Why join UCRF?

Members are invited to get involved in various collaborative activities, many of which are outlined in the Actions section. Full details are available via our member-only website and regular member newsletters. Our activities are constantly in development and we welcome suggestions for new initiatives from the membership.

By default, all members’ details are included in the member directory. A list of members may also be included in statements to press, open letters and other documents published by the Union. In this case, documents are circulated to the membership in advance of publishing.

Please note that every member joins UCRF as an individual; organisations are not eligible. When joining we ask you to complete information about your affiliation and say why you want to join the Union. This helps to provide context on the knowledge and experience of our members but does not mean that your organisation / institution supports or endorses the UCRF manifesto.

The standard membership fee is GBP 20 per year, and our membership year runs from 1 February to 31 January. If you join UCRF in the second six months of the membership year, your membership will run to the end of the following membership year. We use an online service, Wild Apricot, to manage our members’ details and take membership payments via Paypal.

Please select the 'fee waiver' option if payment of the fee is a barrier to you joining UCRF (for example, because you are a full-time student, unemployed or precariously employed).

We take membership payments via Paypal. If you are in a country where Paypal is not accepted and would otherwise pay the membership fee, please select the 'fee waiver' option and make a donation equivalent to 20 GBP to a charity of your choice.

You should be able to pay via Paypal without creating an account, but we are aware that at present Paypal does not always show this option. If this prevents you from completing the payment, please select the 'fee waiver' option and make a donation equivalent to 20 GBP to a charity of your choice.

Membership fees are used for recurring costs including maintenance of the website and, according to priorities agreed by the Board during the year, running costs for other activities. Details of income and expenditure are shared with members at the Annual General Meeting.