At the Guild AGM on 10 May, the proposed change of Guild Rules was agreed and the changes have now been adopted.
The following is intended to help answer any questions regarding how learners are now catered for – I’m grateful to Julia Russell, Devizes Branch Secretary, for her collaboration in the production of these notes.
If you haven’t already seen it, please follow this link which clarifies the thinking behind the change of rules relating to Learners: sdgr.org.uk/clarification-of-proposed-rules-regarding-the-teaching-of-learners/
The recommended procedure for learners is now as follows:-
- We teach our learners as we did before, ie in our own towers or at a teaching hub/ringing centre;
- The learners are not required to complete a registration form as they will be covered by the PCCs insurance and will no longer need to be included within the Guild’s insurance policy;
- During their learning period, they should be handed a ‘Welcome Card’ (further copies available from Branch Secretaries) and be advised about the Guild and branch activities they will be able to take part in as soon as they are sufficiently proficient;
- As soon as a Learner can ring well-struck rounds unaided, please let your Branch Secretary know so they can be elected as a Guild Member at one of our Branch Business Meetings;
- Upon election, they should register their membership on MemberMojo and pay their annual subscription;
- Even prior to election, learners are welcome at Guild social events when invited by their teacher or mentor who will know which events are appropriate for them.
What happens to learners already registered on the system under the old Rules?
- New Recruits who do not yet reach the membership criteria of being able to ring well-struck rounds unaided will no longer be registered on the System. The Learner categories no longer appear on the List of Available Memberships on the Membership Homepage.
- Existing Learners who had registered before 10th May will remain as Learners on the System until either they are elected to Ringing or Youth Membership, or until they don’t renew.
- The Fees that existing Learners currently registered on the System will pay in January 2026 have been reduced to zero.
- In early January 2026, the Membership Secretary will write to all Existing Learners on the System whose membership is due for renewal and annually thereafter asking them to renew. There will be no fee to pay so they only have to renew their membership. Those who do not, will, after a period of time, be removed from the System in consultation with Branch Secretaries. It is likely that Learners registered prior to 10 May 2025 will have either been elected as ringing members by then or they will have lapsed so this will probably apply to a very small group.
Andy Waring
Communications Officer
