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

Active weekend: Run & Walk & Ride - Fundraiser for a New Community Garden

Join from anywhere! Get moving during early May bank holiday weekend, win prizes, have fun and support a local community garden.
Camberwell Fair Artist in Residence Programme

Camberwell Fair is looking for twelve emerging artists who want to take part in an exciting new Artists in Residence programme. Deadline: 30th April at 5pm.
A guide to formal and informal volunteering

This guide outlines the distinction between formal and informal volunteering activities, along with some examples of both.
Building an inclusive space for volunteers

Focusing on inclusivity within all aspects of your organisation, including volunteers, will allow you to better reflect the communities you serve, making better and more effective strategic decisions.

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.

COVID-19 Vaccinations in Southwark

Find out how COVID-19 vaccinations are being rolled out in Southwark - (updated 24 Feb)
Community Researchers Wanted for Paid Local StreetSpace Project with Southwark Council

Southwark Council are working with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity to deliver trial street changes in three neighbourhoods in Southwark. They are offering community researchers £1,000 for a 10-12 hour commitment per week for roughly 3 months.
Volunteering During a Lockdown

Find out how you can volunteer in Southwark, and help your community get through this lockdown.
New London Community Response Fund: Launching 14 Jan

New funding from the London Community Response is launching on 14 January.
National Lockdown Response Survey

In wake of England's third national lockdown, we wanted to reach out to the VCS to hear what support you need at this time.
Thank you for coming to our Community Southwark AGM!

Yesterday we held our Community Southwark AGM, a big thank you to all of you who joined us.
New projects coming to Southwark

Find out where the funds raised by the Community Infrastructure Levy are going to be spent.
Are you in private rented housing? Find out the support available from Southwark Council's Private Rented Sector Team.

If you are a renting privately, or often supporting people who do, please see information below.
Covid-19 Response

We ran a monthly State of the Sector Survey for six months to gather the changing needs of the sector. Then, in response to this third lockdown, we sent out a National Lockdown Survey in Jan 2021. See the results here...
Community Southwark volunteer roles

See all our Community Southwark volunteer roles here: