Additional information
Business rates and faith buildings
VAIs Community Buildings Project has recently produced a Briefing Note which aims to provide guidance to people running faith-based buildings about the posiion of these buildings with regard to business rates. The paper, which can be downloaded here, outlines the rating status of buildings which are places of public worship, and discusses the position of organisations which are charities. The paper aims to help faith group avail themselves of any of the rating concessions to which they may be entitled.
Community asset transfer
Community asset transfer involves community-led initiatives taking on the ownership of land and buildings, through either a long lease or the transfer of the freehold. A landmark report in 2007 (The Quirk report) established that a transfer of assets from public bodies to community ownership is a legitimate option when considering the wider public benefit which may flow from strategic asset management.
Help and guidance is available from a number of sources, including the Development Trusts Association (now re-named Locality after joining with BASSAC) and Community Matters. More information and guidance will be available on this site in the near future
The Guide to Managing Risks in Asset Transfer is a useful document for those interested in exploring or pursuing the transfer of a building or land, and is available to download here.
Managing Risks in Asset Transfer: A Guide
Summary
More and more local authorities are beginning to recognise the value of enabling local community organisations to take more responsibility for local assets, but we all know that successfully managing a building, like any business, carries risks. This can particularly test community-led organisations with limited experience and capital behind them. This guide has been designed to give practical advice from the experiences of both local government and the third sector in how to manage risk and shows where it has worked well in practice.
Download
Managing Risks in Asset Transfer: A Guide
PDF, 691 kb , 48 pages
Managing Risks in Asset Transfer: A Guide
MS Word, 2695 kb , 51 pages
Alternative formats
If you require this publication in an alternative format (e.g. Braille or audio) please email alternativeformats@communities.gsi.gov.uk quoting the title and product code/ISBN of the publication, and your address and telephone number.
Where to look for funding
For information on possible sources of funding, including some that are available only in Islington, and tips on fundraising please follow the link to the funding section of our website.
Information about Islington, e.g. information about the population, deprivation, etc, to provide evidence for funding bids can be found on Islington Council’s website.
Developing your Negotiating Skills
With anything to do with property, there are likely to be a lot of negotiations – the terms of the lease, the level of rent, the price of a building, etc.
It is vital that you negotiate effectively, to get the best deal for your organisation by understanding the importance of a win-win negotiating strategy. Useful guidance on how to negotiate is available from the NCVO by clicking here.
Although written to provide guidance to negotiating a contract to deliver services, the guidance about how to conduct the different phases of a negotiation and the helpful practical tips provided are relevant to all negotiations, e.g. those concerned with a lease.
There is also a guide produced by ACEVO Win Win: A Guide to Negotiation Strategy and Tactics for Third Sector Leaders which costs £20. Follow the link above to purchase a copy. ACEVO (the Association on Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) also run training courses on negotiating.
The Directory of relevant organisations
For an alphabetical directory of organisations providing information and advice on community and voluntary sector premises on the mycommunityspace website, please click here.
Key organisations providing support with premises matters for the voluntary and community sector include:
Community Matters is the National Federation for Community Organisations. It aims to be the principal membership organisation for community groups, support organisations, public bodies and individuals that share a belief in the core values of association, participation, collective action and community volunteering and that are working to build strong communities.
The DTA is a network of community practitioners. It helps people to set up development trusts, and helps existing trusts learn from each other and work effectively. Development trusts are community owned and led organisations. They use self-help, trading for social purpose, and ownership of buildings and land, to bring about long-term social, economic and environmental benefits in their community.
The EPF offers independent, ethical advice and training to help charities and voluntary groups rent, buy, let or manage their property. They also work with landlords and developers to help reduce the social and environmental impact of commercial property.
Voluntary Action Islington’s model policy library
For model policies on a wide range of topics related to governance, finance, employment and much more, click here.
Information on Training and events
For information about Voluntary Action Islington’s training, which often includes training on premises related topics, please click here.
For information on training and events throughout London and nationwide, see also the Training & Events section of the mycommunity space website.
Download the Premises Factfinder
If you wish you can simply download the Premises Factfinder (PDF 675.49 KB).
MyCommunitySpace, which includes The Premises Factfinder, has been developed and produced by Community Matters. It is part of a London-wide programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund and Capacitybuilders Modernisation Programme and London Councils in which Community Matters has worked with partners including the DTA, the EPF, the Women’s Design Service, Aston Mansfield, Ealing Resource Centre and CAN Mezzanine.
Information developed by Voluntary Action Islington’s Community Buildings Project
Funded by the Big Lottery
