What will it be like

Voluntary groups are usually formed by like-minded people who recognise the need for a specific service or activity within their locality. This involves working together with people of similar interests, with the intent to address the same issue, encouraging and supporting others whilst working through the respective struggles one might face. Though rewarding and enjoyable, starting a community group will also require a considerable amount of time. energy and commitment.

Three key issues to consider when starting a voluntary group are:

• Is there a gap in existing services(demand for the group)?
• Do similar groups already exist (may be competing for funds/resources/clients of group)?
• Are there enough people willing to commit time and energy to help start things?

Involving others

The best starting point is by brining together a small number of like-minded people, who can provide early ideas and experience. Numbers will initially be very limited, and not everyone will have similar levels of commitment and enthusiasm.

First Meeting

The new organisation is best launched with an open meeting. When staging such a meeting, one should consider the following steps:

• A time and date.
• A suitable venue (consider capacity, tea/coffee facilities etc.).
• Publicity - contact local press and radio about one month in advance, these can also represent you at the meeting.
• Make a poster advertising the event, to place in multiple locations - libraries, shops, notice boards, schools etc.
• Consider inviting organisations in similar friends, local authority staff etc., whom might be interested.
• Ask for others to think of and bring some aims to the meeting.

The meeting itself

• Decide who will chair the event, have somebody to take notes.
• Invite a suitable speaker.
• Put signs up at the venue in advance.
• Put out speakers' table with adequate chairs, glasse, water, pens and paper.

Running the meeting

• Welcome and thanks for coming along.
• Send round a 'sign up' sheet to collect peoples' details in order to update them with the group's progress.
• Possibly include a chat from an 'expert' within the intended field.
• A 'brainstorming' session for people to put forward the group's aims and ideas.
• Present a need for a small commitee in order to help the group start up. (Three key people: chairperson, treasurer, secretary).
• Serve refreshments.
• Organise the next meeting for those expressing an interest in forming the commitee.
• Always send follow-up information to let people know the developments of the campaign.

It is worthwhile for the group to spend time getting to know each other, what they want as group and how they intend to set about achieving their aims. The meeting is a good means of making and strengthening local contacts, seeking publicity, attracting volunteers and finding out what people think of the ideas.

Agree your aims and objectives

After holding the open meeting, one should develop a clear and realistic set of aims and objectives within a time scale. These are essentially their plans and how they intend to achieve it. They are targets by which you measure your achievments against.

• AIMS - long lasting goals for the group.
• OBJECTIVES - how to achieve the 'AIMS'.

A mission statement will best describe the aims and objectives.

 Once this has been worked out, a steering group of at least four people should be formed to lead the development of the group. These people must be interested, concerned and commited to promoting ones ideas.

What next

Having established needs, a first meeting and agreed aims and objectives, it is a good idea to put together a plan in order to fix some priorities. This will clarify what the group is doing, why they are doing it, and how they intend to go about doing it.

North Beds CVS provide information on writing an effective plan. A plan helps an organisation to focus clearly on:

• Its aims and objectives.
• An action plan of what needs to done and by whom.
• Looking professional, especially to funders.

This enables ones ideas and hard work to be put into practice.