Set up an established volunteer group

For the stage 1 applications process, you will need to provide:

• The group name
• The name of the area that the group will work in
• Whether you are a constituted group
• The aims and objectives of the group and how they match with the Council's aims and objectives
• Membership, roles and responsibilities
• How regularly the group will meet up to work
• How regularly you will be holding meetings
• Any other information that supports the application process

You can apply for stage 1 online at:

Apply online

You will know within 30 days if your application has been approved.

If your application has been approved, the Council will contact you and tell you about stage 2.

If your application has not been approved, you will be contacted and told why.

If you have any questions about the application process, or would like a paper copy of the form, please contact the Community Engagement Officer.

Help with completing the form

Constituted groups

You must let us know if you are a constituted group.

A constituted group means your group has a formal structure and a constitution. A constitution sets out a list of rules and explains what the group will do and how it will operate.

For more information on constituted groups and constitutions, see My Community: Choosing the right organisational structure for your group.

Memberships, roles and responsibilities of the group

For your group to become a constituted group, you must have a committee. However, you can decide who is on that committee and how to organise the committee.

Roles may include but not limited to Chair, Treasurer, Secretary.

A Chairman may be responsible for leading the group. Their duties may include organising / leading meetings with their committee. They also often act as a spokesman and representative for their group.

A Treasurer may be responsible for dealing with the finances of the group. This role involves managing financial budgets and producing the end of year accounts.

A Secretary may be responsible for recording minutes during a meeting in order to share the notes to the rest of the group. A Secretary often helps with effective internal communication and they are often the primary contact for the group.

Think about the groups aims

You must give information on how the group's aims and objectives support the Council's aims and objectives.

View the South Tyneside Council Strategy

An example could be:

As a group, we aim to keep our local park clean and tidy to make it a nice place for residents to visit. To do this, we will host events such as regular litter picks. Providing people with a clean and green place will encourage more people to visit the park, for example to exercise. This links to the Council's aim of improving the health and wellbeing of the population.