You would like to set up a community group or friends of group, you have a pretty good idea of what it is you would like to do, and you know other people in the community who would also like to get involved and volunteer. The first thing to do is to contact your local authority and / or your local CVS organisation let them know what it is you would like to do; they may be able to offer specific guidance. You can find your local authority or CVS organisation contact details here.

The organisations structure

It’s important to get the governance right. If you decide with your local authority that you want to set up a Friends of Group, you will need a constitution and you’ll likely need insurance. Both Parks Community and CCVS offer guidance on different types of insurance that might apply to your organisation.

Note sure how to where to start writing a constitution? – No problem, Parks Community have created a free template you can use to get you started.

Alternatively, you might be interested in setting up a charity, trust or other type of community organisation, in which case, Hunts Forum and Support Cambridgeshire both have excellent guidance on how to start a community organisation.

Polices and procedures

Once your organisation is set up, there may be other policies and procedures you need to think about next such as GDPR, Health and Safety, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Follow this link for a full list of policies and procedures guidance and templates.

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