LEARNING
Handbooks
How-to guides
Legal & policy
Training courses
Setting up a "Friends of" groups
How to Set Up a "Friends of" Group (you might also like to look at the funding that is available for new groups, such as the Chestnut Fund).
Templete Constitution
We also provide a templete constitution (which you can of course amend) can be downloaded in Ms Word - Draft Constitution (this has been developed on the back of much experience). Although having such documents, and indeed this template can seem overly bureacratic, constitutions are there to protect the group, its Members and Committee Members and ensure the Group is open and transparent.
Structure / Status
There is much confusion around charities, voluntary groups and non profits. A charity is actually only a status which can be applied to a structure. Examples of structures would be an unincorporated voluntary association or a not for profit company. Other models for charities in particular can be found on the Charities Commissions website http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/default.aspx and the Charity Commission also has a special page for charities establishing that will have an annual turnover of less than £5000 http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/Do_I_need_to_register/Resources_for_very_small_charities.aspx
If you are planning to set up a new group it might be worth looking at the following:
Insurance
We recommend all groups have insurance as a means of protecting both the individuals involved in running the groups and those taking part as well as members of the public. This is particularly relevent if you are intending to carry volunteer works days or run events.
A selections of insurance options (and by no means an exhaustive list):
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BTCV provides competitive insurance to associated groups (i.e. you have to join them first). For further information please visit the BTCV Web site.
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CaSE (a partnership involving National Council of Voluntary Organisations - NCVO & Charities Aid Foundation)
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REN also has various publications on setting up groups, published by BTCV and other bodies. These can be borrowed through our Resource Library or we can provide you with copies for free. Two good examples are BTCV Local Action, the BTCV guide to organising a group for practical conservation work, and the Urban Handbook, a practical guide to community environmental work. Please Contact Us to borrow them or receive your own copy.
In addition, REN can and will always provide support to all groups located within the borough as this one of the main aims of Richmond Environment Network.
Help with Fundraising*
REN provides support to local environmental groups in the borough by providing information on available funding via this website and e-newsletters (these can be subscribed to via the Contact Us form and ticking the corresponding box) and also over looking application/bids or acting as a referee. We have had good success with group we have supported receiving the funding they have applied for. To enable groups to understand their fundraising needs its always advisable to write a fundraising strategy and a good template to use can be found here, courtesy of Richmond CVS.
*We only suply this information or support if your group/organisation/project is within the London Borough of Richmond upon
Information and Links for Environmental Education and Activities
Printed Resources: for printed resources, please have a look at our list of useful publications.
Online Resources: resources for global issues.
Handbooks
BTCV Handbooks: these handbooks are available to be read online (you can also print them, although this might take a long time). We also have some of these available in the REN/BTCV office, which can be lent out. Contact Us if would like to borrow them.
Decaying Wood: this leaflet gives details on how to manage decaying wood as a valuable habitat.
Wildlife Trusts: the Wildlife Trusts charity has free-to-download publications on the following subjects: Eels, Great Crested Newts, Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, River Bank Protection, Water Voles, Perils of Pond Life, and Water Wise Gardening
Quality Marks and Standards
Green Pennant Award: the Green Pennant Award is a national award that recognises high-quality green spaces in
LEGAL & POLICY
Below are various models of best practice that are downloadable for groups to use.
Working Safely with Children and Young People.
A Code of Practice for Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People in Voluntary Organisations (Word document)
Published by the Home Office London 1993. What voluntary organisations need to know to safeguard the welfare of the children and young people in their charge.
A good practice checklist for organisations involving young people as volunteers and template policy
This checklist highlights things that you should consider. There is also a template policy for groups to use based on current best practice methods.
Working Safely with Children and Other Vulnerable Groups Procedure
A template on the use of hand tools, and guidelines based on best practice for groups and individuals working with young people, children and vulnerable adults.
Guidelines for Volunteers and Voluntary Groups Working in the Environment (PDF file)
A document written jointly by REN and the council to promote a level of best practice enabling groups to work safely in all areas. Groups that adopt this model will be covered by the council's insurance when working on council-owned or -managed land.
Guidance from the Cabinet Office on CRB checking of volunteers
In partnership with the council we are currently looking to introduce free insurance to cover local group when working on land owned or managed by the council. On the back of this we are developing a form that will:
- enable notification be given to the council of the work that is going to be proposed,
- a risk assessment (this wouldn't be sufficient when working with children and young people),
- a page for groups to collate their volunteers details and emergency contact details,
- a summary of work achieved and also statistics of the number of new volunteers that joined the activity, and their demographic.
This information is often asked for by funders and we feel that if groups are able to record and provide this information for their own use in fundraising, it will prove invaluable. We at REN would also like to monitor our own work in publicising your activities and we would like information on the number of new volunteers recruited as a result of our activities.
TRAINING & COURSES
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REN Training Courses |
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Appointed Person First Aid |
External trainer |
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Downloadable hand outs | |
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If you are a volunteer with a local environmental group or a community groups wanting to carry out an environmental project and are interested in any of these training courses please contact us | |
We periodically organise first aid and leadership training courses for members of local (
BTCV
A range of training courses are available in many practical activities and species identification. Details of courses in
Capel Manor
Capel Manor offers a range of courses in horticulture, gardening, landscaping and forestry management. The main campus is in
Environmental Trainers Network (ETN)
ETN offer a range of fairly in-depth training courses in a variety of locations countrywide. The ETN course can be found and booked through BTCV's website http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level1/19/level
IEEM is a professional body which represents and supports professionals in the fields of ecology and environmental management. The web site is http://www.ieem.net/ IEEM offer a wide range of course in species and habitat management.
Birkbeck offer some excellent short and long courses, diplomas and degrees in ecology and conservation studies and a lecture series. More information about Birkbeck’s courses can be found here and the Ecology and Conservation Studies Society, which runs the lecture series here
We do play a very active roll in the craft of bee-keeping, our current teaching group this winter term has 35 students. During the active bee-keeping season (March to September) groups of student bee-keepers work with experienced tutors on Friday evenings taking care of the Association's beehives, (hands on experience) Please contact Chris Deaves on 020 8 568 2869.
http://www.twickenham-bees.org.uk/
