The Forum is built by those who turn up. For thirty-seven years, the strength of the Yorkshire Sikh Forum has come not from what we charge but from who chooses to belong — the families at every Vaisakhi, the young Sikhs at our council table, the women of the Forum who organise, raise and lead, the businesses who anchor our directory, and the patrons who quietly underwrite the work.
From this year, Youth membership (under 25) and Women's membership are fully free. There is no cost, ever, to those two tiers — because cost should never be the barrier to a young person finding their community, nor to a woman of Yorkshire taking her seat at this Forum. The Adult, Family and Lifetime Patron tiers fund the work, plain and honest. Together they make the whole thing possible.
Five tiers, plainly priced. Two are free. The others fund the Forum's civic, charitable and cultural work across all twelve Yorkshire cities.
Tiers indicative · Final amounts confirmed by the membership committee
The Forum is a not-for-profit community organisation. Youth and Women's tiers are free because the next generation and the women of the Forum should never face a barrier of cost to taking their place. That is a principle, not a marketing line.
Adult (£100) and Family (£150) tiers fund the Forum's civic, charitable and cultural work — the Vaisakhi, the interfaith services, the bursaries, the charity drives, the youth programme and the women's network. Every pound is accounted for at the AGM.
Lifetime Patron (£1,000, once) is for those who want to commit to the Forum's future. Patron contributions are reserved for long-term work — archive, bursary endowment, and the next thirty-seven years of the Forum.
Fill in the form below. The committee will review your application and be in touch within 5 working days. For paid tiers, payment instructions follow on confirmation — no money is taken now.
The Forum became my community when I moved to Bradford. Free youth membership made it possible.
Three generations of my family are members. The Vaisakhi every year is the heart of our year.
I joined as a Patron because the Forum gave my parents civic standing in Yorkshire.
Any Sikh — or friend of the Sikh community — living anywhere in Yorkshire. We welcome members from all twelve cities the Forum serves: Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, York, Hull and beyond. There is no requirement of birthplace, gurdwara affiliation or profession.
The next generation and the women of the Forum are the future of this community. Cost should never stand between them and a seat at the table. The Adult, Family and Patron tiers fund the Forum's civic, charitable and cultural work — and in doing so, fund the free tiers.
Yes. Members in good standing may upgrade to Lifetime Patron at any AGM. The full £1,000 is payable on upgrade. Existing Adult or Family payments do not pro-rate against the Patron fee — the Lifetime tier is treated as a separate, voluntary commitment to the Forum's future.
Family covers two adults at the same address and any children under 18 living with them. Children retain access to all family events. At 25, young adults are warmly invited to apply to Youth membership in their own right — which remains free.
Adult, Family and Lifetime Patron members in good standing have full voting rights at the Annual General Meeting. Youth and Women's members have full speaking rights and may vote on matters specific to the Youth and Women's networks, in line with the constitution.
Annual tiers (Adult, Family) renew each year on the anniversary of joining. The committee will write to you in good time with renewal instructions. Youth and Women's tiers renew automatically with a simple email check-in. Lifetime Patron is, by definition, never renewed.
Have a question that isn't here? Write to the committee.