A constitution is a short written document that sets out your friends group’s name, purpose and how it will run.

Your constitution does not need to be complicated but should include:

• your group's name - make sure the name you choose reflects what you want to do
• your aims and objectives - outline the activities you want to do and why
• how decisions will be made within the group
• how membership and volunteering will work such as who the group is open to and how people apply to volunteer
• how meetings will be run
• how you manage money - you will need to open a bank account for your friends group
• what will happen if the group closes

Once your group has agreed the constitution it needs to be formally agreed on at your first annual general meeting (AGM) and the committee will sign it.

If you are a constituted friends group, you need public liability insurance to cover any activities and events you might run.