Membership Process
Your membership application will be processed as soon as possible, we cannot guarantee a quick response due to Police Checks being outside our control.
Please fill out the online Membership form and submit. This form will then be sent to the relevant Police force to carry out a Police check. Timing on the return of this data can vary from force to force so if you have not heard back from the club within 4 weeks please contact Keith Sowden on Membershipsec1066@hotmail.com. The club will not email you until the check and application has been returned to the club by the Police.
Once a successful check has been returned by the Police, you will be contacted by one of our Safety Officers to book you into the next Safety Course. This course is compulsory regardless of an existing FAC or RFD certificate held by you. The Club Safety Courses are held at least once a month on a Saturday morning commencing at 09.30am. These courses will teach you the basics of safe handling and use of firearms. The courses cost £30 per person.
Once you have completed and passed the Safety Course you will be required to pay for membership for the remainder of the year after the Safety course on a pro-rata basis.
When attending the safety course remember to bring money for the course itself (£30) and money for membership for the remainder of the year. Then you will have your photo taken in house by our Safety Officers and be issued with a provisional membership card with your photo on it. Payment is either by cash, cheque or card.
You can attend any of our shooting sessions as a provisional member but you may be supervised on a one-to-one basis until you gain a little more experience.
PROVISIONAL AND PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHIP
On completion of the Safety Course and paid up / membership you will be considered as a ‘Provisional Member’ and as such you are entitled to attend any of the club’s shooting nights. You will be asked to pay the daily range fee of £5 (£2.50 for juniors) and purchase ammunition which you may use in the club guns (.22 ammunition currently costs £4.00 per 50) and any unused ammunition must be left at the club premises for use during your next visit.
You must not under any circumstance take ammunition off the club premises if you do not have a valid Firearms Certificate which authorises you to have it in your possession.
The current membership fee is £120 per annum. There are reductions in the membership fee depending on which month of the year you join and concessions for Juniors, Family Members and Seniors. The annual membership fee is reviewed at the end of each year at the club AGM.
To progress from the status of ‘Provisional Member’ to that of ‘Probationary Member’ three months will need to elapse during which time you will need to attend the club 6 times to shoot club rifles. During this time you will be given all the help and training you will need to enable you to become familiar and competent in the safe use of various firearms, understand how they function and be able to deal safely with stoppages and misfires. We expect probationary members to show that they are keen and committed to the club and shooting in general by attending the club regularly and as often as they can so that at the end of your probationary period the club committee can consider your eligibility for continued full membership.
If you are approved for full membership we will advise and guide you through the process of your first Firearms Certificate application.
JUNIOR MEMBERS
We welcome young shooters to the club because, as with all sports, they are the future and we encourage their participation. We do however have to operate within the law and in accordance with our own club rules which are drafted to ensure that all members, particularly those who may be more vulnerable, are given a safe and secure environment in which to participate.
We class all those under the age of 18 as Juniors and while there is no lower age limit, we treat all applications for junior membership fairly, impartially and on an individual basis.
The subject of young people and their access to firearms can be a sensitive issue and as a club we take a responsible common sense attitude while fulfilling our legal obligations. Please contact the Membership Secretary for information on / Junior membership.