Membership policy

Types of membership

Application for membership can take one of the following forms:

Adult membership – being a person over the age of eighteen years
Junior membership – being a person between the ages of nine (or lower at the discretion of the director) and eighteen years. Also, a student in fulltime education or training.
Associate membership - being an active but non-performing member.
Honorary lifelong member - awarded to non-performing members in recognition of their service to the Society.

Membership

This can only be granted on completion of an application form, and the membership fee has been paid.

Any member who fails to pay the annual membership by the due date may be deemed by the committee to have forfeited membership and their entitlement to perform.
All adult members are eligible to stand for committee and can vote at meetings.
Junior members cannot stand for committee and have no voting rights.
Adult members and junior members will be entitled to receive notices of general meetings and all events and activities.
Where an adult member is not in full-time employment, the Committee shall have the power to reduce the membership rate which will not affect the voting or other rights of the member.
Juniors who become adults during a membership period will pay the adult rate with effect from the following membership period but will be entitled to vote at an AGM/EGM during the inter-regnum.

Obligation of members

The Committee shall have the power to prohibit any member whose attendance at rehearsals shall have been irregular from taking part in the performance of the work in preparation. Performing members absenting themselves from three consecutive rehearsals without good reason may, at the discretion of the Committee and in consultation with the Director, be deemed to have resigned their parts in the production.

The Committee shall reserve the right to exclude any member from a production who, in the opinion of the Committee, is wilfully disrespectful of the rehearsal guidelines. Please see Health and Safety Policy

Members should maintain a satisfactory level of discipline which always includes mutual respect for fellow performers and the production team.

Abusive behaviour or discrimination of any nature whatsoever will not be tolerated. Members have a right to participate in activities without fear of intimidation in any form.

Child Protection

The Orchard Players Amateur Dramatic Society recognises its duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, the Child (Performances) Regulations 1968, the Protection of Children Act 1999 and the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000). See Child Protection Policy

Membership Fees

Membership fees are due no later than within one month from the first rehearsal date

Where an adult member is not in full-time employment, the Committee shall have the power to reduce the membership rate which will not affect the voting or other rights of the member. Juniors who become adults during a membership period will pay the adult rate with effect from the following membership period but will be entitled to vote at an AGM/EGM during the interregnum.

Grievance Procedure

Any member/members wishing to put forward a suggestion/grievance/complaint in the furtherance of the objectives of The Orchard Players shall write formally to an appointed member of the committee of The Orchard Players or to the Committee as a whole.

Such letters shall clearly identify the nature of the suggestion/grievance/complaint and shall be signed by the member/members concerned. The committee will decide what action is appropriate and will notify the members to whom it relates accordingly.

General Data Protection Data Protection (GDPR)

The Society will collect personal details for legitimate purposes: to keep an accurate record of members of the Society, to allow communications to be sent to members, to help promote the Society, and to comply with local and national requirements and regulations, for example, for child protection responsibilities. Permission for the taking, storage, and usage of photographs on promotional materials and the website will be sought annually, and the Committee are responsible for enforcing these permissions. For members’ safety while taking part in activities connected to the Society, details of medical conditions which may require urgent medical attention, for example, nut allergies or asthma, will also be recorded.

Names, photographs, and biographies may appear in public documents, including programmes, publicity (including newspapers and websites) and newsletters. Medical information will be used in strict confidence by the Society’s first aiders and chaperones as the need arises. Personal information may be shared with the Committee for use in the legitimate interest of the Society. Personal data will never be shared with other third parties without your consent, except when complying with legal requirements.

Members data will be stored securely in line with GDPR. Reasonable security measures to protect against any unauthorised access or damage to, or disclosure or loss of information will be put in place. Personal information can be removed from the Society records at any time by written request to the Secretary. Subject Access Requests (SAR) may be made to the Secretary of the Society in writing to request a copy of all the personal information on file. All reasonable steps will be taken to confirm the individual’s identity and right to the information before any details will be provided.

April 2026