Starting Up & Constitutions

Thinking of setting up a voluntary, charitable or community group or organisation?

Community Links Bromley can provide a range of assistance for you:

Membership

Membership allows you access to a range of information and support services.

Support and advice through the process

Community Links Bromley's specialist advisors can support you in the process of:

Forming a committee and adopting a constitution
Identifying sources of funding - contact Julie Hunt, Funding Information and Advice Officer
Setting up an accounting system - contact Maroof Adeoye, Community Accountant

Information and guidance

The following information may be useful in setting up a new organisation:

Running your own Group - a practical starter pack. This booklet is designed to take a new organisation through all the first steps in setting up, registering and finding funds

Running Your Own Group: A Practical Starter Pack - 151 KB

Model governing documents (or 'constitutions') - the Charity Commission have a range of model governing documents along with guidance on charity registration. A simpler constitution is available from Hull CVS. If you are setting up a community centre, try Community Matters.

Drafting your own governing document? This checklist from the Charity Commission's publication Choosing and Preparing a Governing Document can help you ensure you have included all necessary information.

We have some information sheets on registering as a charity...

A Guide To Registering As A Charity - 75 KB

Charity Registration checklist ** NEW ** - 37 KB

Drawing Up A Constitution For A Voluntary Organisation - 53 KB

Incorporating - A Practical Guide To Becoming A Company Limited By Guarantee - 62 KB

Setting up a Trading Subsidiary - 41 KB

Community Links Bromley can assist you in finding sources of potential funding. Trustfunding.org.uk and governmentfunding.org.uk are available through the funding information and advice service, providing supported database searches and one-to-one sessions on completing applications. We also have a resource library full of relevant resource material to support your organisation.

For small community grants why not research the following:

Resource library - Community Links Bromley has a resource library of over 500 titles covering all aspects of running a charitable, voluntary or community organisation. Popular titles for new groups include:

Just about managing?
Voluntary but not amateur
Tried and tested ideas for raising money locally
The complete fundraising handbook
The complete guide to business and strategic planning

Page updated: 3 March 2009