Setting up a group

There are many different reasons to start a group, and many different legal structures for you to choose from. It's worth thinking
about what kind of group you want to have, as this may affect the
order in which you do things.

The Resource Centre have information sheets on all the things you will need to think about when you are setting up a group:

• Getting a group started
• Constitutions
• Bank accounts
• The Roles of Committee members
• Responsibilities of the Management Committee
• Legal Structures for Community and voluntary
  groups
• Legal structures for Not for Profit Organisations
• Charity Registration

They also have a RouteMap online flowchart to help you choose a legal structure. For example, if you are planning to set up a charitable trust
to run arts projects in the community, you will want to give some
thought to the aims and structure of the group before you invite others
to join you, so that you can be clear about what you are asking them to
do.

They have a wide range of equipment for hire at affordable rates, plus computing and printing facilities that you can use to produce flyers, posters, newsletters, etc.

If you need something that the Resource Centre does not not have, you can search the Beachcomber database for anything from insurance to bouncy castles, to advice on how to do a risk assessment.

The Resource Centre also offers additional support services to

• Brighton & Hove Council tenants' associations
• Groups based in areas of social housing and run by local
  people
• Groups based in minority ethnic communities
• Groups run by disabled people

This includes one-to-one tailored training and advice sessions,
covering topics such as computer skills; keeping accounts;developing a
fundraising strategy;drawing up a constitution; and any opther aspect
of running your group.

For more information please contact the Resource Centre.

Published by Brighton Resource Centre