Setting up a Group

Cumbria CVS (Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service) offers help, advice, training and support to third sector groups throughout Cumbria

The Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership (CSEP) provides consultancy, mentoring, and development grants to help community groups launch, sustain, or grow social enterprises. Their tailored programs offer specialised, hands-on guidance to turn local community visions into thriving, sustainable businesses.

NCVO is a membership organisation for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England. They provide guidance about chosing a legal structure, practical templates, and legal updates that make running a non-profit much easier.

The Charity Commission register and regulate charities in England and Wales, to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence. They can offer step by step guidance to set up a new group, along with approved templates.

They support Community-owned businesses (shops, pubs, green spaces, hubs) and offer step-by-step toolkits, legal models for community shares, and peer-to-peer mentoring from people who have done it.

Locality provide specialist advice, peer learning and resources, and campaign to create a better environment for communities to thrive. If you’re considering taking over local land or buildings (Asset Transfer). They offer specialist advice on the “Community Right to Bid” and navigating local authority administration.

Community Energy England (CEE) is a not-for-profit organisation that represents, supports, and advocates for the community energy sector across England. Its core role is to create the conditions for local, citizen-led renewable energy and energy-saving projects to thrive by influencing policy, sharing best practices, and connecting local groups to build a fair, zero-carbon energy system.