We have two categories of membership; full and associate.
All BCA-member clubs, and recognised cave rescue organisations are automatically considered associate members. This classification of membership exists as many historic access agreements (some of which predate the BCA) necessitate CNCC membership as a requirement for access. This category of membership does not include any voting rights.
Full membership is the category of membership which requires a specific application.
All responsible caving clubs with a significant involvement in northern caving can apply to be a full member of the CNCC. Full member clubs can propose motions and vote at our General Meetings, and hold overall the highest level of authority. All full member clubs can send one representative to vote at our General meetings, although we welcome as many non-voting representatives, either individuals or from any club, as the room can accommodate. These voting representatives should provide a letter (signed by a club official) to the presiding officer to say that they have authority to vote on their clubs behalf. The individual may be instructed by their club on how to vote on planned proposals, but should ideally be empowered to make decisions and get involved in debates that stray slightly from the agenda. They must remember that any proposals that they put forward or any votes they deliver, they are doing so on behalf of their club and not themselves personally.
All full member clubs may propose motions (notice at least eight weeks before the meeting is required to put the proposal on the agenda), make suggestions or simply deliver a vote and to have their say on all CNCC-related matters.
All clubs with a significant involvement in northern caving can get involved with the CNCC by applying to becoming a full member. Being a full member of the CNCC allows you a vote, and enables you to propose or second motions at our General Meetings. Full members also have the opportunity to stand for our Committee. Full members receive email updates from the CNCC on all matters relating to northern caving and have a login to the members’ area of our website.
As you can see from our list of current full member clubs, we have members ranging from the very large and well established northern clubs, to much smaller or newer clubs, student clubs, and clubs geographically based outside of the traditional ‘northern caving’ region. They all share a desire to work with the CNCC to help improve northern caving, whether that be through access, training, conservation or any other means.
The requirements are that you are a properly constituted club and that you demonstrate a significant input or involvement in northern caving (this can be through existing digging, conservation, or other projects, or simply very regular sporting trips in our region).
Membership incurs no charge.
Although most of our full members are BCA member clubs, there is no constitutional requirement for this. For example, some clubs choose not to be BCA club members, but instead their members prefer to obtain direct individual BCA membership. Note that some of our access agreements specifically require a club to be a BCA-member to allow you to apply for permits.
Full member clubs are encouraged to discuss the agenda for our General Meetings and to send a representative to deliver a vote and discuss/raise any topical items on your clubs behalf. You are also welcome to propose or suggest any ideas your club has to help improve northern caving, and are encouraged to stay abreast of all topical matters. We encourage all our full member clubs to dissociate all relevent CNCC communications with their members. All full members are expected to adhere to the CNCC constitution and to respect all access agreements.
No, application for full membership is a one-off event. Periodically the CNCC may contact full members (in particular those who do not take any involvement for several years) to query whether they wish to remain a full member or to identify if the club even still exists. Clubs which cannot be contacted or which do not wish to maintain a regular involvement with the CNCC may have their membership revoked. This is to ensure our membership is kept current and relevant.
You can find a full list on the member clubs page.
To become a full member of the CNCC you will need to do the following:
