Community Groups, Residents Associations and Friends of Groups

Depending on the aims of the association or group, coming together can provide opportunity to enhance the area you live in, address issues of community concern and be the ‘voice’ for the residents within your local area. The types of activity they may do include:

• developing a vision and goals for their group.
• communicating information to residents locally.
• applying for grants from funding providers
• organising local projects such as community days, school holiday projects, planting days or litter picking/clean-up days.
• Addressing local issues that are important to your neighbourhood.

Some groups are set up to achieve specific aims, for example

• helping to tackle antisocial behaviour or crime
• raising issues about planned developments in their area
• raising funds to improve local facilities, such as community gardens or play areas
• organising events to bring the community together
• working with tenants and leaseholders to liaise with a landlord or management company on housing issues
• working with Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to promote and participate in Local Authority Initiatives

Deciding on what structure your group should take

Once you have a good idea of the group’s goals, you need to consider how you want the group to be set-up and run. This would include deciding on your aims, constitution and any legal structure you may want to take.

A residents’ association and some community groups might be formed to tackle specific issues. Often these groups are ‘constituted’ and are more formal in structure.

Becoming a constituted group can help with:

• Establishing a more ‘formal’ committee structure that sets out the aims and objectives of your group.  
• Holds more accountability than a small activity group as it has members such as a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and that you, as a group, have a wider vision on how you want to support your community. 
• Highlights to future funders that the group adhere to obligations as set out in your constitution. 
• Becoming a constituted group (if it suits your aims) will also support your group to obtain a Bank Account that will be needed for the group to set up to manage financial transactions and to apply for funding
• It may help to engage with public bodies such as the council and represent the view of your group.
• Writing up a constitution will help your members be clear on the structure of the group is, its purpose and its aims and to agree actions to take forward.

It is important to remember that a constituted group is not an incorporated organisation and is not a legal body. It has no separate legal identity. That means that individual members who enter obligations, such as contracts, on behalf of the group are responsible as individuals for its debts and other liabilities. If your group or association is growing and taking on more financial responsibility such as fundraising, or owning assets, you may wish to seek further advice on what legal structure is right for your group.

The Charity Commission has lots of information to help find out more about what structure might be right for your group or association Charity types: how to choose a structure - GOV.UK

Further support and information

There is more information of what structure is right for your group and what you need to do next available on the Government website Set up a charity: Structures - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Charity Excellence has a comprehensive list of templates, including a sample constitution that you can download and complete for your group.

Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead will be able to provide further information, guidance and support. This may include information on governance and templated documents to help you get started.

Contact VARB  info@varb.org.uk  or see thie website www.Varb.org. 

You can also contact your Reigate and Banstead Community Development Worker who can help you connect with local people or other groups in the area. They can also support groups with reviewing documents. Please see our Community Development page for contact details in your area.

For more information contact communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk