setting up a group

Setting up a group

REGISTERED CHARITY NO: 1092047 ▪ COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NO: 4279401

What do you need to begin?

• People to form committee• Members• To decide on a structure• Governing Document• Policies• Bank account


Your committee

The 3 basic roles you need for your committee are:

• Chair• Secretary• Treasurer


Pros of unincorporated organisation

• Quickest, cheapest and easiest to set up

• A democratic structure

• Constitution allows you to decide the rules by which your organisation will be run

• No reporting responsibility as long as your income doesn’t exceed £5,0000


Pros of unincorporated organisation

• Gives the structure needed to apply for funding

• No need to submit accounts

• Group can decide criteria for membership and you aren't even required to keep a list unless you have a paid membership


Cons of unincorporated organisation

Has no separate legal existence which means:

• You cannot own property• You cannot employ staff• You cannot enter into contracts• Trustees are individually liable for the

organisations obligations and debts.


Governing Document

• The governing document for an unincorporated organisation is called a constitution

• Your constitution is the set of rules by which you will run your organisation, which must be agreed by all your committee members.


PoliciesYour policies are a set of rules about how your group will act in specific situations. The basics you should begin with are:

• Equality and Diversity• Safeguarding vulnerable adults and

or young people


First meetingOnce you have gathered together your people and documents you are ready to hold your first meeting.

At this meeting your committee must agree and sign off your constitution and policies

You are now an unincorporated organisation……


Opening a bank accountMost banks will require the following:

• A copy of your governing document• Signatories who will have access to the

account• Minutes of your first meeting• Names of the people associated with the

organisation• A form signed by the appropriate people


Opening a bank account• Compare the charges made by different

banks• Note any restrictions on the account• Banks and building societies need to check

that your signatories are who they say they are so they will be required to provide proof of address and signature documents accepted will vary

• Some banks may not accept related signatories or those living at the same address


Support for your group

Wherever you are setting up there will be an infrastructure organisation who can give you advice and support to set up develop and run your group.

NAVCA membership directory:http://data.navca.org.uk/members/directory


http://data.navca.org.uk/members/directory

setting up a group

Documents

company limited

group registered charity

charity accounts

charities charity bank

young people

appropriate people

accounts group

set of rules