Legal Forms Decision Tool

This flowchart should help give you some idea of what kind of organisation you're looking to start up. Remember to read all of our other resources too to make an informed decision.

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Latest

South London Gallery Body Building Workshop with Rhiannon Hunter

Join this free, drop-in workshop for families! Create your own wearable architectural designs out of cardboard, colourful tape and paper with artist Rhiannon Hunter
South London Gallery Art of the Rave Flyer with Junior Tomlin

Join artist Junior Tomlin, dubbed ‘the Salvador Dali of Rave’ as he revisits his 1990s dance night flyers including designs made for local club Peckham Lazerdrome
Talk by Shamica Ruddock and Ashley Holmes in South London Gallery

South London Gallery Postgraduate artist-in-residence Shamica Ruddock and artist DJ Ashley Holmes will discuss their work, inspirations and interests and their own sound practices
Pecan Women's Service Mental Health Advocate role

This is an exciting new role aimed at breaking down barriers to mental health services for vulnerable women

A Guide to Getting Started

Most groups are started in response to an identified need. The best way to get going is to bring together a small number of people who share your interest and talk about the problem you want to address and what you could do about it. Even if these people are not able to commit long-term they may be willing to contribute ideas and experience in the early stages.
Legal Forms of Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations Chart Diagram

There are numerous legal forms of VCS organisation to choose from. Check out this chart to see the names of each of them and whether they are incorporated or unincorporated.
Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs)

Clubs promoting a single sport are now eligible to be either a charity (or CIO) or a CASC. The CASC scheme distinguishes between clubs and business for rates and tax purposes. It is not a legal structure.
Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG)

Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLG) have been in existence since 1862 and are simply an alternative type of corporation, primarily used for not-for-profit organisations.
Social Enterprise- Community Interest Companies (CIC)

Community Interest Companies or CICs were born out of the realisation that Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLGs) had a structural problem when used for non-charitable organisations.
Setting up an Organisation - Initial Community Southwark Assessment

Community Southwark can help you set up an organisation as long as it has charitable aims and is based in Southwark. Before we provide support, however, we ask that all prospective organisations complete this initial assessment so we can better understand the scope of your organisation and to make sure that you've considered what it take to run it from scratch.
Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)

Charitable Incorporated Organisations or CIOs are a relatively new legal structure available for charities or charitable groups that wish to be incorporated. Learn more here.
Unincorporated Associations

This briefing provides an insight into what an unincorporated association is, and the pros and cons for this form.
Charities and Trusts

When starting up a ‘not for profit’ organisation there are a number of factors to take into account. A key consideration is what legal and organisational structure would be most appropriate. There are a number of different legal structures, all of which have different implications.