Who is the advice for – this advice is primarily for community groups and small charities if you are big enough to have a finance officer you probably have your own procedures and set amounts already and maybe even a credit or debit card for the organisation.
A banking mandate is the document that tells the bank who can access your charity’s account, what they are allowed to do, and how payments must be approved. For example, your charity might require two people to approve any payment, so the money is kept safe.
This is advice for not-for-profit groups, considering becoming a small community group if you are considering becoming a company or sole trader, this advice is not for you.
The constitution is the legal framework for managing a group. There are good reasons for this - it will allow you to apply for funds, it sets up a legal framework for responsibility and decision-making and gives you the opportunity to be clear about what your objectives are.
You do not legally have to become constituted, however there are many things un-constituted groups cannot do.
This factsheet provides guidance for charity trustees on meeting frequency, oversight responsibilities, and governance risks, particularly for charities delivering services to children, families or adults at risk. It is designed to support Boards in understanding their legal duties and identifying areas where improvements may be required.
Beatty, Development Worker at Salford CVS has written a comprehensive blog on how to deal with complaints: https://www.salfordcvs.co.uk/blogs
Please have a look at our Factsheet of legal structures of organisations:
Now is the time to stand together, with courage, solidarity, and a shared commitment to real change.
A social enterprise is a business that exists primarily to achieve social, economic or environmental goals. It earns income by selling goods or services and reinvests most of its profits into its mission rather than sharing them with shareholders. Social enterprises work in various sectors—including health, education, retail, and technology—and are intended to benefit the public.
Read more on Social Enterprises:
What is a Theory of Change?
A Theory of Change (ToC) for Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations is a strategic framework that explains and shows why the organisation aims to create positive change. It maps out the pathway from the organisation’s activities to its long-term goals, showing the logical connections between inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact.