Trading Introduction

One way of ensuring that your community group or organisation continues to thrive and deliver is by generating an income from trading. This might be:

• direct selling of goods and services

• contracts to deliver services on behalf of a Public Sector body (usually the local authority or government)

Third Sector community groups are not set up to specifically make a profit. However, generating some income from trading encourages a more self-sufficient approach to running the organisation and can make a real difference to the sustainability of a group. 

Trading encourages groups to move away from relying solely on grants and donations to fund their activities and services. Any surplus (or profit) made from trading must be used exclusively to further the aims and objectives of the group or organisation.