1. A Journey to Charitable Status Cleves Primary School

2. A cluster of 8 schools in the centre of the London Borough of Newham Started working together around 5 years ago Active engagement of all Head teachers, a Governor from each school, and an ES lead from each school Formed a ‘soft federation’ in 2007 – launch event attended by 700 staff and governors from the 8 schools plus LA ES staff Evolved a simple but active structure - Governors & Heads, Heads Group, Operational Group Cluster providing the full ES ‘core offer’ by 2008 (not quite there on childcare) Schools pool all ES Sustainability and PSA funding This is boosted by a per capita contribution from each school Secondary School commissions a charity, SHS, to provide PSAs across the cluster Joint INSET events Joint projects – ‘Well-being’ diagnostic, Multi-media equipment… E13 LC e v o l v e s

3. Blockages to progressing ES  Gaps in communications and continuity of activity/direction  Limited capacity to manage our projects and our cluster finances  Management of PSA contract erratic  Decision-making sometimes cumbersome  Limited parental and wider community engagement as a cluster (new duty of promoting Community Cohesion)  Identified as a statutory educational institution – limits funding from Trusts  No legal status as a cluster – unable to directly commission services or employ staff  Costs of providing childcare  Local Authority undergoing “transformational change” – meanwhile providing limited leadership  Government funding likely to diminish from 2011

4. Development Plan: Structural Change and Community Engagement Appointed Community Business & Learning Manager – Nov.2008 Established Business Support Group to oversee finances, fundraising and governance change process – Jan.2009 Opened shared Children’s Centre, managed by one school but integrated into the cluster – Apr.2009 Recruited own Finance Manager to oversee shared finances and offer Bursar support to individual schools – Nov.2009 Cluster initiatives: Network Directory, E13 News, E13’s Got Talent, Totem Pole arts project, Family Week, Joint INSET day, Who Do We Think We Are?, Primary Schools football leagues, Schools Council, Stakeholders Forum (E13 People United)… Investigated Governance models/options

5. Network Directory E13 News Who do we think we are? E13’s Got Talent E13 LC Schools Council Football leagues Stakeholders’ Forum

6. Charitable Company benefits & disadvantages Fundraising opportunities Streamlines the decision-making process Community ‘ownership’ and identity Resource management Campaigning option  Registration paperwork & processes  Reporting paperwork & processes  Separate insurances and auditing  VAT?

7. New Organisational Chart

8. Starting the process  Get good legal advice  Allow plenty of time  Don’t reinvent the wheel  Use the Charity Commission model Memorandum & Articles of Association (and E13 LC’s?)  Draft your Objects - stick closely to the CC examples  Involve prospective Trustee/Directors  Get CRB checks underway

9. Directors/Trustees Decide who needs to be on the Board Conflicts of interests/loyalties? Stick to core group to start with Brief them about basic roles & responsibilities Plan training for the Board (local CVS?) Prepare information packs Gather a library of Board resources

10. Articles of Association  Use Charity Commission model, but…  Objects – choose CC examples and amend as little as possible  Distinction between Directors/Trustees and Members?  Quorum and numbers needed to call a Board meeting  Optional clauses – choose the most open option unless you definitely don’t want to allow something (e.g. re trustee indemnity insurance)  Get your Directors signed up on the Memorandum page

11. Register as a company  Quick and easy  Costs £20  Download and complete the Companies House form IN01  Company Secretary?  Directors’ details  Signatures again!  Implications – company name, number and registered office on everything

12. Registering as a charity It is free! But…  Online form is fiddly, a lengthy process, times you out quickly, and doesn’t always allow you back in despite ‘saving’!  PDF form is not typeable. Either write on it, or get out the scissors and glue!  Trustee declaration re CRB checks  Expect to be called in to discuss ‘public benefit’ with a Charity Commission officer Don’t start the process until you have: your Company number all CRB checks done drafted your answers in Word – especially re how in meeting your objects your activities are/will be for the ‘public benefit’ created pdf files of your Memorandum & Articles and form of Accounts

13. Post registration issues (How long) will we keep the soft federation running in parallel to the charitable company? What functions will come under the charitable company and what will remain as soft federation? Transfer to CIO when it becomes available? Recruiting community Trustees Ensuring we meet CC and CH reporting deadlines Ensuring we meet SORP financial demands Ensuring boosting pupil opportunities and achievements remain the focus

14. Slow and steady…

15. Links / references Model Memorandum & Articles of Association: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/mgds.asp www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/mgds.asp Example Objects: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/exobjhome.asp www.charitycommission.gov.uk/registration/exobjhome.asp Company Registration form: www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/companyRegistration.shtml www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/companyRegistration.shtml Charity Commission online registration: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/officeforms/OLARPortal.ofml www.charitycommission.gov.uk/officeforms/OLARPortal.ofml Charity Commission paper registration: www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Library/publications/pdfs/cc5atext.pdf www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Library/publications/pdfs/cc5atext.pdf NCVO: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk www.ncvo-vol.org.uk Directory of Social Change: www.dsc.org.uk/Homewww.dsc.org.uk/Home E13 Learning Community: www.e13lc.newham.gov.ukwww.e13lc.newham.gov.uk