the communities we work with.

  • As a membership body we are expected by our Regulator (Financial Conduct Authority) to run our affairs democratically based on ‘one-member-one vote’.

  • You can become a member either as an individual or as an organisation.

  • Members need to abide to our Society Rules (click to download PDF) and support our stated Mission, Strategic Aims, and Values.

  • To join just complete our online application form and confirm that you agree with our Mission, Strategic Aims, and Values. The application form asks about the individual’s current involvement in community economic development and their reasons for applying to become a Loconomy Member.

  • Once we have received your application, we will arrange a meeting to discuss this with two of our Board members. This meeting will be an opportunity for the Loconomy Board Members to check the eligibility of the applicant and to clarify the benefits of membership. For the applicant it will be an opportunity to find out more about Loconomy, its mission and values, its current programmes and projects, and its future plans. It will also be an opportunity to discuss the contribution the applicant can make to Loconomy and what they can potentially gain through their membership. Following this meeting a resolution will be present to the Loconomy Board as to whether to accept or reject the application.

  • Any individual who is 16 years of age or older can apply to become a member.

Our Partners

Loconomy has earned the trust of industry leaders through our impactful projects and sustainable initiatives.

The I Can approach created a 25% increase in NHS recruitment from the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the city. There were similar increases with applicants from BAME communities and applicants with a self-reported disability.

Conrad Parke
Birmingham Anchor Network