Residents' associations

A 'voice' for residents

Setting up a residents’ association can make a real difference to your community. It can give you the opportunity to address issues of community concern and be the ‘voice’ for the residents within your local area.  

Setting up your association

Issues to tackle 

What does your group hope to achieve? Consider whether the group will tackle one specific issue or tackle a range of issues, for example. 

• helping to tackle antisocial behaviour or crime
• feeding back on planned developments in the area
• raising funds to improve local facilities

Geographical area you will cover

Research other residents’ associations and what areas are already covered. Check the Residents' Association database to see what already exists. You could also speak to your ward councillors, who will have knowledge of local associations.

Establishing a residents’ association

You will need to:

• form a committee, with an elected chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer and committee members
• adopt a constitution
• keep certain records and documents, like an up-to-date list of members and any other rules of the association

Setting up the initial meeting 

Once you are confident that there is an interest within your local area and residents are committed to get involved, you will need to plan the first meeting. The key points to consider are:

• purpose of the meeting: be clear about why the meeting is being held and what it aims to accomplish
• setting the date and time: it is important to consider timings when setting up the meetings, ask residents what date and time suits the majority. You should give people at least one week's notice of the meeting
• meeting venue: try to hold the meeting in an accessible venue and one that will be familiar to local residents

Growing your group

Any group of three or more people can set up a group. For most groups, membership is open to anyone over the age of 16. Consider the options to recruit more members, including:

• talking to residents in your area to see who would like to get involved
• leafleting and displaying posters in community areas