Joining your local Foundation Trust

Many NHS Organisations have become Foundation Trusts since the model was developed in 2004.

Foundation Trusts are required to have a council of governors who are elected by their membership. The membership is made up of staff and members of the public who want to have a say in the way that the trust is run.

Becoming a member of a local foundation trust is a great way to start getting involved with the NHS and learning about how it works.

Benefits

Good for your CV

Learners can demonstrate a long term commitment to the NHS and their local community on their CV by showing that they've been involved with a Foundation Trust.

Learn how the Trust is run

As well as getting newsletters and notifications of key events and developments, Foundation Trust members are regularly invited to take part in meetings, seminars and focus groups regarding how the trust is run.

Have your say

Members will regularly be asked for their opinions on how the Trust operates and have the opportunity to give input into how things should change and develop.

Becoming a member

Becoming a member is normally as simple as completing an application form, either online, by post or over the phone. Some trusts may have specific catchment areas but this is not normally the case.

Applying for membership

There are a number of Foundation Trusts in Greater Manchester where learners can apply to become a member, click on the button below and we can let you know which are closest to your organisation:

Find a Foundation Trust near my organisation

What's involved

Most of the activities involved in being a Foundation Trust member are voluntary in nature, therefore learners can get involved as much as they like.

Training and Awareness Days

Many trusts will invite their members to attend training sessions and informative presentations to learn about public health issues or how certain parts of the organisation work.

FT Youth Forums

Some trusts have meetings or forums specifically aimed at engaging with younger members where those taking part will be involved in discussing how services can best support younger people and even become a Youth Governor.

Voting in Council of Governor Elections

Foundation Trusts have a Council of Governors who are elected by the wider membership. As members, learners are able to decide who they would like to represent them and could even consider volunteering to be a governor themselves.

Annual Members Meeting

The annual members meeting is a large gathering of members and key staff to discuss developments at the trust and its major initiatives over the past 12 months.

Surveys and Engagement

Trusts will often engage with their members on important developments such as service reconfigurations. This may be through surveys or focus groups and engagement sessions where members can have their say.