NEW LGBT YOUTH ORGANISATION - ADVICE NEEDED

As Martin has said, setting up a new charity is *not* something to "just do". Like setting up a business, it needs careful planning and research, research and more research. Just like a business may not make a profit for years, it may take years for a charity to earn enough to hire its own staff (if it wants or needs to) rather than relying on volunteers/part-time/sessional workers.

With over 190,000 UK registered charities, I also found it impossible to believe that there was no existing relevant body - although living not far from Bedford, I can appreciate that *local* provision may be an issue.

However, a Google search on young people's support LGBT raised the following, which looks worth a look (although I haven't examined in detail).

[url]http://www.queeryouth.org.uk/affiliates.htm[/url]

Second, I know that Terence Higgins Trust has youth education as part of its strategy - as does Brook: both national sex education charities. They may not have LGBT provision in your area or 'enough' at the moment - but I wouldn't mind betting that they'd be happy to discuss possibilities with someone (er, that would be you John) who is evidently committed to reaching out to this excluded group.

HTH

Might be a tad easier getting in touch with some organisation not too far away and talk to them about expanding into your area.
Or in the case of national youth services, expanding existing services to include it.

Though if setting up a charity, copy from others. A constitution is easier to copy and amend from someone else than write from scratch (or worse, get solicitors to write from scratch).
And for trustees, they can take the organisation where you don't want to go - because its a group decision, not individual.

Thanks, but there are no organisations that deal with national youth issues. Certainly there is no provision in my locale, and that is where I want to start, by providing a local service and expan from there.

I am aware of the commission's website and the keyword search, but the organisations listed do not provide services local to me.

I know it will be hard work setting up an organisation, but there seems to be no other way to deal with issues locally.

Again, thanks.

Just checking the charities commission website, there are 45 organisations listed when using keyword search 'gay'.
Is there any reason not to approach any of them and talk about expanding their services to do what you are looking at (or even they already do that)?

Setting up any charity takes a lot of time and effort. Far easier and quicker enhancing what an existing charity does. Still can be hard work and take time, but don't need to also set up an organisation while doing it.
The only disadvantage is that you don't get to have your name as the founder.

The funds, trustees, policies and law should all be listed on the charity commission website.