Frequently asked questions - Ask Naomi

Q: What is a community group?

 A Community Group is a group of people who have a mutual interest or similar circumstances and goals. They are normally made up of local people some of whom will be involved with the running of the group by being on the Committee. To find out more about Oldham’s diverse and varied Community organisations see (link to online directory)

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Q: How do I set up a new group?

If you are considering starting up a Community Group then you need to think about:

• What do you want to do? Where do you want to do it? Who do you want to do it with? Research? Are you filling a gap or stepping on people’s toes? Can you work in Partnership?

If you want to start up a Group you will need:

• A Committee of at least three people
• A Constitution
• A bank account in the groups name (with at least two unrelated signatories)

You will also need to consider:

• Insurance Policies (where relevant, Safeguarding Children and Young People/Vulnerable Adults etc)
• Publicity,
• Getting Volunteers

For all of the above see our factsheets and resources section.

If all this makes you feel like burying your head in the sand…worry not! The Development Team can support you every step of the way. We offer one to one support, training and information that you can access for free

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Q: Do we need to register as a charity?

If your organisation has:

• Charitable objects
• Annual income of £5,000 or above
• Exists for the public benefit

You are required by law to register. You can apply to register as a charity on the Charity Commission website.

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Q: What is a Social Enterprise?

A social enterprise is a business trading for a social purpose. Surpluses (profits) are reinvested in the business or in the community.

Further information is available on the Business Link website / download Social enterprise factsheet.

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Q: How do I search for funding for my group?

Visit our Funding Support page and look at the "Help with Identifying Sources of Funding" section. This provides links to key possible sources of funding for voluntary organisations in the borough of Oldham. It also provides tips on how to search more widely for funding, using the various Funding Search resources that are available.

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Q: Where can I find a venue for a meeting or event in Oldham?

VAO’s ‘Community Spaces’ booklet has details of venues for meetings, training and events and is available to download by clicking here.

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Q: What are CRB disclosures and do I need them for my organisation’s volunteers?

For general advice on the subject of Safeguarding Children for VCS organisations, including developing Child Protection Policies or Procedures, please contact the Childrens Hub on 0161 621 9392 or visit their website www.thehuboldham.org.uk.

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Q: What is a trustee and what do they do?

Trustees are the people responsible for ensuring that an organisation has a clear strategy, that it remains true to its original vision, and that it complies with all necessary rules and legal obligations.

Collectively, trustees are known as the board, and they have a number of formal roles and responsibilities, which include appointing key people and keeping a check on the organisation’s finances and activities. You can think of a trustee as a guardian looking out for the organisation's best interests and promoting its aims in the wider world. 

Trustees guide the organisation. They make sure it's heading in the right direction and doing what it was set up to do. Trustees shouldn't get involved in the detailed, day-to-day running of the organisation: that's the job of the chief executive and staff team. (But in a small organisation trustees may wear several hats - including those of chief executive or manager.)

What's in a name? Just to make things even trickier, trustees may not be called trustees at all.

They may be called members of the committee, management committee members, directors, executive committee members, governors or something completely different.

Link to Factsheet  - Committees, board of directors or trustees

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Q: What is a constitution and do I need one?

A constitution is a document that sets out why a voluntary organisation or community group exists, and how it is managed. Most voluntary organisations have a constitution unless they are:

• A very informal group who just meet for mutual benefit or support, and don’t feel the need for a governing document;

• An organisation that has decided to become a non-profit-making company, in which case they will have Articles of Association and Memorandum.   

There are a number of reasons for having a constitution. These include:

Having clear statement of the aims of the group (known as Objects). It is important that the people involved with the group, and other people and organisations, understand what the group has been set up to do.

Having set of guidelines or rules about how the group should be run, who can be a member of the group, how finances should be managed etc.

Groups applying for funding from other organisations will almost always need a constitution. Many funders will ask to see a copy of a group’s constitution before they will give them funding.

A group wishing to become a registered charity will need a constitution to submit to the Charity Commission. 

If you are a new group and would like help to become constituted please contact Clare Taylor or Jane Glaysher-White on 0161 633 6222

Link to Factsheet - Governing document (or constitution)

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