Benefits of membership
Why join?
You will become part of the wider movement of community-managed green spaces that benefit from the support, representation and promotion FCFCG provides.
Our regional development staff provide practical support and advice direct to our members. They also organise local networking and training events, giving you a chance to swap ideas and learn useful skills.
You will get access to publications and information resources across a wide range of subjects including funding, legal issues and good practice. FCFCG also provides members with information and support in the event of disease outbreaks such e-coli. We also provide a range of online services, from information resources available to download from the website, through to free listings for job vacancies and events.
And we work on your behalf to keep the aspirations of the movement on the political agenda, lobbying effectively at a local, regional and national level whilst promoting good practice, improving networks and creating training and development opportunities.
Key Benefits of FCFCG Membership:
Welcome Pack
Support Services
Networking & training opportunities
Travel Bursaries
Publications & mailings
Online Services
Other Benefits
Special Offer: Join us and you may be eligible for free NCVO or SCVO membership. Click on this link for details.
- Your membership certificate
- Information on a public liability insurance scheme designed specifically for allotments and community gardens is available to members of FCFCG (Joining the Federation does NOT mean you automatically have insurance cover)
- Our latest newsletter and copies of other relevant information recently sent out to our members
- A publications order form for you to request free hard copies of any of our publications, including our valuable community garden or city farm starter pack. Please note: these are also available as free downloads from the members’ zone of our website
- Members in England with an income of under £10,000 are automatically entitled to NCVO community membership (see details below)
- Development staff and a pool of experienced Fieldworkers based across the UK provide practical help and advice on a range of subjects and issues
- Emergency information and support (eg in the event of disease outbreaks such as foot and mouth disease or avian influenza)
- Free session on financial advice from FCFCG Finance Manager (subject to availability)
- Access to specialist support networks and initiatives including the School Farms Network, Growing With Schools and the Allotments Regeneration Initiative.
Networking & training opportunities
- Local network and training events are run throughout the year on themes requested by our membership. These events are free or highly subsidised for members.
- For groups with very limited finances, we can sometimes offer travel bursaries to cover the costs of visits to other community groups in your area or to our training/networking events. For more details contact your local FCFCG staff member via the Contact Us page.
- You will receive our quarterly members newsletter Growing Places, and copies of our Summer Public Newsletter and Annual Review
- Single hard copies of our publications are available free to members on request, and multiple copies of flyers and promotional materials
- We will circulate your inserts for job vacancies, events etc free of charge in our postal mailings.
- You will have access to our comprehensive online Resource Centre, available only to registered users of our website, which provides an array of vital information for practitioners
- Copies of publications and newsletters available to download
- Marketing products or services you provide through an FCFCG online shop (in development)
- Provide advertising and promotion for your events on our website via our events page
- Specific regional or country pages on the site with useful local information
- Regular e-newsletters and e-bulletins to keep you informed of news, funding, training and information resources.
- You will have access to our exhibitions, digital presentations, photographs and videos
- You will have access to FCFCG grants and bursaries when available and will be entitled to subsidised feasibility studies and consultancy services at discounted rates
- Members who receive visitors are prioritised to be featured in our popular map publications, highlighting city farms and community gardens in regions across the country, and available for free
- There are opportunities for FCFCG to raise your profile if you: host events that we run; have an article in Growing Places magazine or take part in a Seeing is Believing tour for policy makers
- Members can nominate someone to the FCFCG Board and put resolutions to the FCFCG AGM.
