Membership
BAND's membership includes private and voluntary sector childcare providers, development agencies and umbrella bodies, play organisations and others providing services to children, young people and their families. Applications for membership are considered by BAND's management committee, which meets monthly. There are four different categories of membership (see full details below):
- Full or Working Towards Full Membership
- Affiliate
- Associate
- Individual
Membership benefits include:
- Networking opportunities
- Free training for full members and low cost training for other groups
- Mediation and crisis support
- CRB checks
- Funding advice
- Loan equipment and books
- Discounted insurance
- Monitoring visits
- Access to information and resources
- A bi-monthly newsletter
Different categories of membership can access different services.
BAND Guide to Childcare Provision in and around Bristol
For details of childcare providers with whom BAND works, please contact the BAND office.
Full Member Status and Working Towards Full Membership
Full member status is open to organisations in Bristol that are providing childcare or out of school services for children of working parents, particularly recognising the needs of lone parent families and families on a low income.
Groups wanting to apply for full member status should check with BAND that they meet the full member criteria. Our staff can guide you through the process and offer help with things like setting up a new group and developing policies and procedures. Full members receive ongoing support from their allocated Development and Support Worker and are monitored by BAND and inspected by Ofsted. There is also a separate category entitled Working Towards Full Membership which groups may remain in for up to eighteen months whilst they work on the criteria needed for full member status. These groups are also supported by their own Development and Support Worker.
Affiliate Member Status
Affiliate member status is open to groups based in Bristol who do not meet the criteria for full member status, providing they can show support for BAND's aims and objectives.
Associate Member Status
Groups who support BAND's aims but do not meet the criteria for full or affiliate member status, for example settings who are based outside the Bristol authority.
Individual Member Status
Individuals based within Bristol and who support BAND's aims may also apply for membership.
Full Membership Criteria
Full membership is open to organisations in Bristol that are providing childcare for children of working parents, particularly recognising the needs of lone parent families and families on a low income.
The organisations need to:
- Have a voluntary management committee, which is committed to and can demonstrate the active involvement of parent-users;
- Run on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of the communities in which they operate;
- Be one of the following:
- Afterschool club
- Holiday scheme
- Breakfast club
- Nursery
- Pre-School
- Wrap-around care run on a daycare basis which function throughout the year;
- Have a child-centred approach, which demonstrates the active participation of children.
BAND also require that organisations must have the following:
- Constitution;
- Health and Safety Policy;
- Equal Opportunities Policy;
- Child Protection Policy;
- Employment practice that ensures the following:
- Vacancies are publicly advertised
- Interviews are held
- Job descriptions are provided
- Contracts are provided
- Induction is offered
- Training is offered
- Support and supervision given to staff
- Volunteers Policy;
- Adequate insurance cover;
- At least two paid staff on duty at all times and a child to adult ratio of 8:1 on the premises and 5:1 on trips away from the base;
- Be registered by OFSTED in accordance with the Children Act;
- Publicity materials for parents, for example giving opening times, contact details etc.
Working Towards Full Membership
Groups can be in the membership category "Working Towards Full Membership" for up to eighteen months while they prepare for full member status. During this time, BAND staff will give them support and advise on how to meet its membership criteria. Within that support, BAND staff will aim to attend management committee meetings, make visits to the club and attend their first AGM. The club will be able to access free BAND training for their playworkers and management committee members. By the end of the eighteen months, BAND staff will put groups forward for Full Membership provided they have parent representation on their management committee, all necessary policies in place and be registered in accordance with the Children Act. Clubs are entitled to eighteen months free insurance under the BAND insurance policy from the date they open.
Development and Support Workers
Full member groups can access ongoing support in all aspects of running their club, ranging from staffing issues to management support and Policy development. The Development and Support Workers also advise on which type of BAND Membership clubs should apply for and support them to achieve this. They provide advice and guidance for clubs to ensure the quality of their service as well as supporting clubs throughout any issues or problems they may face.
To become a member of BAND, please telephone the office and ask for an application form to be sent. If you qualify for full member status, we will come along and visit you. Telephone 0117 954 2128 or email us at: admin@bandltd.org.uk.
