I am looking to set up a playgroup as a social enterprise. I know a lot of childcare groups register as charities, but I wonder if a CIC would be a better option. I am aware of the issue with charities whereby a trustee or management committee member cannot be employed by the charity. This could be a problem as I am very much the one driving this forward and I would want to work at the playgroup which would mean relinquishing control to trustees. However I am not really clear on just what the pros and cons are of registering as a CIC instead.

We are a CIC in the North East of England, running a number of projects around digital inclusion, worklessness agenda and community transport. We are looking for core funding, in particular salary for administration staff. Can you steer me in the right direction?

A change up consortium made up of not for profit organisations wishes to set up a new company for charitable purpose, to take over the existing assets of a failing social enterprise and to run the successful business of the consortium on a more formal basis. Should it seek to set up as a company with charitable purposes and limited liability, or as a community interest company or a COI ?

They do not wish to be a charity, as many of the existing consortium members are charities already.

Also, are there standard mem and arts which they can use rather than having to write a new set themselves ?

In setting up a CIC we have met with a local Solicitor in order to ask him to set up the company rather than just downloading the appropriate forms from the CIC Regulators website. He has quoted £500 to do this, is it wise to employ a Solicitor or is it acceptable to do it without his assistance. Also we need some help in drawing up a Lease Agreement with the Landlord would a Solicitor be expected to cover this within the remit to set up the CIC.

We are looking to set up a Cooperative share CIC model - equity share version and have a couple of asscoaietd questions please. Firstly with regards anuual accounting and auditing, will there be much difference from those costs associated with a guarantee CIC model, COOP or otherwise? Secondly how would we set up our share prospectus -is this something Coops Uk could help us with? Would it be possible for coop members to be equity shareholders also? I'm certain there will be more but many thanks for any help you can give thus far!

I am in the process, along with my partner in setting up an Arts Centre. We are still unsure as to the pros and cons of becoming a CIC as opposed to a Company Ltd. by Guarantee with charitable status. We basically need to take a salary from the business but as the rates are high would also need to benefit from rate relief which I believe we would only be able to do if we had charitable status.

I am working with a pre-school who would like to give up charity status & become a CIC ltd by shares. They have assets of £10k & cash of £10k. They hold a PLA constitution. Can they choose who their assets are given to & is it possible for the new company to buy equipment from the charity? Also some of the money in the bank acount is nursery education grant funding for 3&4 yr olds: can this money be transfered to the new company? Thank you