Working With Community Groups

Throughout the United Kingdom there are many different community groups in operation whose aim is to provide help, support and an informal environment for children and teenagers alike.

These community groups are funded either by the government or by the private donations from businesses and individuals who recognise the importance of having community groups who aid in the development of children and teenagers in their formative years.

What is a Community Group?

A community group can be a body affiliated to a government run institution such as Social Services or a privately funded organisation maintained and operated by volunteers and residents of a particular community in order to provide a general meeting place and place of refuge for those children and teenagers who need the assistance and support of individuals beyond the family unit.

Community groups often work in conjunction with church bodies, law enforcement agencies and government agencies in order to provide a level of support and advice that means children and teenagers alike can benefit from contact with like-minded individuals of a similar age group or adults.

Types of Community Group

Community Groups are not simply limited to children and teenagers although the bulk of the work they carry out are designed to help those within the age bracket of 5-18.

Community Groups also look at the conditions in which people within the community are living in and focus on issues such as poor housing, high crime rates, high levels of unemployment and other issues which affect the community.

Community groups also help other categories of resident such as the elderly, individuals with learning difficulties, people with physical disabilities and single parents.

Each group may meet on a different day but use the same location to meet such as a community centre or church hall.

Funding

As we have already mentioned community groups may obtain a certain percentage of their funding from local council or Local Education Authorities (LEAs) depending on the nature of the community group and also – it must be said – depending on what funds are available. It is important to remember that if you are part of a community group that seeks funding from a government body or LEA that there will be many other – perhaps smaller groups – who are looking also for a share of whatever funds are available.

Councils and LEAs allocate their money not only on the basis of which community groups are deserving of their available funds but also which community groups are first to apply at the time funds are available.

If you are part of a community group and you wish to seek funding speak to your designated funding officer. Your group should have an individual charged with the task of fund raising and they should have an idea as to what grants and funds are available and when your group can apply.

The National Lottery also awards funding to community groups and they have their own unique way in which community groups and other ‘special causes’ can apply.

The National Lottery website is a good place to start if you are planning to apply to them for a community group grant.

In addition you should speak to – or have your funding officer – speak to your local council, Social Services representative and LEA in order to establish when you can apply and how much you can realistically apply for.

Also it is perhaps a good idea to petition local businesses that are sometimes happy to help with funding as it provides them with publicity as well as returning something to the community in which they operate.

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