Project Development

We can help new groups with setting up a management committee, constitutions, bank accounts, training and business planning in preparation for funding.

We are responsible for working with local community and voluntary groups to help develop their services. There is a process to these meetings;

When a new group needs advice on how to set up, we work closely with them to encourage and support them to identify what exactly it is they want to do and why. We work through set stages, to ensure that all elements are addressed and clarified. We ensure they have a clear understanding of, and, are capable of, outlining their key aims and objectives. At this stage we clarify to them the importance of the key members of the group, which are the officers of the management committee,  i.e. the chair, secretary and the treasurer. At this stage the responsibilities of these officers are discussed, and if needed training is sourced to either update existing skills or develop new skills in this area.

The group will then be helped to decide what type of organisation they want to be. The group must be able to Identify to which structure they belong if they wish to apply for funding, or at later stage apply to become a registered charity.

From this information we help them compile their governing document, which in most cases is a constitution. The main purpose and elements of the constitution is explained in detail, to clarify understanding. Once the constitution is agreed and approved by the group members, it will be typed up, ready to sign by the newly elected management committee at their first meeting, known as the annual general meeting (AGM)    

We will then conduct a training needs analysis to help identify any training needs, this is done through discussion and explanation on what the 'key roles and responsibilities' of the newly formed group are, and what they will need to do to ensure the success of their new project. We support them to identify any gaps in their knowledge and understanding, and then ensure that training is sourced to address those gaps. In particular we encourage training in areas such as equal opportunities and safer care for children which are not only a moral obligation but also a legal one.

We then give information and advice relating to 'opening a bank account' ensuring they understand that the 'treasurer' must be the main signatory along with a further two committee members (who must not be related or cohabitating)

Once the group have worked through the aforementioned they are ready to formalise their new group at their first AGM. Advice and support is given to what procedures have to be adhered to at this meeting, for example setting up the necessary registers and agreeing a system for keeping minutes, checking the constitution for procedures to elect officers, the drawing up of role descriptions for officers and committee members, checking the constitution for rules on cheque signatories, obtaining bank mandate forms & clarifying the documentation required by the bank, and consider what insurances are necessary and obtaining quotes & proposal forms.

The new group will then continue to work with the development team to draw up a plan of action, in many cases a small business plan is used as a guide, to ensure they all understand what it is they want to do, by when.

We would then work with them on their future funding strategy. See funding section.