Parliamentary Patrons
Become a Parliamentary Patron and help us to expand our work to support the cause of parliamentary democracy
Parliamentarians can support the work of the Hansard Society by becoming a Parliamentary Patron. Our Patrons scheme recognises parliamentarians who join the Society or who make regular donations.
Why become a Patron?
The Hansard Society is a unique organisation because it is the charity for Parliament itself. Because the Society is a charity, we need to raise funds constantly to support our work. We achieve a great deal with very limited resources.
By becoming a Parliamentary Patron, you can help us to expand our work to support the cause of parliamentary democracy. This will not only help us to increase our effectiveness but also signify your support for our aims.
Our Parliamentary Patrons scheme recognises parliamentarians who:
join the Society (with the option to make an additional donation); or
who make regular donations (but do not take up formal membership).
As a Parliamentary Patron your name will be acknowledged on our website and in our Annual Report.
Patron: Member
You can support the Society by becoming a member, with the option to add a one-off or regular donation if you wish. As a member you can:
enjoy an annual subscription to our journal, Parliamentary Affairs;
receive discounts and priority booking for our events and training programmes;
participate in our Annual General Meeting.
As a Parliamentary Patron your name will be acknowledged on our website and in our Annual Report.
Patron: Donor
You can make a one-off or regular donation to the Society without becoming a member. Your support will help us:
augment our research funding, giving us flexibility to comment on topical issues;
expand our training and education programmes about Parliament;
provide concessions for the young / low-waged.
As a Parliamentary Patron your name will be acknowledged on our website and in our Annual Report.
Standard
£50 per year
Our most popular membership package for those who want to help support our work.
Hansard Society welcome pack
Subscription to 'Despatch Box', our weekly parliamentary and constitutional digest newsletter
Subscription to our monthly e-newsletter
Invitation to an Annual Conference with presentations from Hansard Society staff and guest speakers
Attendance at the AGM
Discounts and priority booking for Hansard Society events and training across the year
Terms and conditions
1. The Hansard Society welcomes individuals with an interest in and/or experience in parliamentary democracy. Applicants must submit an application form, a statement of interest and intention (up to 250 words) and payment when applying to join.
2. Each application will be assessed in relation to the Society’s objects by the Board of Trustees or a sub-group of the Board designated for the purpose. The Board may also choose to delegate the role to the Director. The Trustees and Director will have absolute discretion in approving membership.
3. Applicants not approved for membership shall have the right of appeal to the Chair of the Society whose decision is final. There will be no further right of appeal.
4. Membership of the Society shall not be refused on the basis of nationality, residency status, race, colour, creed or any other characteristics protected by law.
5. Once approved and accepted individual membership is valid for one year and renewable annually on the anniversary of the acceptance of their application.
6. No member shall be entitled to vote or enjoy any benefits of the Hansard Society as long as subscription payments are in arrears.
7. Payment for individual membership will be taken on submission of the application. In the event of an application being rejected a full refund of the membership fee will be given.
8. Individual membership will be suspended once payment is more than one month in arrears.
9. If a member pays the membership fee within three months of the due date, the individual membership will then restart – and be renewable annually - from that new date. The only requirement for re-joining within this time-period will be repayment of the annual subscription (the current year amount). The member will not be required to pay a re-joining fee or repeat the application process.
10. If a suspended member does nor re-join within three months of the due date, the membership will be deemed to have been terminated. A member who wishes to re-join after their membership has terminated will be required to re-join as a new applicant.
11. Once payment has been received, individuals who join the Hansard Society or who renew their membership will be entitled to a refund only within the first six months of their membership period, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
12. Membership of the Society may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Trustees if the applicant is deemed to have behaved contrary to the objects of the Society and/or in a vexatious manner and/or to have brought the reputation of the Hansard Society into disrepute. The Trustees will have absolute discretion in terminating membership.
13. The Board of Trustees shall have power to appoint as Honorary Members distinguished persons whose association with the Hansard Society may be considered advantageous, or who have rendered a special service to the Hansard Society. Honorary members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership, but they shall not be entitled to vote.
14. Members are permitted to list their affiliation with the Hansard Society on résumés, in publications and for other biographical purposes. Members may join groups within networking and social media websites that show an affiliation to the Hansard Society, for example on Facebook or LinkedIn. However, members are not permitted to use their Hansard Society affiliation in a way that would suggest they represent the Hansard Society (e.g. on personal business cards, publications or when writing articles or giving media interviews, or on other public platforms).
15. All membership data will be stored according to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. The Society’s Privacy Policy sets out how the Society uses any personal data provided by members, what members’ rights are in relation to that data, and how those rights can be exercised.
Premium
£90 per year
Premium membership includes everything in our Standard membership but with a hard copy of our quarterly journal, Parliamentary Affairs, delivered direct to your door.
Subscription (print) to Parliamentary Affairs
Hansard Society welcome pack
Subscription to 'Despatch Box', our weekly parliamentary and constitutional digest newsletter
Subscription to our monthly e-newsletter
Invitation to an Annual Conference with presentations from Hansard Society staff and guest speakers
Attendance at the AGM
Discounts and priority booking for Hansard Society events and training across the year
Terms and conditions
1. The Hansard Society welcomes individuals with an interest in and/or experience in parliamentary democracy. Applicants must submit an application form, a statement of interest and intention (up to 250 words) and payment when applying to join.
2. Each application will be assessed in relation to the Society’s objects by the Board of Trustees or a sub-group of the Board designated for the purpose. The Board may also choose to delegate the role to the Director. The Trustees and Director will have absolute discretion in approving membership.
3. Applicants not approved for membership shall have the right of appeal to the Chair of the Society whose decision is final. There will be no further right of appeal.
4. Membership of the Society shall not be refused on the basis of nationality, residency status, race, colour, creed or any other characteristics protected by law.
5. Once approved and accepted individual membership is valid for one year and renewable annually on the anniversary of the acceptance of their application.
6. No member shall be entitled to vote or enjoy any benefits of the Hansard Society as long as subscription payments are in arrears.
7. Payment for individual membership will be taken on submission of the application. In the event of an application being rejected a full refund of the membership fee will be given.
8. Individual membership will be suspended once payment is more than one month in arrears.
9. If a member pays the membership fee within three months of the due date, the individual membership will then restart – and be renewable annually - from that new date. The only requirement for re-joining within this time-period will be repayment of the annual subscription (the current year amount). The member will not be required to pay a re-joining fee or repeat the application process.
10. If a suspended member does nor re-join within three months of the due date, the membership will be deemed to have been terminated. A member who wishes to re-join after their membership has terminated will be required to re-join as a new applicant.
11. Once payment has been received, individuals who join the Hansard Society or who renew their membership will be entitled to a refund only within the first six months of their membership period, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
12. Membership of the Society may be terminated at the discretion of the Board of Trustees if the applicant is deemed to have behaved contrary to the objects of the Society and/or in a vexatious manner and/or to have brought the reputation of the Hansard Society into disrepute. The Trustees will have absolute discretion in terminating membership.
13. The Board of Trustees shall have power to appoint as Honorary Members distinguished persons whose association with the Hansard Society may be considered advantageous, or who have rendered a special service to the Hansard Society. Honorary members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership, but they shall not be entitled to vote.
14. Members are permitted to list their affiliation with the Hansard Society on résumés, in publications and for other biographical purposes. Members may join groups within networking and social media websites that show an affiliation to the Hansard Society, for example on Facebook or LinkedIn. However, members are not permitted to use their Hansard Society affiliation in a way that would suggest they represent the Hansard Society (e.g. on personal business cards, publications or when writing articles or giving media interviews, or on other public platforms).
15. All membership data will be stored according to the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. The Society’s Privacy Policy sets out how the Society uses any personal data provided by members, what members’ rights are in relation to that data, and how those rights can be exercised.
