At its heart, good governance is about protecting your people: trustees, participants and donors. A strong, suitable legal structure and well considered policies and procedures are not just add on details, they are fundamental parts of ensuring your group can not just survive, but thrive.
Take a look at this resource with lots more on getting started with your group’s governance.
You can also download the Sported Startups Essentials checklist to help you plan your governance journey.
There are many other places to read up about how to set up the governance for your group. NCVO have lots more on the specifics of how to set up a board to run your group.
Charity Excellence Framework have a comprehensive guide to the Charity Governance Code which is a great place to start for all not for profit groups – even if you’re not a registered charity much of this will still be relevant to you.
You might want to consider joining the Sported Startups programme, which is designed to guide new groups through the process of setting up a sport for development group.
You can join as part of a cohort of groups for peer support, or as an individual group.
Why you need a legal structure
To protect your committee members and insulate individuals from financial risk, you will need to incorporate your organisation. When you incorporate, you’ll need to choose a legal structure.
Does this mean we have to register as a charity?
No – not all community groups and beneficiary organisations are charities. There are other options which may suit your group better.
Arranging and maintaining your group’s finances is vitally important to its sustainability and success. Whether you need an introductory guide, or have a more advanced question, our finance and fundraising resources will help you balance the books.
Running a group will always require some planning around finances. Getting your budgeting and finances in order will allow you to launch new projects with the confidence that the money is in place, to be resilient in difficult times, and to give others confidence if you ask them for funding.
The committee, trustees, and board play a critical role in the governance of your organisation. Their responsibilities include ensuring financial stability, making key decisions, and upholding the organisation’s values and mission. Good governance is essential for the long-term success and sustainability of any group. Adhering to best practices in governance ensures transparency, accountability, and legal compliance, creating a strong foundation for the organisation to thrive and maintain trust with stakeholders.
NCVO have a great resources area with lots of information about setting up and running your board.
Ensuring that your group has well considered policies and procedures will keep your group running safely and is essential for good financial management.
NCVO have a selection of policy templates for members (free for small organisations) as well as advice on many other policies.
Make sure you’re covered in case anything goes wrong with appropriate insurance, as well as policies and procedures to minimise risks.
Do you need to have specific training and qualifications for your activity leaders? How will you ensure these are kept up?
Are your adult volunteers and staff adequately trained in first aid and safeguarding? You’ll need to ensure that everyone has the necessary training and have a sound policy on how you’ll ensure this is checked.
Marketing is a crucial aspect of any sport for development program. It helps to raise awareness, attract new participants, and engage a wider audience.
When marketing your group, it’s important to highlight the impact of your activities, the benefits of participation, and your successes. Celebrate milestones and showcase positive outcomes to inspire others to get involved.
