Stage of Life

Starting/ Setting Up 

If you are looking to start or set up your organisation as a: 

• Voluntary or Community group - BCM (Birmingham Community Matters) can help you 

• CIC (Community Interest Company) or Social Enterprise – iSE (Initiative for Social Enterprise) can help you 

• Registered Charity – We would not usually recommend groups to start off as a registered charity as it comes along with a lot of limits and legal responsibilities, but instead look at this structure as an option along with other structures once you have been running for a while. The Charity Commission provides guidance on checking whether a new Charity is the best option. 

• Company – Companies House provides guidance on starting a company 

• Don’t know yet? – BCM (Birmingham Community Matters) provides a useful table of structures for organisations to help get you started 

• Further Information – NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) also provides some information on practical steps you need to take to set up your own organisation  

Growing 

BVSC and all our partners can help you with wide-ranging support to run and grow your organisation, depending on your needs 

Merging 

NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) provides some guidance about mergers  

Closing Down 

Sadly sometimes organisations will need to consider closure. NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) provides guidance on closing your charity or voluntary organisation.