Here are some of the questions that our Small Groups Development Worker, Kathy Faulks, is asked most frequently:

• Do we need to register as a charity?
• How do we register as a charity?
• Will it cause a problem if management committee or directors/trustees are related?
• What does SMART mean?
• What is a Social Enterprise?
• How do I search for funding for my group?
• Where can I find a venue for a meeting or event in Leeds?
• Are there sources of discounted furniture, electrical items etc for voluntary organisations in Leeds?
• What are CRB disclosures and how do I apply for them for my organisation's volunteers?

If you are thinking about setting up a group or your group has a question that is not answered here you can Ask Kathy using our online form.

If your organisation has:

• Charitable objects
• Annual income of £5,000 or above
• Exists for the public benefit

You are required by law to register. You can apply to register as a charity on the Charity Commission website.

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VAL runs a regular 'How to Register as a Charity' training course designed to show you how to do this. See our training section for when the next session is running.

Further information about registering as a charity can be found both on our "Charities Act 2006: Registration as a Charity" factsheet, and on the Charity Commission website.

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You may have problems getting funding.

For example, the Big Lottery Fund will not fund organisations where the committee members are related.

There is nothing in law to stop a charity from having related trustees but  the Charity Commission would recommend that a new charity seeking registration would ensure that a majority of the trustees were unrelated.

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SMART stands for:

• Specific - Don't be vague

• Measurable - Quantify your goals. How will you know if you've achieved it or not?

• Achievable - Be honest with yourself about what you can reasonably accomplish

• Realistic - It's got to be do-able, real and practical

• Timebound - Give a timeframe to your goals - when should you complete them?

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A social enterprise is a business trading for a social purpose. Surpluses (profits) are reinvested in the business or in the community.

Further information is available on the Business Link website.

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Visit our Funding Support page and look at the "Help with Identifying Sources of Funding" section. This provides links to key possible sources of funding for voluntary organisations in Leeds. It also provides tips on how to search more widely for funding, using the various Funding Search resources that are available.

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A factsheet listing Leeds city centre venues for meetings and events is available to download from the resources section.

Other places to look for venues in Leeds are:

• The Leeds Community Accesspoint database of over 2000 Leeds voluntary, community and faith organisations.
• Leeds City Council has a list of community centres and other Council venues to hire in Leeds.

In addition, there are two meeting rooms to hire at the VAL offices in Stringer House.

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The Leeds City Council website has a list of second hand furniture stores in Leeds which maybe able to help you source furniture. Many provide a collection service for donated items.

For computer equipment, visit the Regional Electronics Initiative website or the CTX programme www.ctxchange.org.

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Volunteering England has a useful summary sheet on this subject.

However, as this summary was last updated in May 2009, it is worth keeping up to date with recent developments, not least that in June 2010 the Government announced that the proposed Vetting & Barring Scheme would be reviewed. For more information, visit the websites of the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the Criminal Records Bureau.

A number of VAL members act as umbrella bodies that can process CRB disclosure checks on behalf of other voluntary organisations, including:

• Advonet
• Health for All (Leeds)
• Leeds Accommodation Forum
• Leeds Alternative Travel

(NB: If you are a VAL member and provide this service, please let us know so we can add you to this list).

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) website search facility provides a full list of umbrella bodies across the UK.

For general advice on the subject of Safeguarding Children for Third Sector organisations, including developing Child Protection Policies or Procedures, please contact Leeds Safeguarding Children Board on 0113 395 1334.

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