If you need some resources to support your community group in Bradford district, you’ve come to the right place!
Take a look and if you require additional support or would like to speak to somebody for dedicated support, please contact one of our Development Officers who can discuss your options.
If you think we are missing resources on a particular subject, please email info@cabad.org.uk and we will look into it!
How Community Action can help
Need to talk through your options? If the community organisation is in Bradford district (including Shipley, Ilkley, Bingley and Keighley), Community Action can help.
Make an appointment to talk to one of our development officers or take a look at our training courses. For organisations with an annual income under £100,000 advice and getting started training courses are free of charge.
Working for a private business or a sole trader? Sorry, Community Action doesn’t provide advice to those groups.
Resource Hub A-Z
Charity registration
Whether you’re starting a new group or converting an existing organisation, our charity registration guide is a good place to start.
Constitutions and other governing documents
Read Community Action’s guide to legal structures for links to template governing documents for charities and companies.
Cyber security
Use the National Cyber Security Centre guidance for charities. Not sure where to start? We recommend the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Action Toolkit.
Data protection (GDPR)
Use the Information Commissioner’s guidance for getting started with GDPR including the regulator’s own training programme for small organisations – data protection essentials.
Data protection training – next dates
DBS checks
Community Action does not process Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
Contact Action Point in Keighley to get DBS checks processed.
The Disclosure and Barring Service is part of UK government. Use their guidance and take part in the DBS Regional Safeguarding Outreach workshops.
Employing staff
Get training, advice, and information from ACAS. If you employ people, you’ll need employment policies. Use the ACAS templates for employers as a starting point.
Expert advice and payroll service is available from Community Action’s trading company Bradford Community Payroll and Accounts.
Recruiting? Community Action can advertise your vacancy through our job advertising website called “Snicket”
Finance and accounts
Contact fellow local charity West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service (WYCAS).
First Aid
Community Action doesn’t run first aid training but we signpost to non-profit first aid training in Bradford district.
Funding
Looking for grant funding? We’ve put together some great resources to help you get started.
- Funding a new group
- Preparing to fundraise
- Getting grant funding
- Funding and grants for organisations
Save money by reading our guide to finding free and low-course resources for community groups in Bradford district. Finding in-kind funding is part of our Getting Started – DIY Fundraising online course.
*NEW* October 2026 – funding search is back and funded for Bradford district community organisations for the next three years – register for an account to search the Community Action Funding Finder.
Looking for contracts rather than grants? Get help from a company called “Go4Growth“.
Funding training – next dates
Health and safety
Use the Health and Safety Executive’s policy guidance with their risk assessment templates.
Impact measurement
Read Community Action’s latest impact report.
Impact measurement training – next dates
Marketing and publicity
Read our guide to publicising your group or hire Community Action to do your community group’s marketing and communications work for you!
Is it time to celebrate achievements, boost morale and your profile by getting recognition for your organisation’s work? Community Action has created a list of awards and opportunities for recognition.
Marketing training – next dates
Networks and networking
Community Action runs two networks the Leaders Network and Chairs and Trustees Network. Outreach sessions across the district give you a chance to meet us at a place near you or online.
Our two major annual networking events are Big Advice day and the Big Meet. Subscribe to our newsletter Briefing Bradford for event updates and more!
Network events – next dates
Newsletter
Email briefingbradford@cabad.org.uk to sign up for Community Action’s newsletter Briefing Bradford or submit news content.
Policies
Find links to templates and an introduction to what’s needed in Community Action’s introduction to writing policies.
Room hire
Community Action runs three venues. Community groups can hire Central Hall (Keighley), Little House and Cardigan House (Bingley) for events.
We do not have a venue for hire in Bradford and there are no private parties at any of our venues. Please contact your local community centre directly instead.
Safeguarding
If an adult or child is in immediate danger you should ring the emergency services or contact the police on 999. Safeguarding concerns that are not an emergency should be reported via the links on the Safeguarding Board website https://www.saferbradford.co.uk/report-a-concern Please do not report safeguarding concerns to Community Action unless the concern is about one of our staff or trustees.
Read Community Action’s guide to safeguarding for voluntary organisations in Bradford district that includes links to more information and where to get DBS checks.
Social enterprise
“Social enterprise” is an activity and way of working, rather than a type of organisation. The enterprise part is trading. Is the organisation going to sell a service, charge people or organisations, get contracts or investments? Will income from trading go back into the company to benefit the community? Great, that’s social enterprise!
If the organisation is not going to trade, and you want it to be 100% funded by grants and donations that is not a social enterprise, it is a charity.
In fact many charities are enterprising. Charities can and do bid for contracts or charge for services/products to earn the funding needed to run community activities. It is very unusual to find a community group or charity that is 100% funded by grants.
“Social enterprise” is not a legal status. Organisations that trade for social benefit can use any kind of legal structure. The choice depends on what kind of trading you want to do and who you want to have power and be involved in making decisions.
For more information, read the Social Enterprise UK guide to starting a social enterprise and government advice on setting up a social enterprise.
Start a new community group
Are you thinking of starting a community group? We’ve put together some great resources to help you get started:
- Starting a community group
- Choosing a legal structure
- Charity registration
- Making decisions
- Writing policies
- Funding a new group
Get help at an outreach event:
Training
Community Action runs training for voluntary and community organisations in Bradford district.
Getting Started courses are FREE for organisations with an annual income under £100,000. This covers most community groups in Bradford district! Half-day courses, including Safeguarding Lead, Marketing and Time Management cost just £40 per person.
We do not run accredited training but certificates of attendance are provided.
- A list of all current courses available to book online
- In-house training is also option, including running bespoke courses tailored to your organisation’s needs.
Transport and minibuses
Community Action does not run community transport or have minibuses for hire.
Contact Bradford Community Buses, Ilkley Community Transport and Keighley Community Transport – all local independent charities.
Trustees
Get peer support from fellow trustees and directors by joining Community Action’s Chairs and Trustees Network.
Role and responsibilities training is available – join a course on our programme or request in-house roles and responsibilities of trustees training.
Read Community Action’s guide to making decisions in a community organisation.
Governance events – next dates
Volunteers
Read Community Action’s guide to getting volunteers which includes where to advertise for volunteers in Bradford district and tips on volunteer management.
