New Groups Starter Kit

Contents Table of Contents

2 1. Introduction 2. Defining Your Group

+ So you want to start a new group? The City of Melton is a proud Great! Let’s get started. The very community made up of richly first thing to do is to clarify what diverse cultures and passionate kind of group you want to set up, individuals, with amazing interests and what the purpose of the group and assorted skills. will be. Here are some ideas: From extensive farm paddocks Community Interest or practice emerge vibrant new suburbs, new groups neighbourhoods and new communities These types of groups are formed by with new ideas. Our City has one of people who share a common passion the fastest growing populations in or practice in their lives. The groups Australia. are often topic-based and members With established and new communities thrive on sharing their knowledge with comes a need to connect, share pride others passionate to learn more1. and develop friendships through the Examples of this type of group may be: emergence of new groups. For individuals it is an opportunity to  Gardening clubs develop relationships, share passions,  Stamp collectors experiences and work towards common goals.  Professional network groups For our community, groups provide a (people working in the same platform for neighbourhoods to field) flourish, barriers to be broken down, Community support groups cultures to connect, and ideas to These groups are formed where become reality. people find themselves in similar Groups promote connection and situations and circumstances to each inclusion enriching our lives, our sense other. Each person can offer others of identity, community and place in the support and strength to move forward world. by sharing their own stories and Melton City Council recognises the experiences that connect the group importance of supporting emerging emotionally. Through discovery and groups to continue building our conversations, the group will find the colourful and vibrant future. best way to support each other’s This kit is intended to assist and unique situation2. encourage new groups in their formation. It outlines the process and specific steps to help establish community groups in Melton. The kit will support and provide guidance for groups to become sustainable and provides useful resources and information. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. 1Adapted from FeverBee.com, Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. http://www.feverbee.com/2012/10/types-of- ~Margaret Meade community-and-activity-within-the- community.html, Accessed 17 June 2015.

2 Ibid.

3 Examples of this type of group may be:  Support for a family in the  Diabetic support community affected by an illness or injury.  Parental support  To celebrate multiculturalism.  Drug and alcohol addiction support. Community action and advocacy For more information about group groups development contact the Community These groups are formed by Capacity Team on 9747 7200 peoplewanting to change something in the community and the society as a whole. The group has common goals, and focuses on milestones to change the future. Community action groups often have very clear short and long- term goals to work towards3. Examples of this type of group may be:  Environmental action.  Advocacy action for people with disabilities Location specific groups These groups form to support a particular ‘place’ and connect the people who live, work or recreate there. The groups discuss their love of the location, emerging issues, community events, programs and attractions. Members have a genuine interest in the area and community4. Examples of this type of group may be:  Residents associations

Event specific groups These groups form spontaneously, generally in response to a need identified by the community. Members will meet to deliver an event or fundraiser and once these have taken place the group will often disband.

Examples of this type of group may be:

3 Ibid.

4 Ibid

4 thought to register on Council’s directories, so you may have to 3. Exploring Interest in Your broaden your search. If you find a Group Idea group that is not located in the City of Melton, make contact with them Sometimes you have an idea, or anyway. They were once a new group have identified a need to form a too and you can learn a great deal group, informed by your own from their experience. experience or those around you. If this is the case the following are For more information about groups in your some of the steps you might need area visit: to follow: http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out_n_About/ Community_facilities/Neighbourhood_hous Do your research es_and_community_centres It is beneficial to undertake some Who is interested in joining your research to see if there is an existing group group in your area that will meet your needs. If a similar group does exist, If you have not found a group that check whether they welcome new meets your need or vision, the next members or if you agree with their aim step is to establish one if others in the or purpose. community are interested in joining The internet is a good place to start. If you to form a new group. To do this, you don’t have a computer or internet you might want to explore some access, there are a number of Council options to promote your intentions. facilities that do, such as libraries, You can do this in a number of ways. neighbourhood houses, youth and Free community noticeboards community centres. There are free community The Melton City Council website is noticeboards that are available in also full of local information. community centres and other locations Check out: throughout the municipality. You will  Melton Community Group need to seek permission for your flyer Directory: lists many registered to be displayed. groups meeting in Melton For more information about places that can display your promotional material  The Learning Directory: a range contact the Community Capacity Team of fun and challenging learning on 9747 7200 group opportunities offered within Local newspapers the City of Melton There are two newspapers that cover  A Guide to Disability and Aged the Melton municipality and both offer Services in the City of Melton: opportunities for some free publicity, lists many support groups and particularly if you have a newsworthy services story or event:  Melton Environmental Groups Melton Leader mailing list. For more information about community This newspaper is delivered to 46,000 directory Visit: homes or businesses in the http://www.melton.vic.gov.au/Out_n_About/Clu municipality, along with bulk drops in bs_and_community_groups/Community_Grou many rural areas. The Melton Leader p_Directory covers most of the municipality and The City of Melton is rapidly growing offers community groups free publicity and new groups can establish with via the ‘What’s on Page’. little fanfare. Groups may not have

5 For more information visit: attract expressions of interest from the www.meltonleader.com.au community and potential members. Star Weekly Newspapers Make sure your poster or flyer stands In May 2014, Star newspapers merged out by being: with the Weekly to create the Star  Easy to look at (contrast, text size, Weekly newspapers. white space, limit your fonts and As a result, two new newspapers were colours) created to service the City of Melton,  To the point (limit your words, plain and beyond. These papers are: English, no jargon, only use an  Melton and Moorabool Star image that enhances your Weekly message)  Brimbank North West Star Weekly  Pitched to your target group The Melton and Moorabool Star Weekly covers the western area of the Be clear about what the group is municipality, plus areas outside the about. If your idea is not completely City of Melton including Bacchus developed however, a few points Marsh, Ballan and Balliang etc… about what you are hoping to achieve (Approximate circulation, 26,500 check in setting up a group will be sufficient. with newspapers for current circulation Make sure to include how you are details). contactable, either by phone, email or The Brimbank North West Star Weekly social media. covers the Eastern Corridor plus a There are a number of places you can large area outside our municipality display your flyers or posters, such as including Taylors Lakes, Sunshine, public notice boards at your local Ardeer and Braybrook etc. libraries, schools, neighbourhood (Approximate circulation 75,000, check houses, community centres and with newspapers for current circulation leisure facilities. details). The Star Weekly newspaper offer free For ideas about how to design a poster listing in their Community Calendar of try searching in your computer Events. software templates or Google. For more information visit: For example: Microsoft www.meltonstarweekly.com.au or templates.office.com/Templates www.brimbankstarweekly.com.au Make sure you don’t steal from others. Caroline Springs Community Most images online are copyright Update Newsletter protected in one way or another. The CS Community Update is a Google Images is not a free image monthly newsletter that is distributed to source. 10,500 homes and businesses in the Caroline Springs area parts of For more information about royalty free Burnside and into Burnside Heights. . images visit For more information contact: http://www.presentationzen.com/pre [email protected] sentationzen/2006/01/where_can_yo or Mobile: 0400 287 905 u_f.html Posters and flyers Social media One of the most common ways to Social media offers an easy and cost- estimate interest in your idea is to effective way to promote your group design a poster or flyer. This will and engage with existing groups members.

6 Facebook groups When a person expresses interest in Facebook groups allow people to being part of your group, stay in come together around a common contact with them. Check that you: cause, issue or activity to organise,  Have the person's correct express objectives, discuss issues, contact details. How they prefer post photos and share related content. to be contacted. E.g. by text, When you create a group, you can email or a phone call decide whether to make it publicly  Inform them about progress, available for anyone to join, require E.g. how many people have administrator approval for members to expressed interest, and plans join, or keep it private and by invitation for meetings only. Similar to individual facebook  Circulate information about pages, new posts by a group are relevant news (links, websites included in the news feeds of its or events) that might be of members and members can interact interest and share with one another.  Keep a record of feedback, ideas or comments from potential members as this will Top 5 Facebook group tips: be useful in the group's  Monitor your page development.  Post new content and respond to comments regularly 4. Meeting  Be human: use plain English. If Now that you have completed your you would not use those exact research and attracted interest, you words face-to-face with will need to organise for the group someone, don’t type them to meet. Sometimes people choose  Set up house rules. Facebook to meet in private homes or a local has its own terms and cafe. This method might not be conditions, but you can also sustainable, however, depending on define your page’s expected the size of the group. code of behaviour There are a few options for groups to explore for alternative meeting places.  Allow posts on your page. Be Meeting venue prepared to listen to people and When finding a space to meet, open a dialogue up with your 5 consider: community  Frequency: Build momentum, For more information about Facebook but don’t make the requirement groups, visit the Facebook Help too difficult Centre:  Time of the day: will members https://www.facebook.com/help be able to attend during the day, in the evening, or on the Keep communicating weekend. Engage with members before you schedule 5 Adapted from Murray (2015), the time Commsgodigital Blog site,  How much room you need: http://www.commsgodigital.com.au/2015/02/24 Depending on the number of -tips-for-managing-government-facebook-25 people to attend and type of June 2015pages/ Accessed 17 November activity 2015

7  Venue accessibility: Ensure that meeting. Items that might be people are not excluded by included in the agenda are: choosing a venue that is o Welcome people and make them physically accessible. feel at ease! (the website If you do not know of venues yourself, insight.typepad.co.uk and consider schools, health or community adma.com.au) have lists of easy centres or not-for-profits organisations. to follow icebreakers you might You may be able to negotiate some want to try) space at no or low-cost. o Draft of purpose/expectations of Melton City Council’s facilities the group/participants feedback Council has a vast array of community o Report on what you have done to facilities at which groups can meet. date, and whom you have talked Expressions of interest for ongoing to hire are generally called for in o Contact list September for the following year. You sharing/communication. can also book a space at other times o Leadership positions of the year subject to availability. Date and time of next meeting. For more information visit: o [email protected]  Establish an interim committee. Planning your first meeting It is important to set up a temporary committee. This group often It is a good idea to be organised and includes those participants who well prepared for the first meeting. have initiated the original idea. Starting off on the right foot will help However, during the course of the you develop respect and credibility. meeting new leaders will emerge Some points you need to consider to and they should also be encouraged help you to conduct the first meeting to be part of the interim committee. can include: Meetings are an effective way of  Organising for someone else to keeping your group operations on chair the first meeting (for track. There are a number of training example a community worker or a courses and sessions available for leader from an established group). groups. The organisation “Our This will give you the opportunity to Community” provides advice, participate as another member of connections, training and easy to use the group. If you decide to chair the tools for people and organisations meeting yourself, there are a few working with Community groups. pointers to assist you on how to chair: o Introduce people to the group For more information and training on and to each-other as they arrive how to run meetings o Provide name tags visit: www.ourcommunity.com.au o Chat to people and encourage Exploring your group’s conversation to ensure that expectations everyone is welcome and relaxed Now that your group is feeling more relaxed, you can brainstorm some o Provide refreshments for ideas to determine people’s example, tea and coffee. expectations of the group.  Set up an agenda. A clear agenda will help you to guide the first A whiteboard or butchers paper can be used to jot ideas down.

8 Brainstorm with the group: also clarify the commitment each individual has to offer to  Aims and objectives Different the group. types of groups require different discussions and strategies to  Statement of purpose Once a start. Sometimes the purpose number of people have of the group is defined from the expressed interest in belonging beginning. Other times it can to your group, are meeting change over time. For example, regularly and have had a a seniors group can start up as chance to check that all a support group for older people participants agree with what the who are feeling lonely or group’s aims are, it’s a good isolated. However, this group idea to develop a purpose can develop into a book club, statement. A statement of music group or another type of purpose does not have to be group complicated. It may simply state what the group wants to do and  Membership Who do you want how it will go about doing it. An to attract to the group, age, example of statements of mixed gender, geographical purpose may be: area, common interest/goals? The Hillside Meadows Sensory Garden is a  Committee How they are communal garden for the senses where elected and their roles? Model everyone is welcome. People who are visually Rules are available from impaired or people living with dementia can Consumer Affairs Victoria 1300 participate and contribute to the garden as well as enjoying nature in a safe and tactile 558 181; these can be adopted environment. by the group or used as a guide Or to develop their own. The Grandparent Club is a place for grandparent to come together to share their  Cost Do you need a small fee knowledge, skills, experiences and brag about to pay for the venue and their grandchildren in a relaxed, fun and safe refreshments? Some groups environment. It is a place to celebrate aging develop a roster from the and diversity with dignity and respect. beginning to help bring Your group’s smooth running refreshments until they raise Every group that is working towards a funds to allocate for this common goal or cause may go purpose. through different stages and it’s a good idea to be aware of these. The  Availability It is important to beginning is usually a little uncertain, find out and discuss time with members getting to know each commitment of participants. Will other, finding out about each other’s you be meeting during the day thoughts, ideas and beliefs and how or after hours? much time and effort each individual  Expectations Perhaps one of member will dedicate to the group etc. the most important aspects of The next stage might be followed by a this stage is for participants to period of uncertainty, especially if roles outline any expectations they are not yet defined and members are have of the group. This helps getting used to each other’s the group start with realistic personalities etc. After the group goals and awareness of the overcomes these stages, the group limitations they might have as begins to settle and members feel a the group is formed. These will sense of belonging and cooperation,

9 everyone is united and identifies with what the group is trying to achieve. It is important to emphasise that 5. Group Models occasionally, groups experience The following suggests a couple of disagreements and whilst in most different models to assist in the cases these are easily resolved, at setting up of your group. Groups times extra support is needed for the can be set up in a formal or informal group to continue to run smoothly. manner. Incorporated groups are governed by a Group Model 1 set of rules. These rules outline Informal processes to follow if the group have This option is available to groups that reached an impasse and will provide may never be formalised but that can guidance to resolve issues fairly and come together to run a one-off event legally. such as a fundraiser. Options are For more information visit: available to help you to run this event 6 Associations Dispute Resolution and also be protected as a result. www.consumer. vic.au There is a process to follow before you organise your event. A Council officer will be able to advise you of this and provide the necessary resources to make this a positive experience. For more information about this option contact the Community Capacity Team on 9747 7200

6 Consumer Affairs Victoria Website (2015), Resolving disputes - incorporated associations http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/clubs-and-not-for- profits/incorporated-associations/running-an- incorporated-association/resolving-disputes Accessed on 26 May 2015.

10 Group Model 2 organisations may charge a fee Auspice/Sponsored for administration support Formalising your group with an  Some groups seek to be auspice or sponsored body has some auspiced for a short term to advantages. Auspice/sponsored is a determine whether there is term used when a legal (incorporated) enough interest and capacity for body takes legal responsibility on the group to continue to behalf of a non-incorporated body that operate. Others do not become is applying for funds or undertaking a independent and are facilitated project. by a particular organisation Auspice/sponsored body: such as a Carers Group, etc.  May be able to support your group while you form and before you become legally independent  May be able to help you with a venue, free of charge  Under such an arrangement, negotiations are made for your group to be covered under the organisation’s public liability insurance. You will need a public liability insurance to protect the group and its members  May have to follow the rules of the auspice organisation and their code of conduct  The sponsoring organisation will manage the group’s funds. If your group chooses not to be auspiced or sponsored you may not be able to apply for grants or funding. Funding bodies usually require groups to be either independent (legal) or under auspiced. For more information about auspicing visit: www.nfplaw.org.au Finding and approaching an auspice/sponsor organisation  Speak to Council’s Community Development Officer about how and where to engage an auspice body by contacting Council’s Community Capacity Team.  It’s a good idea to be auspiced by an organisation that you have built a relationship with and has common values to your group. Some auspice

11 Group Model 3 Incorporation7 In Victoria, as in the rest of Australia, groups are incorporated under an incorporation registration system that gives an association or community groups certain legal advantages in return for accepting certain legal responsibilities. Some of these responsibilities include: recruiting members, running regular and general meetings, reporting financial matters, electing office bearers and keeping record. Incorporation creates a legal ‘person’. If you do choose to incorporate, there are steps you must follow. In other words, the group becomes a legal entity in itself. The table below has information to help you decide whether incorporation is the right option for your group Things to consider8. When you incorporate When you do not incorporate Membership Your organisation must have at least five Your organisation can have any number members. of members. Not-for-profit status Your organisation may trade (buy and sell), but not Your organisation is not restricted from in order to distribute profit to its members. trading or doing business for personal profit. Legal status Your organisation becomes a ‘legal person’ (that Your organisation cannot do any of the is, a legal entity that stays the same even if its things listed opposite. These would have members change). It can do the following things in to be done by an individual member on its own name: behalf of the unincorporated association’s  Accept gifts or bequests, members.  Buy and sell property, A member of an unincorporated association is usually personally liable for  Invest and borrow money, contracts they enter into and decisions  Open a bank account, they make.  Sue and be sued,

7 Adapted from Consumer Affairs Victoria (2015), Should Your Club Incorporate?, http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/clubs-and-not-for- profits/incorporated-associations/become-an-incorporated-association/should-your-club-incorporate Accessed 17 November 2015

8 Ibid.

12  Take out public liability insurance with greater ease. Legal protection for Members and office bearers (management Members could be personally liable if the members committee MC) are protected against personal organisation incurs debts or has legal liability for debts the group might incur. problems.

Things to consider When you incorporate When you do not incorporate Legal obligations Your group and its office bearers (MC) must Your organisation is not bound by the comply with requirements in the Associations Associations Incorporation Reform Act Incorporation Reform Act 2012, including keeping 2012. However, your organisation is still accounts, auditing and reporting to the Office of bound by other state and federal laws, Consumer Affairs annually. such as tax laws. Costs Your group must pay fees for incorporating. Other Your organisation will not have the costs may include fees to alter the model rules. expense of meeting statutory obligations of incorporation. Disputes Your group must either have its own procedure for Your organisation is not required to have resolving internal disputes, or use the procedure or use a dispute resolution procedure. in the model rules for incorporated associations. Contracts and agreements Your group can enter into contracts and Your organisation cannot enter into agreements in its own name. This offers more contracts or agreements in its own name. certainty to potential contracting parties such as lenders, leasers, employees and suppliers of goods and services. Grants Your organisation may be eligible to apply for a Your organisation will not be able to apply larger range of government and non-government for grants that require applicants to be grants. incorporated.

13 groups will cease to operate because Other aspects and responsibilities the need for such a group has lapsed. for incorporated groups Public liability insurance If you decide to incorporate, the Another aspect of incorporation is the following are some of the roles and need for the committee to have public responsibilities of the management liability insurance. This provides your committee: group with protection for financial risk  Ensure information is in case of personal injury or property communicated to members, and damage to the public from anything vice versa that happens as a result of your  Act with the utmost integrity and group’s activities. put the group ahead of personal If your group is conducting an event, interests the policy should cover personal injury  Set budgets and secure the and property damage resulting from group's financial security products sold or supplied at the event.  Provide leadership and direction The group needs to ensure they have  Organise meetings and take the appropriate level of cover for their minutes members and activities performed.  Keep records of financial The potential exposure for a management, including receipts, community group can arise from bank records, financial and manufacturing, selling or re-selling budgetary statements products. This responsibility applies to  Maintain a membership database all types of goods including food and  Ensure that everyone is informed drink that may be supplied or sold as about what is happening with the part of a group’s activities or events. group. This can be done via a For more information about training newsletter, email etc about committee of management and legal obligations visit:  Make sure new members are www.justiceconnect.org.au welcomed and are aware of roles Australian Business Number (ABN) and responsibilities and rules An ABN is a unique number, which  Identify opportunities to share identifies your organisation to the skills and knowledge. Australian Tax Office (ATO) and other For more information about becoming government departments and incorporated visit: agencies. www.consumer.vic.gov.au It is not compulsory for a group or a not for profit organisation to have an 6. Sustainability of your group ABN unless it has a goods and services tax (GST) turnover of Sustainability $150,000 or more (in which case it is A group is said to be sustainable when required to register for GST, and must it has sufficient membership and have an ABN to do this). Some grants resources to continue into the future. A might require the group to have an very important aspect of running a ABN. group is that it becomes sustainable. For more information about ABN visit: Seeking and obtaining resources and www. easyabnregistration.com.au applying for funding to various sources are an important part of the role and Goods and Services Tax (GST) responsibility of the committee and all members. Conversely, at times

14 Your group must register for GST if you run a business or enterprise and your GST turnover is $75,000 or more ($150,000 or more for non-profit organisations). Your GST turnover is the group’s business income (not your profit). For more information about the GST and tax information for your group visit: www.ourcommunity.com.au/financi al

15  It assists in developing the Projects group’s capacity and forward Developing projects such as events momentum. and activities where members can You may like to keep the following work together for a common goal will information in a safe file: help to make your group more  Meeting minutes dynamic, attractive and strong which  Group Business Plan will in turn make it more sustainable.  Terms of Reference Write down ideas members might have  Group Constitution or Rule Book for projects, big or small, as these  Grants and funding applications ideas often turn into very worthwhile (successful and unsuccessful) and exciting projects.  Promotional materials flyers, The group can access assistance via newspaper articles etc. Council’s Community Capacity Team  Public Liability Certificate on 9747 7200 to provide guidance on this.  Certificate of Incorporation For more information about training on  Budgets and reports (from previous project management please visit: and current year) www.ourcommunity.com.au/Introdu  Current committee list and contact ction to project management details  Any other club documents. Accessing assistance from Council Melton City Council’s four-year Council Plan commits to build strong relationship with and between its citizens. Council is committed to supporting the development of community by providing relevant training programs and opportunities for people (and groups) to meet. Linking up with others (Networking)

Records keeping and good practice Council assists groups and individuals Corporations are legally required to by organising and resourcing maintain official records. Consideration community networks meetings. Making should be given at the earliest stage in connections with other individuals and the life of any group as to how and groups can provide mutual benefit by where records will be stored, and how sharing ideas and knowledge to: this will be maintained as membership,  attract funding and particularly committee  share resources membership changes.  learn from one another Reasons for this are:  share information  This is a statutory requirement  promote general community of corporations understanding  It assists in making sense of  expose others to different cultures, past decisions, and maintaining abilities, ages and differences the sustainability of groups  create partnerships to work together  It assists in maintaining goodwill on projects, and to participate in and transparency in the group. events.

16 A calendar of networking events is available at Council’s website. To join our network mailing list please contact the Community Capacity Team on 97477200 A number of Council departments offer free training and workshops for groups such as governance training. These programs can provide benefits to both the individual and to the group as a whole. A training calendar for groups and individuals is included in this kit. Council will also consider training suggestions from the community. Please check our website regularly to find out what training is available to new and existing groups. Contact the Community Capacity team on 9747 7200, if you have ideas for training that may be of assistance.

17 7. Funding and Finances to cover the group’s running costs. Costs such as venue hire, An important role of the committee is refreshments and printing can add up to manage and generate funds to quite quickly and no member should support your group’s ongoing and be out of pocket. Discuss fees with project expenses. your committee, this will help guide Opening a bank account your group. It may be just as simple as You may need to consider setting up asking for a gold coin donation or a an account in the name of your group. raffle at each meeting or event or an Most banks and credit unions will ask annual membership fee. you to provide the following when Fundraising opening an account:  A copy of your governing Fundraising is often delegated to a document (the Constitution, subcommittee and needs someone to certificate of incorporation or the lead; this person is often referred to as model rules) the fundraiser coordinator. The coordinator should take the time to  Signatories (who will have access plan. Planning is the key to getting the to the account for example, two most out of your group’s fundraising members of the group to sign to program. During the fundraiser there is make money withdrawals; this is always a lot going on, so a clear game decided by the group and recorded in the minutes). At times, groups plan for your group will help keep the have difficulties with accessing group focused. Being organised will make the fundraising drives run easily signatories and this can be 9 problematic. Discuss the option for your group . with the group to ensure that you Common fundraising options can achieve the right balance include: between security and function  Fundraising events and activities -  Minutes of your first meeting examples include dinners, music or (important to have copies of the first trivia nights, or sausage sizzles minutes stating how many people (including at Bunnings) and fetes were present and any result of the  Sales income - examples include election if one was carried out with cake-bakes, selling Cadbury the names of Chairperson, chocolates, or performing at events Secretary and Treasurer)  Sponsorships and donations –  Names of people associated with many community groups and sports the organisation (list of members) clubs receive sponsorship from local  Completed copy of the businesses. application form, signed by appropriate people (usually by the President and Treasurer) Fundraising tips:  Leaflets or publicity material about the group (Promotional flyer  Find out if you require a permit to of the group could be an option). run a fundraiser event.

9 Australian Fundraising Membership Fees or Donations www.australianfundraising.com.au, Accessed Depending on your group’s goals, you 17 November 2015 may need to collect some type of fee

18  Setting the need for funds and your Discuss your project and grant idea fundraising goal. with the Community Development  Planning your fundraising schedule. Officer. The officer will be able to  Advertising your fundraiser. advise you as to the best way to fill in  A memorable kick off or launch. your application and further develop  Maintaining excitement for the your idea or a project. duration of the sale. Council’s grant writing workshops  Finding helpful volunteers. and grants newsletters. Council provides a range of services to  Motivating your sales team support your group successfully find, (members). apply for and acquit grants. These  Motivating the group to promote the include regular electronic newsletters sale. with information on Council and  Giving safety tips for children. 10 external grants, and FREE grant  Maintaining good bookkeeping. writing workshops throughout the year Legal implications of fundraising to assist individuals, community Different fundraising activities may groups, schools and not-for-profit have specific legal registration and organisations to access funding. For compliance requirements. the latest grants writing training For more information please visit: workshops email: http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/clu [email protected]. bs-and-not-for-profits/fundraisers gov.au Grants For further information on Melton Applying for a grant is an option Council grants please refer to the available for your group to support grants pamphlet enclosed. bigger goals and projects. Your group To be included in the electronic will need to be incorporated or newsletter mailing list please contact auspiced by a registered incorporation Council’s Community Funding Officer to apply for most grants. on 9747 7200 or visit: A grant is a sum of money provided by [email protected] a government authority, or u philanthropic organisation to fund projects or in some cases equipment costs. The money is not a loan, but needs to be spent appropriately and accounted for. This is known as acquitting the grant. Acquitting funds is critical; if a grant is not acquitted correctly the group may be prevented from getting further grants from a granting body. Grants are awarded through competitions organised by the donor organisation. The requirements for seeking and acquitting funding are often different depending on the grant, with larger grants generally being more difficult to access.

10 Ibid.