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Information Factsheets
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Below is a list of S.C.N.I.'s Information factsheets. Factsheets are available via email and also as hard copies. Factsheets can be accessed free of charge by :
1. Contacting H.Q. either by telephone or e-mail
2. S.C.N.I.'s Liaison Officers
3. Completing the order form on page 7 of Routes magazine
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Building A Successful Community Group*
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Do you realise the many benefits of having an active Communiy Association in your area?
This factsheet sets out step by step how best to setup, run and develop a Community Group that will make a difference in your area.
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Introduction to New Members
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What information do you provide to new committee members?
This booklet gives useful ideas on the various details a new committee member may find beneficial in preparing them for their role as an elected representative of the Community.
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Understanding Your Constitution*
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Once a decision has been taken to create a 'bona fide' Community/Residents/Tenants Association, a Constitution is essential to lay down its operational foundations. A Constitution is a legal document and should be adoped at a 'Public Meeting'. It basically relays the intentions of your group to work for the benefit of the whole community and importantly it indicates to statutory and voluntary bodies alike that your group is structured, organised and indeed means business. It is also important to note that a Constitution is an essential pre-requisite for making applications for funding. This booklet used along with S.C.N.I.'s Draft Constitution offers a section by section guide for your Association.
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Community Development is a term which is used by many organisations including Government. The term is about the involvemnet of people in the issues which affect their lives. S.C.N.I.'s factsheet on Community Development outlines various activities relating to Community Development and the process of implementation.
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It is important to recognise that residents are the real experts of the area in which they live and know best what they require. It is therefore essential that their views are sought, recorded and acted upon.
Conducting surveys may seem a major task however it is a very necessary one as it will give the community group a clearer picture of the problems in the area and ample information when approaching statutory bodies and other outside agencies.
This factsheet provides your Group with information and a step by step guide to help make the process of conducting surveys easier. It deals specifically with questionnaires as they are by far the most common method used by Community Groups to collect data.
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Producing a Community News Sheet*
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As a group, representing the people in your area it is vital that the wider Community remain informed of what is happening on the estate.
A News Sheet is an excellent medium of communication and indeed of encouraging greater active participation. This booklet will provide useful guidelines on how to produce an interesting community orientated News Sheet, ideas on who could contribute information, the type of material required etc. All in all it provides a great introduction to developing a News Sheet from the inital collation of items, layout and distribution.
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Developing a Community Building
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Is your Group thinking about expanding into a bricks and mortar project?
Does the task seem more than a little daunting?
This factsheet provides a practical and informative explanation of the processes and procedures involved with this type of project so your Group won't get confused by the technical jargon.
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Producing a Business/Development Plan
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A Business/Development Plan is a working document which helps groups explain what they want to achieve and the steps they will take to achieve it.
This factsheet explains what a Business/Development Plan is, who it's for and why it can be so important to the development of a group. A suggested format is also provided which if followed, will ensure that all relevant information will be contained in the Plan and will be in a manner that is structured and easily understood by the public, funders or other interested bodies.
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Why should your group have insurance?
What are the benefits of being insured?
What type of insurance will adequately cover the requirements of your group?
If you would like to know the answers to these questions then this factsheet is a must. It will explain in layman's language the often complicated details of insurance and give you a much better understanding of the insurance needs of your group.
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Functions of the Council*
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There are 26 District/Borough Councils within Northern Ireland each with specific responsibilities to the public.
Do you know what your Council is responsible for?
If not, this factsheet will help. It points out the responsibilities of Councils and the specific responsiblities of Council Departments.
Funding - See Funding Page
One thing that all groups need from their formation is money which allows them to send letters and make phone calls. For any Group to develop a project or event it is vital to have the necessary funds. This series of factsheets explores the sources of funding available eg: Local Fundraising, Council Funding, Trusts, Statutory Funding and the Community Fund, giving practical and effective hints to help your Group secure the funding required.
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Improving Your Environment
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This factsheet contains practical ideas and contacts to spark your imagination and help tackle the most common environmental concerns.
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Where does your committee meet?
Would you like your own base?
Do you know who to contact for assistance?
If your group feels it would benefit from having a community base, this factsheet will provide you with useful guidelines and indeed alternatives ..... (it doesn't have to be a house/flat!)
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Why does a group have an A.G.M?
What is the significance of such a meeting?
The A.G.M. is the key to the Community Association year - it is an opportunity to inform the Community of the work that your group has been involved in throughout the year while encouraging more community support and drawing in new committee members with fresh ideas. This factsheet will take you through the steps necessary to properly prepare the group for the A.G.M., highlighting the importance of your constitution and providing as a guideline a typical agenda for the meeting.
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What is it?
Who is eligible to receive Charitable Status?
What are the advantages/disadvantages?
Who formally recognises a group for such status?
What happens once a group has been granted charitable status?
All these queries are answered in this factsheet.
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Records and Book-keeping for Community Groups
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When a Community Group is formed, constituted and office bearers elected, one of the first tasks to be undertaken by the Treasurer is to develop a good accounting system.
This booklet produced by S.C.N.I. with the assistance of Ulster Bank helps to explain the benefits of maintaining records and book-keeping. The ideal book-keeping system should be simple enough to allow you to keep records up to date with minimum effort while providing the necessary information to run and control the organisation.
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Many Community Associations throughout N.Ireland have identified the need to provide Play Areas for the children and young people in their areas. In a number of cases they have been successful in getting new high quality play facilities. This information sheet aims to
outline the process that Community Associations may follow when setting out to provide a Play Facility for their area/estate.
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This factsheet is an example of a short survey designed to gather information on the need for a play area in a local neighbourhood, whilst also gauging the community's opinion on eg: where to site the park.So if your group aims to have a playground built in the community this simple survey is a very useful method of gathering information that will help in the development of your project and at the same time involve as many of the residents as possible.
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This factsheet has been compiled to provide Community/Residents/Tenants Groups who are involved in areas earmarked for redevelopment with information under the following sections; the process of redevelopment, the vesting procedure, what happens after vesting and the entitlement to compensation.
The factsheet also provides advice on appointing an Agent and the types of compensatory payments available.
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S.C.N.I. along with N.I.H.E. has established a framework which gives tenants the right to be involved at all stages of the development of a scheme.
Has N.I.H.E. informed you of either a capital or revenue scheme in your area?
Do you know how the scheme will affect you?
If there is to be a scheme in your area this information pack will help you understand your rights and the Executive's obligations to you.
Provided in each pack is a list of relevant questions that you may wish to ask N.I.H.E. to give you a more detailed picture about the scheme as a whole.
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S.C.N.I. has produced a V.A.T. booklet to highlight for Community Groups the different rates of V.A.T. imposed and how V.A.T. may affect them.
Contact details have been made available to enable groups to telephone and discuss their individual case.
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Understanding Your Neighbour
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As the diversity of our communities develop, it can sometimes be difficult to understand our neighbours perspective on life.
This booklet offers many positive steps which we take to help ensure that our community and neighbours can live together, respect and understand each others differences and ultimately be a good neighbour.
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Planning and Promoting Your Project
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In this factsheet, help is at hand for events planning, sponsorship and publicity.
Jargon Buster
This factsheet provides a list of commonly used abbreviations and their meaning.
Setting Up a Company
This booklet provides general guidelines to assist voluntary organisations who are considering setting up a company. It includes information on legal structures and advice on managing the potential changes to an organisation.Please note that further advice should be obtained from a solicitor or business consultant.
* Available in Large Print
ALL FACTSHEETS ARE REVIEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
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