Lynx South West: Support Services
This is a brief guide to the sort of support we currently offer other LGB/T groups and projects in the peninsula. Everything we do is tailored to the needs of the specific group or project that talks to us. The services we offer are those that community groups tell us they need from us. If you want us to offer new services, just tell us. We will do anything in our power to strengthen other independent groups, and help them flourish and become sustainable into the future.
If you are starting up a new group, we can discuss and provide information about:
- how best to publicise it as you want it to be publicised
- how to find and retain members / supporters / volunteers
- where helpful funding might be found
- protecting the group's independence
- how to choose and maintain the right level of security for the group's contact details
- how to protect the personal privacy of the organisers
- how to protect the personal privacy of members
- financial stuff (e.g. does it need a bank account, if so what kind)
- becoming a registered charity if this is appropriate
- finding and training a management committee if needed
- finding a venue if needed
- policies and safety-nets if the group is going to involve people who are under 18 years old, or vulnerable adults
- and other things --- just ask!
All such services to the independent groups and projects are free of charge, thanks to our funders.
We are also sometimes able to offer confidential payroll and tax services. We may need to charge a small fee for payroll and some other complex and time-consuming services.
Support for existing groups
Independent groups approach us on more or less a daily basis for a very wide range of services: local problems of many kinds, designing leaflets and fliers, managing publicity (sometimes bad, sometimes good), difficulties amongst the trustees or management committee, finding new supporters or volunteers or new members for the management committee, sorting out banking or insurance problems, finding emergency funding, working out whether there are legal requirements they need to comply with, choosing a name or a logo, or just getting some photocopying done... you name the question, we've been asked to help! Have a look at the list above under Startup Services: would any of these be useful to your group now?
We can't promise to be able to pull a rabbit out of every hat every time, but we can look back and say there are lots of satisfied rabbits around.