Getting started
Are you leading or part of a group of like-minded individuals, or can you see a need for a service you want to support? Turning an idea into something practical can be daunting. Below is a little advice to help you get started.
We also suggest you watch the free on-demand video ‘Starting your community group’. Following this you could watch ‘Is your group a charity?’ and ‘What structure will you choose?’, click here to watch them all.
Top tips and things to remember
- If you are a group of volunteers wanting to do something to benefit others, but don’t: make a profit, envisage raising funds above £5,000, employ people or enter into contracts, you are probably an unincorporated association. As such you don’t need to register with anyone, you just agree what you want to do, then write and agree your governing document.
- A governing document is used to clarify how a not-for-profit group is run and organised. It outlines what your group aims to do, how people get involved, how it is run and how finances are handled.
- A governing document is a set of rules that might be called a constitution or a trust deed or a memorandum and articles of association depending on the structure of the group and whether it is charitable.
- To be charitable you need to be set up exclusively to achieve charitable purposes as defined by charity law and be set up to deliver public benefit to a sufficient section of the public.
- If you are set up as an unincorporated association and meet the criteria to be a charity with an annual turnover below £5,000 per annum you are in effect an unregistered charity. Unregistered charities do not have to report to the Charity Commission but they still have to abide by the Commission’s rules.
- If your ambitions for your group are likely to lead to you needing to sign contracts or employ people, you might want to consider becoming an incorporated organisation. An incorporated organisation can sign contracts on its own behalf thereby limiting the personal liability of the trustees running the group. When considering what type of structure to adopt, consider factors such as, regulatory body, level of governance, tax implications and your sources of income, the type of structures include.
Need more support?
If you need more support or one-to-one advice on this topic, get in touch with either Hunts Forum or CCVS. We have knowledgeable staff who can advise and offer more support suitable for your organisation. If you are not sure which organisation to contact email us at info@supportcambridgeshire.org.uk, and we will pass you on to the right person.
Local resources
NCVO have lots of resources on their website about setting up a community group.
Hunts Forum has also created documents to get you started.
Government resources
How to write your charity’s governing document
How to change your charity’s structure