Set Up A Community Backgreen Association
If you have not set up a community project before, it can be a wee bit daunting. But don't worry too much, it does not need to be a great burden or responsibility, it is just a group of neighbours coming together to work towards a common goal. Many groups of neighbours across Edinburgh have done the same thing to positive effect. We have given an overview of the issues below, please download the handouts for more detailed information.
Set Up Of A Community Backgreen AssociationIf there is sufficient interest in a community backgreen project from the residents around a tenement square, your next step is to invite all the residents to a public meeting. You will describe what is involved in setting up a community backgreen project, and give residents an opportunity to ask questions, see more information about
promoting the project here.
If there is support for the project, you would then propose that the residents form themselves into a Community Backgreen Association. A Community Backgreen Association is a constituted body which provides a focus for discussion about the management of the site - a written constitution sets down rules as to how the group can work together, hold meetings, raise funds, make decisions. You can download a template constitution above.
Membership of the community backgreen association is open to all residents which live around the site and/or who own a flat around the site. The members appoint a committee which meets regularly to discuss the project and make decisions. Community Backgreen Association do not need to charge membership fees, but this can be a useful way to raise cash to maintain the site. It is common for groups to levy an annual rent for the use of raised beds.
The Community Backgreen Association does not have any claims to ownership of the backgreens, they continue to be owned by the owners of the flats on each stair. The associaiton's mandate to develop and improve the site comes from its membership, therefore it is always preferable to encourage as many residents to join the association as possible.
Fundraising & Treasurers AccountThe installation of a tool shed and shared tools can cost over £1,000. There are other materials and plants that you will want to buy to set up your community backgreen which could add another couple of hundred pounds. That is a large sum of money for a small group of people to raise in one go.
ECBA have always sought to raise grants to support the costs of project set-up. In the future (where possible) we wish to encourage groups to apply for these grants themselves. There are three key elements that you need to have in place to raise funding from grants:-
- a constitution, you get that by forming a Community Backgreen Association;
- purposes or goals which fit the criteria of the funder, you can get more information on
raising funding here and;
- a Treasurers Account.
A treasurers account is a bank account which is opened in the name of the Community Backgreen Association. You need to have already created a community group with a constitution, appointed several Officers (at least a Secretary & a Treasurer), and taken a Minute of a group meeting where you agreed to open an account. The Treasurer can then contact a bank to open the account. Most banks can provide Treasurers Accounts, ECBA doesn't recommend one in particular.
Once the account is opened you you can start raising funds. Some funder require you to have operated an account for at least a teay, but most don't. At least two Officers would be required to sign checks to pay for expenditure. It is the Treasurers responsibility to report the state of the Associations finances at group meetings.
Membership of Edinburgh Community Backgreens AssociationOnce an Association is established it can apply to join Edinburgh Community Backgreens Association. The management committee of the CBA would appoint one or two of their number to represent the CBA on the Board of Directors which meet once a quarter to discuss ECBA business. This ensures that ECBA is governed by the communities which it serves.