Member Support Policy
Only adults aged 18 years and over are eligible to join Tonic Choir. There is currently no upper age limit.
There have been, and no doubt will be in the future, occasions where Tonic staff feel that a member has developed memory or other health problems. This policy has been put in place to address this issue.
Attendance at rehearsals
If a member's mental or physical health becomes a cause for concern while they are an active member, their next of kin will be contacted in order to find a way of providing adequate support. If necessary or if felt to be appropriate, this may be done without first talking to the member, although this will be a last resort. If Tonic staff do not know who the next of kin is, this information may be sought through a third party. This information will be held on the member database.
The resolution may take the form of the member being accompanied by a family member or carer to the rehearsals (and any other events) both during the journeys and also during the rehearsals/events themselves. If no support is available, the member may be asked not to renew membership.
Payments
If felt necessary by Tonic staff, a member may not be allowed to make any payments to Tonic Choir without the involvement of a partner or responsible family member. This includes term fees and special events.
Confirmation
Any arrangements made with non-members for the support of a member will be documented and communicated by email to that non-member.
Actual examples
A member was unable to write a cheque and asked Tonic staff to write it out so that the member would just have to sign it. We felt this was unacceptable and insisted on a family member making the payment.
A member seemed, on occasion, unable to comprehend what was happening, while being happy to attend. Obviously this might have caused a problem had there been an emergency. Consequently, Tonic insisted that a family member be present at all sessions when the member was involved.
A member was unable to remember what they had signed up for and consequently missed an event for which they had paid a not insignificant amount. Following this, a family member agreed to be copied on all communications so that they knew what payments had been made.
Only adults aged 18 years and over are eligible to join Tonic Choir. There is currently no upper age limit.
There have been, and no doubt will be in the future, occasions where Tonic staff feel that a member has developed memory or other health problems. This policy has been put in place to address this issue.
Attendance at rehearsals
If a member's mental or physical health becomes a cause for concern while they are an active member, their next of kin will be contacted in order to find a way of providing adequate support. If necessary or if felt to be appropriate, this may be done without first talking to the member, although this will be a last resort. If Tonic staff do not know who the next of kin is, this information may be sought through a third party. This information will be held on the member database.
The resolution may take the form of the member being accompanied by a family member or carer to the rehearsals (and any other events) both during the journeys and also during the rehearsals/events themselves. If no support is available, the member may be asked not to renew membership.
Payments
If felt necessary by Tonic staff, a member may not be allowed to make any payments to Tonic Choir without the involvement of a partner or responsible family member. This includes term fees and special events.
Confirmation
Any arrangements made with non-members for the support of a member will be documented and communicated by email to that non-member.
Actual examples
A member was unable to write a cheque and asked Tonic staff to write it out so that the member would just have to sign it. We felt this was unacceptable and insisted on a family member making the payment.
A member seemed, on occasion, unable to comprehend what was happening, while being happy to attend. Obviously this might have caused a problem had there been an emergency. Consequently, Tonic insisted that a family member be present at all sessions when the member was involved.
A member was unable to remember what they had signed up for and consequently missed an event for which they had paid a not insignificant amount. Following this, a family member agreed to be copied on all communications so that they knew what payments had been made.