Topic
Governance and compliance
The legal structure question, the trustee-duties question, the compliance work nobody pays you for, and the bits the Charity Commission assumes you already know.
Legal structure
UK community group legal structures compared →
Seven structures on one page — unincorporated association, charitable trust, CIO, charitable company, CIC, BenCom, SCIO — with cost, regulator, liability and asset lock side by side.
Starting a community group in the UK →
From kitchen-table conversation to registered organisation. What to do, in what order, with the right structure at the end.
Structure deep-dives
CIC vs charity →
The two-way comparison every founder searches for.
Charity vs CIC vs CIO →
The three-way comparison side-by-side.
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) explained →
Foundation vs Association, registration, banking realities.
Community Interest Company (CIC) explained →
CIC36, asset lock, dividend cap, CIC34 annual report.
Unincorporated association →
When it’s fine, when to upgrade, the personal-liability problem.
Charitable trust →
The classical unincorporated form — grant makers, legacy funds, endowed charities.
Converting a CIC to a CIO →
The statutory conversion process under the 2017 Regulations.
Setup and operations
Community association constitution template →
Which model constitution for which group, what each clause does.
Community group treasurer guide →
The role, the year-end cycle, controls that work, handover.
Community group governance basics →
The six core trustee duties, conflicts, meetings, Charities Act 2022 changes.
Compliance
Compliance hub →
All compliance guides indexed on one page.
Safeguarding for small charities →
Written policy, safer recruitment, RSI duty.
GDPR for community groups →
UK GDPR basics, ICO fee, the new 2026 charitable-purpose soft opt-in.
DBS checks for volunteers →
Which check level for which role; PVG (Scotland), AccessNI (NI).
Running an AGM →
Who needs one, the legal basics, the standard agenda.
Charity accounting thresholds →
R&P vs accruals, IE, audit — current and post-October 2026.
Independent examination →
Finding an examiner, what they need from you.
Gift Aid for community groups →
Mechanics, donor-benefit rules, GASDS small-donations scheme.
Business rates relief →
80% mandatory + 20% discretionary for charities; CICs get discretionary only.