BEST MEMBERSHIP SCHEME: National Trust

The legendary NT membership scheme continues to impress. Free entry (and parking) at some 300 historical sites is complemented by an agreement with the National Trust for Scotland and with similar charities elsewhere, which allow members to enjoy their benefits when travelling. A Members’ Handbook, regional newsletters, and three copies of the magazine, complete the offer. Excellent value.

Individual membership costs £46 per year, while families and couples can join the scheme paying £82 and £77 respectively. Children and young people under 26 pay £21 a year only. Adding a member costs £31. There is also a full set of lifelong membership options starting from £1,125 for adults to £1,550 for families. If you pay Direct Debit you also get a free pair binoculars. Wow.

BEST FOR SHOW-OFFS: Tate

Thanks to its phenomenally classy members’ rooms, the glossy coffee-table magazine, and the chance to be immediately admitted to the exhibitions “simply showing your card,” this has got to be the show-off’s favourite scheme.

A single membership costs £54 a year (£47 if paid by Direct Debit) but you can enhance your membership deciding to bring a guest (+£21) or attend private views of London exhibitions (+£20).

BEST FOR FAMILIES: English Heritage

Typical Sunday afternoon: parents, kids and old castles. EH’s top-value membership for family groups includes free entry for up to six children at more than 400 sites across England - plus half-price or free tickets for other properties in the rest of the UK and behind-the-scenes-tours.

Individuals can join the English Heritage for £42 a year or £900 for lifelong membership. Over 60s can join for £30 a year or a one-off fee of £650. Student membership costs £32, and under 60s couples can join paying only £73 a year (£1,350 lifelong) or £49 a year/ £975 lifelong for the over 60s

BEST FOR OPERA-LOVERS: Welsh National Opera

Compared to its London-based peers - see below - the WNO does an astonishing job giving its members fantastic value for money. For just £35, members get the opportunity to meet performers, sit in at dress rehearsals, go to special opera-based events and book tickets in advance of the public - all in addition to the usual bundle of newsletters and magazines. Simply brilliant.

Individual annual membership of the Friends costs £35 and £45 for a couple. Senior citizens, registered unemployed and under 21s pay £30 (individual) and £40 (joint).

FEDERICA'S CHOICE: Centre for Alternative Technology

My personal pick. I loved the feeling of partnership that this membership scheme offers, as the guys are trying to strike a fair deal with their members. And of course the free bottle of organic wine, a must-have for any IG staff member.

Starting from £22 a year members get the CAT quarterly magazine, 10% discount on CAT publications, free entry to the Visitor Centre in the mountains of Mid-Wales, and an invitation to the annual conference held at the Centre. Members who sign up to the Phone Co-op contribute 6 per cent of their calls and broadband expenditure to CAT, and Ecotricity will donate £10 to CAT for every member that signs up to their domestic tariff, and plant a native broadleaf tree for each new customer. And do not forget to ask for your 50% discount on membership of the ETA and the 20% discount on Schumacher membership. The joint membership fee is £27.00 a year (£36 for families of 4) and concession rates are just £18.00 a year. Joining for a lifetime costs £300.00 for individuals and £350.00 for joint memberships.

BEST FOR CHILDREN: The British Museum

We have to confess that the idea of four (4!) sleepovers every year (amidst the mummies, we wonder?) has weighed heavily in our decision. Plus the scheme looks like great value for money, and the Young Members’ magazine looks pretty swish too.

Individual Membership costs £45 per year and you get free entry to all the British Museum’s paying exhibitions, four Members' open evenings each year, access to the Members’ Room, and mailings from the BM every two months (three issues of the British Museum Magazine a year and the Museum's What's on guide six times a year). Under 26 can access the same benefits for £30 a year. Young members (8-15) get their sleepovers, the ReMUS magazine three times a year, special events and Membership pack for £20 a year.

BEST FOR SHOPAHOLICS: Wooden Spoon Society

Regardless our feelings about the Wooden Spoon Society, we are impressed by the benefits of its membership scheme – which includes nice things like discounts at posh shops. This is particularly dear to my heart. Quarterly copies of the Spoonews magazine, access to local and national events and the Spoon Tie or Spoon Pin are nice extras.

Individual members can join from £40 a year but over 65s can enjoy all these benefits from £30 a year. A one-off payment option of £1,000 is available for lifelong membership.

BEST FOR THE (VERY) RICH: Royal Opera House & English National Opera

We are stunned by the range of benefits available to those lucky mortals who can afford to pay the remarkable ‘Patron’ membership fees of these two guardians of the performing arts. Tailor-made membership benefits include glamorous offerings like a private box office and dinner with the CEO and artists. Hard to resist, we hope you’ll agree.

For as little as £78 a year, Friends of the ROH receive ‘About the House’, the magazine of The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, priority booking for all performances and events, special Friends events and the opportunity to apply for tickets to some open rehearsals, a personalised Membership card, the use of a specialised travel agent and other occasional discounts and offers. The Solo (from £50) and Duet (from £90) ENO’s schemes offer advance information on all forthcoming ENO productions, priority booking for ENO performances, a Friends newsletter three times a year, the possibility to book one ticket for ENO dress rehearsals (Duet TWO Tickets), and an invitation to purchase one ticket for a special pre dress rehearsal talk (Duet TWO tickets) (one per Season).

How we chose the winners

OVER THE PAST FEW weeks, we painstakingly browsed through the websites of the 500 charities that have a detailed profile on the website and sent emails or made phone calls to get more information. Among charities that had membership schemes, we selected some which offered original, fun or good-value deals to prospective members. The final selection (by category) has been examined by staff and interns, and winners were nominated following a majority decision.

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