Why Join?

• To work collaboratively with other organisations in Salford to pursue funding in response to identified needs of people of Salford
• To share experience and good practice to improve services in Salford
• To take part in tenders for public sector contracts, and secure funding for service delivery
• Greater negotiating and bargaining power through an increased scale and capacity
• Create a single, unified point of contracting, and in doing so increase attractiveness to contractors/funders
• Generate economies of scale and efficiency savings through the rationalisation of resources

For details of our existing membership click here to see our current membership list

How to Join

To become a member of Salford Third Sector Consortium organisations will need to demonstrate that they meet the eligibility criteria below and complete a membership application form.

Members must be willing to participate actively in the Consortium’s development whilst adhering to the Consortium’s ways of working and protocols.

The inital stage 1 membership application form is brief and shouldn’t take long to complete, it has been designed so we can assess organisations eligibility quickly before asking you to complete a more detailed stage 2 application which will include questions regarding your "tender readiness" as well as further organisation details.

If you have any questions about joining the consortium, please contact Marie Wilson at Salford CVS on 0161 787 7795 or Marie.WIlson@salfordcvs.co.uk 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Be a VCSE / Not-for-profit Sector organisation

Any prospective member must be a frontline service provider in the not-for-profit sector and have a clear social purpose or charitable objectives and wider accountability to the public.

• Good communication and networking skills

Consortium members will be expected to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of Consortium members from diverse backgrounds and uphold the values of equality and diversity legislation. Consortium members will be encouraged to take up all relevant networking opportunities, as appropriate.

• Agreement to provide support or mentoring opportunities to other members

Commitment to sharing expertise, knowledge and experience with other members via mentoring and training opportunities to help Consortium members develop.

• Honesty

Members will be required at all times to be open, honest and transparent in their involvement in Consortium affairs. Members will be required to operate with integrity and to work for the good of Salford Third Sector Consortium as a whole.

• Operate in Salford

Any prospective member must be delivering services in Salford. In the case of new groups, about to start delivering services in Salford, the lack of a previous track record will be taken into account in contract thresholds.

• Information management capability

Prospective members must be willing to provide the Consortium Hub with regular information relating to user numbers, case-studies, delivery of milestones and financial performance etc. Information must be provided on time and in a form that is agreed in advance and is complete, clear and accurate.

• Minimum standard for quality assurance/contract thresholds

The consortium has agreed a minimum standard of quality assurance/ contract thresholds (see contract thresholds criteria <insert link to this>). All potential members will be expected to meet the minimum criteria in order to receive a sub-contract. Members can develop along the contract threshold pathway by implementing the necessary items identified in a specific threshold. Evidence of implemented actions will need to be provided to the Hub in order to progress to the next threshold. Support will be available from Salford CVS.

• Commitment to consortium working

Members must be willing to participate actively in the Consortium’s development whilst adhering to the Consortium’s ways of working and protocols.  The membership application form is brief and shouldn’t take long to complete, it has been designed so we can assess organisations eligibility quickly before asking you to complete a more detailed Membership Directory Questionnaire and Collaboration Agreement.