Setting up an I Matter Relationship Health Community Wheel Branch
a project of Relationship Health Matters CIC

The objects of Relationship Health Matters CIC  are to carry on activities which benefit the community and in particular (without limitation) to developing the insight and skills of professionals, parents-carers and young people in a relationship health approach to improving child and adult wellbeing.

Our values:
We treat ourselves and others with respect – our minds and our bodies
We demonstrate personal responsibility and willingness to grow
We are committed to team work
We work to support development of skills for relationship health in adults and children


Relationship Health Matters Supports Hubs in a locality which oversee the following projects

I Matter Branches oversee
Access to online training (via License) and study support and coaching (staff time)
Access to assessment (Via license) and consultations (staff time)
Development of the Community Wheel (via license) local programme (and staff time)
Process of liaison between health and education (and staff time)
Online special interest groups for own locality

How to set up a local I Matter Training Branch Hub:

 To start a local I Matter branch, you need at least two interested senior Professional I Matter Certified Founder member professionals who are volunteers (TBC) to act as the initial leaders (Min 1 Lead and 1 Link).

The core costs of setting up a local branch
Core costs:  License for Central admin costs
Core costs:  License fee for I Matter Online First Steps and On Speed
Core costs: License fee for I Matter Tracker
(Based on membership size)
Extra costs
Room hire for monthly session (and other groups if needed)
Study support time for facilitators
Time for online coach (with license to use platform for named list)
Not included:
Costs of I Matter Full Learning Journey or Practitioner Training
Additional 1:1 consults

Sample constitution for branch (based on u3a)


https://web-cdn.org/s/1354/file/policy-documents/u3a-constitution-2021-adopted.pdf


Begin by gauging interest in your area, then contact Relationship Health Matters for support and guidance on official requirements.
You will need to define the group's local  objectives,(establish a simple constitution-TBC) and handle local administrative tasks like collecting fees and keeping attendance records. 



The I Matter Training Local Hub Branch is:
+ Intended for professionals and parents interested in learning and progressing their skills in a relationship health approach to improving wellbeing for adults+ young people.
+ Group leaders must have a senior role and professional training in education, health or community and completed I Matter Fundamentals and registered on Lead Training including being signed up to uphold our constitution and values
+ Other Professional and Parent members must have completed a Get Started Workshop + Essentials in last 12m and be committed to progressing the Fundamentals and developing their own skills and confidence, using training and coaching to progress the objectives of relationship health
+ Core session is a monthly Community Wheel discussion and meet up
+ Extra interest groups local

Steps to start a local I Matter Relationship Health Community Wheel branch

1. Gather initial interest: Find at least one other I Matter Certified person who is interested in starting a new group in your local area.

1. Contact Relationship Health Matters: Reach out Relationship Health Matters CIC to let them know you're interested in starting a new I Matter Community Wheel Branch They can provide specific advice and support, as all Community Wheel branches are run through RHM.
2. Define group objectives: Decide on the purpose of the branch. Is it for a specific interest group or a broader community initiative? The local branch objectives need to be clearly defined (eg universal or any specific age or application focus)
3. Appoint an initial leader: One of the founding members will need to act as the leader. This role involves keeping attendance records, managing finances, and acting as a point of contact.
4. Establish a constitution: Create a simple local constitution outlining the group's objectives and method of functioning. This is a requirement for starting a new group and provides a framework for how the group will operate.
5. Manage administrative tasks including:

1. Attendance: Keep a record of who is a member to ensure everyone is covered by Relationship Health Matters CIC – I Matter Community Wheel insurance.
   
2. Finances:Record any money collected and spent, such as for room hire. Many groups can start as an unincorporated association, which is a collection of individuals without formal legal status.
3. Communicate and promote: Keep members informed, potentially through email or other methods. You can also use the I Matter Community Wheel  outreach resources to help promote the new branch in your specified local area. 
4. Oversee branch documentation including policies and procedures and ensure they are kept up to date

The Local Branch Runs some core groups  Eg
+ Monthly live session
+ Monthly online session
+ Study support events
+ Speaker events
+ Other fun events by interest
It helps members in setting up own special interests groups

Setting up a new extra I Matter Community Wheel Group for your branch

Creating a group is easy

In theory an interest group can be formed whenever 2 or 3 members share an interest. In practice some groups will need more members just to function, or to share the costs of hiring premises or equipment.

Every group needs:

• Someone willing to act as a contact (Group Leader – see below)
• Somewhere to meet. This is often a member’s home for smaller groups.  Larger groups often meet in community centre halls or rooms.
• A group focus (age range + focus activity)

What you don’t need:

• Advanced expertise
• Teaching experience
• Qualifications.

Contact the Groups Coordinator (See Committee Contacts page) for advice and help in setting up a group.

If there is enough interest we will aim to get you together at the next monthly meeting or for a coffee morning.

Courses needing special facilities and/or qualified instructors

Community Wheel Branches can not directly employ instructors or trainers. (One of the rules of the Relationship Health Matters CIC – I Matter Community Wheel Hub Project).
However, a group can arrange for a commercial service or organisation eg Gym, Club, etc. to run sessions for members. This requires group members to commit in advance to paying for a certain number of sessions.

All you need for a new group is 2 or more interested members, one of them prepared to act as leader while the group gets started. The leader does not need to be an expert or a teacher; just willing and reasonably well organised.

The Group Leader

• Is a volunteer and usually has a deputy
• keeps a record of attendance (ensures everyone is a member, and so is covered by RHMatters insurance)
• records any money collected and spent (e.g. for room hire) – self-financing)
• may not open a separate bank account
• acts as a contact for new members and oversees communications
• Ensures group activities will be covered by RHMatters public liability insurance
• Maintains overview of safeguarding and risk management and holds accident log
• Is not for life! Many groups change Group Leader once they are established.

See https://www.towcesteru3a.co.uk/groups/group-co-ordinator

Policies and Procedures and Insurance Managed via Relationship Health Matters CIC
Adopted by Local Groups

• Safeguarding Policy
• Equality and Diversity Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Data Protection / Privacy Policy
• Public Liability Insurance
• Risk Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Reserves Policy
• Code of Conduct
  
• Grievance and Disciplinary
• Financial Management
• Membership Terms and Conditions

EXAMPLE:   KENDAL BRANCH

Branch Leaders:  CB/GM/EA
Workshop leads
Study support leads
Parent assessment and priorities consultations:  CB
Social events/groups

Monthly Community Wheel Check In Discussion Sessions 
(Mixed:  Open to all I Matter Kendal Parents or Profs post IM Get Started)

Under discussion
(Open to parents with own teens)
(Open to parents with younger children with creche for child)

Social events
Board Games monthly
Local Walk monthly

.

KENDAL CENTRAL EVENTS

Join Kendal Community Wheel