The DPC is making some changes to membership to make it easier for consultants, sole traders and recent graduates to participate in our work.  A new class of personal membership is being trialled so that individuals without an organisational affiliation apply for grants, attend specialist events, obtain priority access to publications and collaborate on work streams which have previously been restricted to institutional members. 

Personal membership will be launched for a trial period of twelve months in July 2010. Sole traders, recently-graduated students and consultants will be able to join the coalition for a year with a one off payment of 120 pounds.  Personal members will be invited to participate in all the activities of the coalition throughout the year.  In the first year, fees will be fixed and places limited on a first come-first-served basis to twenty five.  A review towards the end of the year will put personal membership on a longer term footing within the coalition.

We'd like to hear from interested parties and welcome questions which will help us shape the personal membership category.  Further details and an application pack will be released in early July 2010. An early expression of interest will guarantee a place for those eligible.  Prospective applicants should also read the DPC prospectus 2010-11.

This innovation originated from the lively discussions at our Planning Day in November 2009 and was taken forward by a small working party.  It was approved by the Board of the Coalition in March 2010.