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Membership

 

Membership is FREE and we have over 600 members, including community and voluntary organisations across Rhondda Cynon Taf and beyond. The more we work together, the stronger we all become.

Become a member

Benefits of membership

  • free, confidential, ongoing, face-to-face or online information, advice and training
  • support from a peer mentor
  • support with setting up a new activity, group or organisation
  • assistance identifying what is important
  • help connecting you to others who can support you
  • developing strategic plans
  • reporting to the board
  • committee/trustee roles
  • managing meetings
  • writing policies and procedures
  • Access to small grants.
  • Support with:
    • funding applications.
    • monitoring and evaluation to measure your impact.
    • budgeting.
  • Free funding searches.
  • Assistance recruiting and managing your volunteers.
  • Guidance with volunteer policies.
  • Support with using Volunteering Wales and Connect RCT to find volunteers.
  • Access to our Volunteering Network. 

Charity Job Finder advertises positions to attract talented and ambitious individuals to work in the charity and not-for-profit sectors.

As an Interlink RCT member you can access a free job advert worth £165 on Charity Job Finder and a 10% discount on all purchases. You will also be able to access free advice from third-sector professionals, from structure for job descriptions and personal specifications to reviewing the advert for you before it goes live.

More information can be found here.

  • Influence decision-makers that affect you such as the local authority, health board and strategic partnerships. 
  • Get your voice heard on relevant policies, decisions and funding. 
  • Join our networks to find out what’s happening, share experiences and learn from each other.
  • Gain individuals, groups and organisations as contacts.
  • Receive an incredible a range of up to date information, sent to anyone in your group or organisation.
  • Promote what you do on Connect RCT, with scope for occasional spotlights in our bulletins and on our social media. 
  • Have a permanent online presence on the Connect RCT website.
  • Have your say in what we do in the future.
  • Apply to join our board of trustees. 

Interlink RCT Membership Criteria

 

If you wish to join, Interlink can support you with any policy or rule changes needed to meet the requirements. You will need to meet these requirements before your application is sent to trustees for approval. To become a member of Interlink, you must be a not for profit organisation operating in RCT and must have:

 

A governing document, such as a constitution, which clearly states:

  • The name and purpose of the organisation. 
  • How the organisation is run (e.g., how people become members, how the committee operates, how meetings are held). 

A bank account, whichmust:

  • Be in the organisation’s name exactly as it appears in the governing document 
  • Have at least two unrelated (please see definition below) authorised signatories. 

A Committee or Board, with at least three unrelated committee members

  • Related people cannot form a majority on the Committee or Board or in any decision made by the Committee or Board.  

A finance policy that: 

  • Requires authorisation of financial transactions by at least two unrelated authorised signatories. 

If a Community Interest Company (CIC),you must be a Schedule 2 CIC with:

  • No private dividends, you must be restricted to paying dividends only to other asset-locked bodies such as charities or other CICs.
     

If a Company or CIC, you must not have a Person with Significant Control(PSC), a PSC (please visit people-with-significant-control) is anyone who: 

  • has more than 25% shares or voting rights in your company 
  • can appoint or remove a majority of directors 
  • can influence or control your company or trust 

 

Definition of related people / close relative / family member: 

  • Direct family members: Parents, children, siblings, grandparents, or grandchildren. 
  • Partners: Spouses, civil partners, or anyone living together as if they were married or in a civil partnership. 
  • In-laws/Step-relations: Relatives by marriage (e.g., son-in-law) or stepfamily members (e.g., stepchildren). 
  • Housemates: Any persons living at the same address, regardless of biological relation. 

 

Actionable steps for your groups 

 

  1. Update Governing Documents: Groups should explicitly state in their constitution or rules and finance policy that signatories must be unrelated.  
  2. Governance Standards: Have at least three unrelated committee members, ensure  unrelated people form a majority on any committee, at any meeting and on any decision. 
  3. Bank Verification: Groups should avoid having authorised signatories that are related. Specific bank’s rules for clubs and societies can formally exclude spouses and close relatives from acting as co-signatories. 
  4. Conflict of Interest Policy: Maintain a register of interests to document any related interests between committee / board members.  
  5. Guidance: