Capacity building support is key to the strength and sustainability of non-profit Organisations

For people who wish to set up new community groups:

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A constitution is basically a formal document stating the aims of your groups and a set of rules that your organisation will follow. 

 

For example, how you will conduct your elections and committee business. A committee is usually formed with named officers such as: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and some others who would be Committee members.  These people would be responsible for the management and running of the group to see that it meets its aims and objectives.

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As the group grows and develops, a member/s of staff may be bought in to help to carry out projects that meet the aims of the group. 

 

A constituted group with a bank account can apply for funds to carry out community projects and such and will be expected to have an annual general meeting with its members.

This can be daunting for some community groups who wish to make the transition to become a social enterprise. There is plenty of support available and we have supplied some links as well as a business plan template.

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The size and detail of your business plan will most probably depend on the size of your organisation and the length of vision that you have for your social enterprise.

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Why have a business plan?

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Well, it helps investors and funders know about your planned journey and how you are going to get there. Also, what services you are going to deliver and your projected income streams.

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In addition to this, it lets your Board or Management Team what you are working towards and in which timescales certain milestones need to be met.  In other words, a plan to work towards.

Policies are an important part of any organisation, and you must have them. They help organisations to comply with the law and keep good governance within the organisation.

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Many funding bodies will also wish to see that you have these policies. They are a good guide for your staff and users to follow as well. Especially, when things go wrong.

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The aim of the policy is to ensure the safety of vulnerable adults by outlining clear procedures and ensuring that all staff members are clear about their responsibilities. A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited.

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The overall idea behind safeguarding adults is to protect their life, keep them safe and prevent them from being threatened with or experiencing neglect or abuse.