Membership Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction
   1.1. These Terms and Conditions govern membership of the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS).
   1.2. By applying for, accepting, or renewing membership, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, the Articles of Association of BASICS, and any applicable policies or codes of conduct.
2. Definitions
   • “BASICS”, “Us”, “Our” and “We” refer to the British Association for Immediate Care (charity number 1188273), a registered charity in England and Wales, with its registered office and main trading address at 10 Dunlop Road, Ipswich, England, IP2 0UG. BASICS is a trading name and unregistered trademark of the British Association for Immediate Care.
   • “You” refers to you, the individual applying for, holding, or renewing membership of BASICS.
   • “Member” means any individual whose membership application has been accepted by BASICS and whose subscription fees have been paid in full or are being paid in accordance with an agreed Direct Debit arrangement.
   • “Membership” refers to the contractual relationship between BASICS and its Members, subject to these Terms and Conditions.
   • “Membership Categories” means the different classes of membership offered by BASICS, which currently include Full, Associate, Student, Retired (for former Full or Associate Members who have retired), and Life Membership (awarded at the discretion of BASICS). BASICS may amend or introduce new categories as needed.
   • “Membership Subscriptions” means the annual membership fees payable to BASICS, either by annual payment in advance or via monthly Direct Debit.
   • “Website” means BASICS’s official website at www.basics.org.uk.
   • “Board” means the Board of Trustees of BASICS, which has overall responsibility for governance, including membership matters.
3. Eligibility and Membership Categories
   3.1. Membership is open to individuals who support the objectives of BASICS and meet any eligibility criteria for their chosen category.
   3.2. Membership categories (Full, Associate, Student, Retired, or Life) and their criteria are determined by BASICS.
   3.3. Applicants must provide accurate information during the application process. BASICS reserves the right to request evidence of qualifications, professional registrations, or other eligibility criteria.
   3.4. BASICS reserves the right to accept or refuse any membership application at its discretion.
   3.5. Applicants should note that the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) is a completely separate organisation from BASICS Scotland. Membership of the British Association for Immediate Care does not grant membership of, or any rights in, BASICS Scotland.
4. Membership Fees
   4.1. Membership subscriptions are payable annually, either by one-off direct payment, by invoice to an employer or affiliated scheme, by BACS or card payment, or by Direct Debit instalments (monthly or annually). We will not charge additional fees for payment by personal credit or debit card. We do however reserve the right to charge an additional fee of 1.8% for commercial (company) or international credit/debit cards to cover the transaction costs we are charged.
   4.2. Fees are non-refundable, except where a membership application is declined or if section 5 below applies.
   4.3. Membership will lapse automatically if subscriptions are not paid in accordance with the agreed payment method.
   4.4. Members authorise BASICS to adjust Direct Debit mandates as requested to ensure correct collection of subscription payments.
   4.5. It is the responsibility of the member to ensure their Direct Debit is kept in good standing and that sufficient funds are available to meet the agreed subscription payments. Fees for missed or failed payments will be collected as required.
   4.6. If an applicant realises, before their membership is confirmed, that they do not wish to join, they may cancel their application without charge. Once membership is confirmed and a subscription payment has been made, fees are non-refundable unless section 5 below applies.
5. Membership Cancellation
   5.1. If you purchase a membership subscription, you have the legal right to cancel within 14 days of the date you sign up. If you cancel within this period, we will refund all payments received for the subscription. If you have asked us to begin providing services during this period, we may deduct a pro‑rated amount for services already provided.
   5.2. Where your membership renews automatically, you will have an additional 14‑day cooling‑off period from each renewal date during which you may cancel and receive a refund for the unused portion of the renewed term.
   5.3. You may cancel membership in line with 5.1 or 5.2 by emailing admin@basics.org.uk, submitting a request on our website via the Contact Us page, or by calling us on 0300 303 1757.
   5.4. Cancellation is effective from when you notify us using the methods above.
   5.5. Outside of the cooling off period in 5.1 and 5.2, you can cancel your membership with 3 months written notice via email to admin@basics.org.uk.
   • Where payment is being made monthly, you should not cancel your Direct Debit until the end of the notice period as membership fees remain payable during this time.
   • For annual payments, you will receive a refund for the unused full months of your membership (from 3 months of the date of giving notice to the end of the current term).
   5.6. We do not apply any additional administration fees.
6. Rights and Benefits of Membership
   6.1. Members are entitled to benefits as published by BASICS, as may be revised and/or amended by BASICS.
   6.2. Membership does not confer any right to use BASICS’s name, logo, branding, or any materials produced by BASICS, including training resources, newsletters, or other publications, without prior written permission. All such materials are protected by copyright and may only be used as expressly authorised by BASICS. Please also see further information within the online shop terms and conditions for items purchased via that route.
   6.3. Voting rights are limited to those membership categories as determined by the Articles of Association. Some benefits may be restricted to certain membership categories.
7. Obligations of Members
   7.1. Members must maintain their membership in good standing by:
   • Paying membership fees on time, including via Direct Debit or other agreed payment methods.
   • Providing accurate and up-to-date information, such as contact details, professional registration, or qualifications.
   • Complying with BASICS rules, professional standards, and all relevant laws and regulations.
   • Not engaging in conduct that could harm BASICS’s reputation.
   7.2. Members must promptly inform BASICS of any misconduct, complaints, or concerns that may impact their membership or BASICS’s reputation, allowing BASICS to review and determine any appropriate actions regarding membership.
   7.3. BASICS reserves the right to suspend or cancel membership if a member fails to meet these obligations or as otherwise deemed appropriate.
   7.4. Individuals who apply to join and who have monies owing to BASICS are required to settle their debts prior to being accepted into membership.
8. Suspension and Cancellation of Membership
   8.1. Membership may be suspended or cancelled by us for:
   • Non-payment of fees
   • Breach of BASICS rules or professional standards
   • Conduct damaging to BASICS or its reputation
   • Withdrawal of a membership category
   • Restructuring or governance changes affecting membership
   • Compliance with applicable law or regulatory requirements
   8.2 Cancellation of membership by BASICS does not entitle the Member to any refund of fees paid.
9. Complaints
   9.1. Members can raise complaints about any aspect of their membership, including eligibility, suspension, or cancellation. Complaints should be submitted in writing to the BASICS Chief Officer by email.
   9.2. BASICS will acknowledge complaints if possible, within 7 days and aim to respond fully within 14 days. If this is not possible, a holding reply will be sent after 14 days advising when we estimate the complaint investigation will be completed.
   9.3. The complaint response will explain our findings and what action we will be taking/have taken, subject to the constraints of the Data Protection Act.
   9.4. Submitting a complaint or appeal does not remove the member’s responsibilities, including payment of any fees.
10. Amendments to Terms and Conditions
    10.1. BASICS reserves the right to revise and/or amend these Terms and Conditions.
    10.2. All changes will be published on the BASICS website. For any substantial changes, BASICS will also notify members in the newsletter.
    10.3. Continued membership after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
11. Data Protection and Communications
    11.1. BASICS processes members’ personal data in compliance with UK data protection legislation, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
    11.2. By becoming a member, you agree to be contacted by BASICS regarding membership, events, training, and related opportunities.
    11.3. Members can update their communication preferences at any time.
12. Limitation of Liability
    12.1. BASICS shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or expense arising from membership, except to the extent that such liability cannot be excluded by law. In any event, BASICS’s total liability to a member shall not exceed the amount of membership fees paid by the member in the 12 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.
13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
    13.1 These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
    13.2 Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
14. Severability
    14.1. If any provision of these Terms & Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
15. Entire Agreement
    15.1 These Terms and Conditions, together with any documents expressly referred to herein, constitute the entire agreement between the member and BASICS regarding membership and supersede all prior agreements.

Last updated June 2026