Membership Terms and Conditions
As a member of Sheffield Social Enterprise Network (SSEN), you agree to these terms and conditions:
Membership
The Members of SSEN are those individuals or organisations who have applied to become members and paid for the relevant membership.
Membership is open to individuals, companies and other organisations working in or with the social enterprise sector.
Membership application is completed online via our website. For those requiring a hard copy of the application form, this can be requested via the details in the footer of these terms.
Members do not have to be based in the Sheffield Region in order to become a member.
Your membership is active as soon as payment is processed for that period of membership.
The membership is subject to SSEN Board approval and SSEN reserves the right to refuse membership without disclosing a reason. This should only be done in line with the Articles of Association and in the best interests of Sheffield Social Enterprise Network. Such decisions should be documented for transparency.
The membership of any member may be terminated for good reason by the Board of Directors, provided that the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Board of Directors, accompanied by a representative before a final decision is made.
In the case of a dispute over an application for membership, the Board of Directors shall arbitrate. The decision of the Board of Directors is final.
Membership is subject to the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Sheffield Social Enterprise Network CIC (available on request). In the event of a conflict between these terms and conditions and the Articles of Association, the Articles shall prevail.
Membership packages may vary according to the membership tier held.
Voting Rights
Members have the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Where voting is necessary, each member receives one voting right per decision needed to be taken.
Members receive voting rights for the appointment of Directors at the AGM. Where an AGM is not scheduled within the next three months of a Directors Appointment, members will be given a period of notice of the appointment (14 days). During this period Members may raise a cause for concern around the appointment. Should a Member raise a cause for concern, a Members General Meeting will be called and members will vote for the appointment of the individual as per the Articles of Association (23.2 a). Alternatively, SSEN may call an online vote if deemed necessary.
In the event of an organisational membership, where more than one staff is representing the organisation for the membership, the organisation member shall only receive one collective vote, which must be decided amongst the organisational representatives.
Use of the SSEN Brand
As a Member, SSEN grants you the right to use the SSEN Membership badge to tell others that you are a member of SSEN.
You may only use the SSEN Membership Badge and Brand in accordance with these terms and conditions.
You must not modify the dimensions or design of the SSEN Membership Badge and Brand in any way.
You recognise that SSEN owns the SSEN brand, including any goodwill and other rights associated with them. You may not permit or sublicense anyone else to use the SSEN brand.
If your membership ceases or is suspended, you must immediately cease use of the SSEN Membership Badge and any other SSEN branding connected with your membership.
SSEN holds all Intellectual Property Rights to any Membership Badges and the wider SSEN brand.
General
SSEN commits to informing and keeping members up to date with the latest issues and events impacting the Local (and sometimes National) Social Enterprise Sector. This may be done through, but not limited to, events, newsletter, emails, phone calls, website, members areas, social media and one-to-one meetings
SSEN Membership benefits may be subject to change without notice and are subject to terms and conditions available from SSEN. We reserve the right to change the benefits that apply to the various levels at any time and without prior notice.
SSEN shall hold no liability for any losses suffered by a Member as a result of using services offered by a fellow Member, or Partner offering a discount as a part of the Member benefits. SSEN shall have no responsibility for advice given or services provided by its third party service providers or partners even though such providers may have been introduced to the Member by SSEN.
SSEN reserves the right to change external providers without prior notice and its decision on the nature and extent of services provided is final.
SSEN reserves the right to change, adapt or vary these terms and conditions.
Payment/Fees
Membership fees are payable in advance and can be paid on an annual or monthly basis. Membership will commence from the date the first payment is received.
Membership will automatically be invoiced and payment taken for the next membership period (one or twelve months) as each term expires.
Membership can be cancelled at the point of any membership period just before it is due for renewal. Where cancellation happens part way through a membership period, a refund for the remainder of the period will not be given.
As soon as payment is processed, your membership and all of its services are instantly considered ‘active’.
The SSEN Membership fee is non-refundable and membership is non-transferable.
Membership fees are based on the selected membership tier chosen by the individual or organisation. SSEN reserves the right to change available benefits in each tier and to vary fees accordingly. Where fees change, SSEN will endeavour to communicate with members before it happens.
Members can change their membership packages at any point before the anniversary of their membership renewal (monthly or annual). In such cases the old membership tier will be stopped and the new one started on the anniversary of the membership renewal with the new membership fee being taken. Membership can be changed through the self service system, or by contacting SSEN in writing.
Cancellation and Refunds
SSEN membership is an annual or monthly (according to the membership type) rolling agreement which will (subject to the provisions set out below) automatically renew upon the monthly or annual anniversary of your application until cancelled by the member. You will receive notices in advance of any changes to your categories of membership and informing you of any changes to the amount of your Direct Debit payment. Any payment arrangements that have been made by Direct Debit will automatically continue unless you notify your bank/building society that you wish to cancel it.
If you wish to cancel your membership, you must inform us of your intention to cancel before your renewal anniversary of the following month or year. This notice should be provided directly to us, in writing by letter or email.
A member may be removed from the list of paying members for non-payment of dues. Such removals are at the discretion of SSEN. Where removal takes place the member will still be classed as a non paying member of the network, but will not have the rights to access paying membership benefits.
Other than the circumstances set out below we are not obliged to offer any refund for the month or year already paid for. Full or partial refunds for membership will only be given under the following circumstances and on request:-
If membership is cancelled within a 14 day cooling off period in line with the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Death of the Member.
If an error has been made by SSEN in processing a membership application.
Force Majeure
SSEN shall not be liable for any delay or non-performance of its obligations by reason of matters beyond its control including, but not limited to, any act of terrorism, war, riot, civil commotion, compliance with any law or government order, fire, flood, storm, strikes, or any other industrial dispute, delay in transit, power failure, postal delay, health pandemic, or any event that cannot be reasonably planned for or avoided. In such circumstances, SSEN will recommence delivery of services as soon as is reasonably possible.
Privacy
By signing up for membership you understand and consent that data supplied will be held on SSEN’s computerised database and that data may be shared with our selected partners or other data processor third parties in order to process your membership.
We shall collect, process and use your personal data in accordance with our GDPR and Data Privacy Policy. In becoming a member you are consenting to accepting our Privacy Policy, which is available at https://www.ssen.org.uk/privacy-policy.