Dorset Goes Wild started with a simple, brilliant idea: getting local families back into nature. The community response was immediate and massive, but as the group’s online following climbed into the thousands, the team hit a wall. They wanted to go from a passionate grassroots movement to a professional health partner that could take on NHS wellbeing contracts
They worked with CAN to sort out their legal structure and governance, and today they have over 7,400 members and have earned recognition from Chris Packham and HRH King Charles III. Having the right infrastructure is critical in helping community groups scale. If you’re at a similar crossroads, the legal stuff can feel a bit daunting. Whether you’re feeling the pressure of being a sole founder or you’re just not sure which setup protects your team best, you don’t have to guess your way through it.
We’re running a free Choosing Your Legal Structure session specifically to help you find the right fit. Reuben Ocansey from P.O.W.E.R recently joined us and found it clarified things for his team:
“Very well organised and active. The training was a refresher course for me—a lot of information with links, and the workbook is fantastic. This session helped me and my team choose to be an unincorporated association.”
What we’ll dive into:
- The “Why”: How your structure affects everything from your personal liability to the grants you can go for.
- The Options: Breaking down the different legal paths without the jargon.
- The “Who”: Understanding what a management committee actually needs to do.
- The Workbook: You’ll get a practical tool to take back to your team to help you decide together.
Let’s get the foundations right so you can get back to the work that matters.
