If you cannot find the information you are looking for please feel free to contact one of the development workers.

What is a Social Enterprise?

The basic definition of a Social Enterprise is "a business operating primarily for social aims rather than for profit".

"Social Enterprise is an alternative business model where organisations combine financial sustainability with social and environmental missions, or multiple bottom lines." This is the introduction of a further definition. Click here for the full definition from the Social Enterprise UK website which is another source of information for social businesses. Social Enterprise UK offer free advice and support. Social Enterprise UK are the national body for social enterprise.

When should a new group start keeping accounts?

By law any charity or community group must keep adequate financial records. If groups have started then records of money paid out or paid in should be kept even if these are donations from founder members.

More info can be found on the following websites:

KnowHow NonProfit has a comprehensive financial management section.

CASH - ONLINE aims to provide people with the basic financial skills needed to run successful charities and voluntary organisations - they produce free downloadable fact sheets.

For the fullest and latest Charity Commission guidance visit Charity Reporting and Accounting: the essentials CC15b

Where can I find statistical information about Ealing Borough?

Statistics can be used to support funding applications.

The Neighbourhood Statistics website brings together census data and other large scale surveys. Searches can be done at a ward or local area level on health, crime, employment etc. Click here to search by post code or place name.

Data for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration is a website which acts as a signpost for other websites containing useful research and statistics. Click here to search on topics such as are population, deprivation, employment, education, health, housing, crime and liveability.

Another source of information for London borough research is London's Poverty Profile.

How do I get a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check?

(Formerly Criminal Records Bureau - CRB)

Ealing Council's disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks and processes applications and disclosures for Ealing Council staff and/or staff working on behalf of Ealing Council.

As the council is a registered body with the DBS it can also carry out criminal records checks on behalf of non-registered organisations – this is called an umbrella service.

More information can be found on the Ealing Council DBS website pages.

Further information on Disclosure and Barring Service can be found Gov.Uk website.

Are there any good reasons for registering as a charity?

There a several benefits in registering as charity for voluntary organisations. These include:

• Pay no more than 20% of normal business rates on occupied buildings and can get special VAT treatment in some circumstances
• More funding steams open to the groups
• Eligible for help and advice from the Charities Commission
• Can choose from bank accounts specifically for community groups generally offering cheaper and more straight forward banking

For more information on charity registration click here.

For more information on advantages of being a registered charity click here

Where can I find out about insurance?

The Charity Commission website has a very comprehensive information page and downloads on Charities and Insurance

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) preferred suppliers list has preferred Insurers listed.

My Community Starter is a FREE information resource for people who want to get involved in organising smaller, straightforward community activities/groups and includes information on Insurance Considerations

CASH - ONLINE aims to provide people with the basic financial skills needed to run successful charities and voluntary organisations and has a section on insurances which can be found here.

This mini toolkit insurance document produced by Southampton City Council Communities Team has a great amount of info in it for community groups, etc. on insurance and has a list of insurance providers: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/policies/Insurance%20guide.pdf

ECVS does not endorse any suppliers – the links are here for VCS organisations to make their own informed choices.

Where can I find information about starting a group?

There is information on the KnowHow NonProfit website about starting, running and developing a group. There are several different legal structures some incorporated and some unincorporated. It is important to look at the different structures and decide what is right for your group - more here.

You might also find the Charity Commission's notes on Charity Types: how to choose a structure useful.

If you require practical advice on getting involved in community action, or setting up a group the Just Act website has a number of relevant documents and resources including some that NAVCA provided.

Where can I find a model constitution?

Once you have decided the legal structure which is right for your group you will need to have a set of rules or governing document which say how your group will be run. Model documents are available from the Charity Commission website.