Trading goods or services on the open market can be a valuable source of unrestricted income for voluntary and community organisations. It can mean organisations are less dependant on grant funding and more able to take control of their future direction. Being able to identify an activity that you can charge money for can create a really valuable source of income.
Common forms of trading in the voluntary and community sector include: selling publications; providing training and renting space in a community building. But developing successful trading activities means being able to accurately assess the financial viability of ideas, accessing the right skills and might mean reviewing your legal structure.
This overview explores the issues around trading and how it could strengthen your organisation.
