# Foundation

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Founders

It doesn't matter whether you're a council, a community organisation or a small group. Everything new needs its founders to make things happen.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Find the others

Founders can't do it by themselves. Bring others into the mix and build your board or steering group.
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{% step %}

### Feasibility

Depending on your resources, the scale of your ambitions and the number of people you need to convince, this stage could take a couple of weeks to over a year.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Formation

This makes the decision to proceed official. For groups this might be formally registering as a co-op. For local authorities this could be spin-off to a mutual, deciding to commission a service or pilot or incubating a co-op with their community. The day-to-day decision-making methods should also be clarified at this stage.

Formation can be delayed (sometimes indefinitely) if you are working within a Local Authority or other larger organisation. Equal Care offers incubation options for groups who would rather delay this step.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}


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