What is a Friends’ Group? How does it work? What should churches consider when setting one up? What needs to go into the constitution? Which constitution should be used?
Sheffield Diocese have created this webpage in response to the many questions we have received regarding Friends’ Groups. Its aim is to signpost you to various resources and guidance notes, publicly available, which may go a long way in answering some of these questions.
Many individuals, especially in rural areas, have a deep appreciation for their local church building. Even if they are not inclined to support its religious functions, they may still wish to help preserve it as a meaningful part of their heritage. A Friends’ Group provides an opportunity for the wider community to contribute, ensuring the church remains well-maintained and can be passed down to future generations.
As a starting point, there is a useful guidance note produced by the National Giving Team. It explains how to set up a Friends’ Scheme, the options available when doing so and some things to look out for. It also contains links to some of the relevant model governing documents which can be found on the Charity Commission’s website, including model constitutions for unincorporated associations/small charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations.
There is a further toolkit (along with a model constitution) on the National Churches Trust website.
For further resources/guidance, you can visit the Parish Resources website.
This page has been produced in partnership with Anthony Collins who are advisers to the Diocese and a social purpose law firm with a specialism in governance for faith-based charities. It is intended to be general advice only and was correct at the time of publication. No responsibility can be accepted for action taken or refrained from solely by reference to the contents of this note (or any of the resources referred to within it). Remember, each case is different, and accurate advice must be tailored to the individual circumstances. For advice tailored to your specific situation, or help with drafting a bespoke constitution, you can get in touch with Sarah Tomlinson at Anthony Collins or a legal adviser of your choice.