You can’t develop tourism in isolation, so in this step we’ll look at how you can get together a group of like-minded people to assist you in the project.
Community tourism should be just that, for the community as a whole, so its vital you have input from others. Of course there is also likely to be a fair amount of work involved in a tourism project so being able to share out responsibilities helps ensure projects stay on track.
You will need to form a group of the people who are willing and able to work on your project. Ideally the group will include people with a mix of skills and knowledge and some time to spare.
Group members may come from the tourism industry, other local businesses, the local council and interest groups such as local history or walkers, or they could just be local residents with an interest. The golden rule is to not turn anyone away, you’ll need to make best use of all the resources and enthusiasm you can.
This parts relatively simple, just get out there and talk to a few people! Have a think about who you know within the community who could fit the criteria, and approach them. If you can get five or six to agree then you have the basis of a project group (anymore and things can get unwieldy at first), so the next step is to arrange a meeting.
Once you have a group together, it is useful to formalise your group in some way so that you have laid down an agreement on how it will act and what its function will be. This can help if there is any dispute or disagreement and is also important if you intend to manage your own funds for your activities. However once you formalise a group you need to ensure you have dedicated officers willing to fulfil the duties you set down in your agreement.
The simplest formalising structure is a constitution. A constitution need not be lengthy or complicated, but must clearly state the rules governing your group. If you are developing a larger project or have specific goals you can also look at other formalisation models such as Community Interest Company’s, Social Enterprise, or look at obtaining charitable status.
Ultimately however the choice of how (and whether) you formalise your group comes back to the key questions of; what your group’s function will be, and how it will act.
Finally if you intend to apply for grant funding you will need at least a constitution as well as a group bank account. You will need to assign several people as signatories on a group bank account, and it is best to have one person responsible as a treasurer.
Information sheets on all aspects of starting a group, opening a community group bank account and dealing with money, are available at :
Articles on developing a community group can be found at:
Writing a constitution need not be complicated, but is important. For simple instructions see :
www.grantnet.com guide to writing a constitution >>
Find out more about Social Enterprise at:
www.socialenterprise.org.uk >>
Further information on Community Interest Companies can be found at:
If you intend to apply for charitable status, more information is available at:
www.charity-comission.gov.uk >>
Your local Rural Community Council has community development workers who may be able to assist with advice or support in developing your community group, legal structures and dealing with money. Visit:
If you require advice or guidance on any stage, why not consider working with Hidden Britain?
Click here to go to stage 3 >>
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