We are a registered charity and company operating over a wide geographic area and actively encourage 'Friends of...' groups to organise volunteers and to become (at least semi-) independent of us. We wish to continue to provide technical and occasional manpower support to these 'independent' groups. We hold their funds as ringfenced funds in our own accounts and they also operate under the umbrella of our insurance.

One of them has just declared itself an (unregistered) charity and adopted a constitution to that effect.

This bothers me as I fear it may necessitate them severing formal links with us - removing their funds and getting heir own insurance. If this is necessary then so be it, but I suspect that they have not considered these implications. I have no problem with them becoming fully independent, but they might have.

Does any one have any simlar experience and/or advice.