Information for Voluntary and Community Organisations

If you are setting up, developing or wishing to improve the running of your organisation,
the following information and links could be of use:

Legal Structures

Lifetimes Guidance Notes - Legal Structures Summary Table

Legal Structures for Social Enterprises

Trading: Using the Right Legal Form - Information from NCVO 

GetLegal Website
To find out what is the best legal structure for your organisation (i.e. whether to set up an association, company limited by guarantee, community interest company etc.) visit the GetLegal website. It includes an explanation of the different legal structures and a free on-line tool to help you decide the best structure for you as well as sample governing documents.
http://www.getlegal.org.uk/

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Sample Governing Documents

GetLegal Website
http://www.getlegal.org.uk/resources/standard-legal-document-precedents.html

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Registering as a Charity 

Lifetimes Guidance Notes - Becoming A Registered Charity

The Charity Commission Website
This site has all the background information you need to become a registered charity and to register online. You can also call their helpline on 0845 300 0218.
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/Register_a_new_charity/default.aspx

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Sample Policies

Ladder4Learning
This website has a section on sample policies and procedures
http://www.ladder4learning.org.uk/policiesandmodeldocs

Safe Network Resources
Provides safeguarding information related to activities outside the home, from after school art clubs to weekend reading groups
www.safenetwork.org.uk/resources/  

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HR Bank
Free sample HR policies and job descriptions
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/workforce-development/hrbank

The Resource Centre
Has various sample policies available
http://www.resourcecentre.org.uk/information/policies_procedures/sample_policies/index.asp

Open Source Community
This is a website full of resources, including sample policies 
http://www.opensourcecommunity.net/

KnowHowNonProfit
Sample policies:
http://www.knowhownonprofit.org/organisation/operations/legal/copy_of_policies?searchterm=sample+policies

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Finding Premises

Community centres in Wandsworth
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200021/community_centres_and_facilities

My Community Space
This organisation find premises and promote space available
www.mycommunityspace.org.uk

WBC Commercial Lettings
Find out about available premises from the Wandsworth Council. http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/820/property_valuations/387/the_valuation_service/2

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HR & Recruiting Staff

Target HR
A cross-London human resources (HR) project, providing in-depth, tailor-made support to small voluntary and community organisations to improve HR policies, procedures, skills and knowledge.  http://www.vac.org.uk/projects/target-hr/

KnowHowNonProfit
Recruiting and Managing Staff
http://www.knowhownonprofit.org/people/staff

'How To Guides'
This site covers some of the more complex areas of employment practice and HR
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/how-to-guides

Workforce Development Resources from NCVO

http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/workforce-development

Employment law and HR advice from PEACe
Expert support and advice on all employment related issues from LVSC's Personnel, Employment Advice and Conciliation Service (PEACe); Contact the helpline on 0203 349 8921 (First Thursday of every month from 10.00am - 4.00pm) http://www.lvsc.org.uk/peace 

ACAS
Advice and guidance, tools and resources about employment
http://www.acas.org.uk/

 
Open Source Community
A website full of resources, including job descriptions and policies  http://www.opensourcecommunity.net/

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Outcomes Monitoring

Outcomes on-line
Resources on how to set and monitor your outcomes
http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=116
also check the free downloads: http://www.ces-vol.org.uk/index.cfm?pg=112

Explaining the difference your project makes
The BIG Lottery’s official guidance on outcomes for grant applicants and recipients
http://www.triangleconsulting.co.uk/storage/ExplainingTheDifferenceYourProjectMakes.pdf

Outcomes Tools and Publications 
Including ‘Outcomes Stars’
http://www.triangleconsulting.co.uk/outcomes-tools-and-publication/

Star Guides
Download different outcomes star guides
http://www.outcomesstar.org.uk/

Evaluation Support Scotland
Various guides on monitoring and developing outcomes

http://www.evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/

Social Return on Investment (SROI)
http://www.sroi-uk.org/

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Business Planning

WVSDA Guidance Notes - Planning your Project

WVSDA Guidance Notes - Business Planning for Small Organisations

Strategy for non-profits
Find out about the strategy development process and how to do it well.

www.knowhownonprofit.org/organisation/strategy

Strategy and Impact
NCVO pages on strategic planning
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/funding-finance/planning

Adventures in Strategy
Download the following publication
http://www.improvingsupport.org/resources/view/1700-renewing-your-strategy-is-the-first-of-5-adventures-in-strategy-publications-focussed-on-strategic-p

Strategic insight and planning tools for the UK voluntary and community sector

http://www.3s4.org.uk/

Strategic Planning – basic information and case studies

http://www.voluntarymatters1and2.org/organisation/strategic_planning/overview.html

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ICT

ICT Champions
Short, jargon-free answers and links to useful information.

http://www.ictchampions.org.uk/

LASA
A charity which offers knowledge, support and resources.  Contact on 0207 377 2748 or info@lasa.org.uk;
http://www.lasa.org.uk/

iT4Communities
The UK's leading national IT volunteering programme. Helps charities, community groups and social enterprises access free IT support from IT professional volunteers.
http://www.it4communities.org.uk/

Software Donation
The Charity Technology Exchange provides a comprehensive range of services and equipment  to UK-based registered charities, enabling charities to save 92-96% on typical retail prices; http://www.ctxchange.org/

Donate a PC
Free 'matchmaking' service for individuals and organisations to donate un-needed hardware (computers, printers etc) to UK charities, not-for-profit organisations and educational establishments.
http://www.donateapc.org.uk/index.php

Social Media
Get to grips with the growing social media landscape.
http://resources.mediatrust.org/guides/digital/

Collaboration & Partnerships

BASSAC Collaboration pages
Publications for anyone supporting or facilitating collaboration.
http://www.bassac.org.uk/our-programmes/collaboration

KnowHowNonProfit
http://www.knowhownonprofit.org/organisation/orgdev/development-1/collaboration/collaboration

NCVO
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/collaborative-working
 

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VAN Resources
Check the information available on their section on ‘Running your Group’. It includes items such as:
• ‘How do we plan a marketing campaign?’
• ‘How do we create a newsletter?’
• ‘How do we create an accessible website?’
www.voluntaryarts.org/cgi-bin/website.cgi?tier1=network&tier2=running%20your%20group&fp=true

Practical skills for campaigning groups
http://www.seedsforchange.org.uk/free/resources#pract

Effective Campaigns – NCVO resources
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/campaigningeffectiveness

Campaigns and awareness
http://www.knowhownonprofit.org/campaigns

Media Trust
Offers professional support to help you with your communications and media.
http://www.mediatrust.org/

Reach
Provides skilled volunteers with the right management, professional, technical or business expertise to help voluntary organisations achieve their full potential
http://www.reachskills.org.uk/ 

LawWorks 
A charity which aims to provide free legal help to individuals and community groups who cannot afford to pay for it.
http://www.lawworks.org.uk/

iT4Communities
The UK's leading national IT volunteering programme. Helps charities, community groups and social enterprises access free IT support from IT professional volunteers.
http://www.it4communities.org.uk/

The Cranfield Trust
A national charity providing free management consultancy for charities and social enterprise groups involved in issues of poverty, disability or social exclusion.
http://www.cranfieldtrust.org/

Pilotlight
Pilotlight matches talented business people with charities helping charities and social enterprises to grow.
http://london.pilotlight.org.uk/

Trainers and Consultants Direct 
Search for Consultants and Trainers experienced in working with charities and third sector organisations.
http://www.trainersandconsultantsdirect.org.uk/

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