Running an organisation can be rewarding, but there is a lot to think about. From managing people and finances to meeting legal responsibilities and planning for the future, we’re here to help.
OCVA offers free advice and guidance to charities, voluntary and community groups, social enterprises and other not-for-profit organisations across Oxfordshire.
This page brings together useful information and resources to help you manage and develop your organisation. If you’re just getting started, take a look at our Setting up an organisation.
Good governance helps your organisation run effectively, make informed decisions and meet the legal responsibilities relevant to its structure. It also helps build trust with funders and the communities you support.
Your trustees, directors, board or management committee play an important role in overseeing your organisation. Our Being a Trustee page provides further guidance for charity trustees.
The Charity Governance Code offers guidance on good practice for charities, with principles that other organisations may also find useful.
Depending on your organisation’s structure and activities, these regulators provide useful guidance:
Clear policies and procedures help your organisation operate safely and effectively. Depending on your activities, these may cover safeguarding, health and safety, equality, financial management, complaints and data protection.
It’s also important to identify and manage risks, have appropriate insurance and regularly review your policies.
See NCVO Policies and Procedures guidance or explore their advice on insurance.
If you need specialist legal support, these organisations may be able to help:
Whether your organisation employs staff, works with volunteers or both, good recruitment, induction and ongoing support are important.
For employment and HR guidance, NCVO provides useful information, while Roots HR offers free toolkits, factsheets and webinars covering recruitment, employment and managing staff. You can also explore Payroo for payroll services.
Volunteers are central to many organisations. We offer practical guidance on recruiting, managing, supporting and retaining volunteers.
Good financial management helps your organisation remain sustainable and meet its responsibilities. This includes setting budgets, keeping accurate records, monitoring income and expenditure, and meeting financial reporting requirements. NCVO’s financial management guidance provides a useful starting point.
Finding funding is another important part of running an organisation. We provide guidance on becoming funding ready and finding funding opportunities.
When you’re busy with day-to-day activities, finding time to plan ahead can be difficult. Whether you’re looking to strengthen how your organisation operates, develop new ideas or tackle challenges, OCVA can offer guidance and signpost you to further support.
We can provide information, guidance and signposting on:
If you need further guidance, request a free support session with OCVA to discuss your organisation’s needs and explore your next steps.
OCVA and Charity Mentors Oxfordshire offer First Stop, a free, confidential service for charity and community leaders, including trustees, senior managers and chief executives.
These one-to-one sessions provide an opportunity to discuss challenges, explore options and consider your next steps.
Find out more about First Stop and book a session.
Charity Mentors Oxfordshire also provides strategic mentoring, offering an experienced, independent perspective to help leaders make decisions and plan ahead.
You can also explore OCVA’s training and development opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills.
Protecting your organisation’s information, finances and online accounts is important. Simple steps such as using strong passwords, backing up information and recognising scam emails can help keep your organisation safe.
The National Cyber Security Centre offers free, practical cyber security guidance for small organisations.
Managing community buildings
Community First Oxfordshire offers advice and support for village halls and other community facilities. Low Carbon Hub provides advice on energy efficiency, while the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) offers funding for eligible local environmental projects.
Rural communities
Community First Oxfordshire provides information and support on rural issues, including challenges facing rural communities and rural isolation.
Networking and collaboration
The Responsible Oxfordshire Business Involvement Network (ROBIN) connects voluntary and community organisations with local businesses and public sector partners to share skills, resources and opportunities to work together.
OCVA also runs networks providing opportunities to connect with others, share experiences and learn from each other.
Every organisation is different, and you don’t have to work everything out on your own.
Whether you’re facing a particular challenge, reviewing how your organisation operates or planning your next steps, OCVA is here to help.