Become a Member

We are a Community Land Trust and a Community Benefit Society

There is a legal definition of a Community Land Trust (CLT)

It must be:

• Owned by the Community
• Run by the Community
• For the benefit of that geographical Community
• Not for personal profit
                            Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 Part 2, Chapter 1, Clause 79.

To ensure the CLT achieves this, FACLT has been registered as a Community Benefit Society (CBS), and it needs members to join and help it achieve great things. 

The purpose of a Community Benefit Society is to serve the broader interests of the community.

To become a member of a Community Benefit Society people buy a single share or a number of shares in it.  Each member will have one equal vote at general meetings.  They can elect the board and put themselves forward as board members when there are vacancies.

A CBS must only use its assets for the benefit of the community so shareholders will not receive payment from profits. The shares cannot rise in value but may lose value. They cannot be sold. Check out our CLT Rules and other policy documents here.

Although FACLT, as a Community Benefit Society, could potentially raise money through issuing more shares, currently we want to increase our membership, guarantee democracy and ensure our assets are protected.  So we are asking for those who’d like to support our goal of providing affordable housing for local people to invest a minimum of £1 for a share and join us. Payments of more that £1 are very welcome to purchase more shares, but will still only provide 1 vote per person.