Become a member
Become part of our inspiring and thriving network by joining as a Full, Provisional or Associate member. If you are not quite ready then you can access our Aspiring Development Trust Support.
Membership of DTAS also means that our grassroots experience informs and shapes the policies of national government, key funders, and other important decision-makers.
There’s so much to be gained from development trusts coming together, sharing our knowledge and experience, and working together for the benefit of the movement. Individually we can be isolated community organisations; working together we can have collective strength and can punch above our weight. Sleat Community Trust
Provisional Members (£50/year) – For development trusts who are newly established and meet our ‘Provisional’ criteria
Full Members (£90/year) – For development trusts who are more established and meet our ‘Full’ criteria
Associate Member – Annual fee varies – please get in touch – For individuals and organisations that support and/or provide help to further the aims of our members
Criteria for Membership
Full and Provisional Membership Our criteria help make sure DTA Scotland supports organisations that are genuinely community-led and working for local benefit. Some criteria must be met when you apply, while others reflect good practice that members are expected to work towards over time. You will need to demonstrate that you:
- Support a clearly defined local area or community
- Be open to local people and encourage community membership
- Be run by local people, with decision-making controlled by the community
- Be independent and not driven by personal, political or external influences
- Have listened to local people and be acting on what matters to them
- Take action on a range of local issues, not just a single narrow focus
- Aim to earn income and reinvest any surplus back into the community
- Keep the wider community informed and involved in its work
- Work constructively with other organisations where appropriate
We recommend reading our complete membership criteria document before applying, as we assess against these criteria when reviewing membership applications.
Associate Membership
You will need to demonstrate that you:
- Are aligned to DTA Scotland aims and objectives
- Want to work in partnership with the wider membership and/or DTA Scotland
DTA Scotland Member Benefits – Provisional and Full Only
DTA Scotland Member Benefits – Associate Only
- Discounted delegate rates at the DTA Scotland annual conference
- Regularly Newsletter
Aspiring Groups
If you don’t meet the above criteria yet, we would refer to your group as an ‘aspiring’ development trust. We have an Advisor dedicated to aspiring development trusts. From them, you can expect:
- Light-touch support
- Access to templates and signposting to resources
- Invitations to certain DTA Scotland events and webinars
- Encouragement and guidance as you get ready for Provisional membership
If you think this sounds like your group, please email info@dtascot.org.uk for more information.
Questions, or Unsure?
If you have any questions about membership or anything else, please email info@dtascot.org.uk, and we can give you support. If you think you may need the support of either our Community Ownership Support Service or Democratic Finance teams, remember that you do not need to be a DTA Scotland member to receive their support.
Membership Process
To join DTA Scotland, start by filling out our application form. The Member Support Advisor will arrange a membership assessment meeting with the majority of your board, where they will go through the membership criteria with you. They will later confirm their membership recommendation. The whole process can take up to 3 months. Joining DTA Scotland is more than just paying a membership fee. Membership is a journey, and our criteria help us understand where your organisation is at now, and how we can support you as you develop.
We recommend you download the application form before completing the application online
If you are at the start of your journey, or you are ASPIRING to become a development trust, and you would like our support, you can make an enquiry here.
ASSOCIATE members should apply here