Defining the group’s aims and objectives is very important, as these set out the group’s interests and help to prioritise future activities.

Aims and objectives should focus on the group’s role in representing the whole community in bringing about improvements.

• Aims: broad, general, long lasting goals that the group intends to adopt and keep indefinitely.
• Objectives: more specific and shorter-term targets intended to contribute to the groups’ practical achievement of its aims.

Objectives should be reviewed frequently as they will change as projects develop and the circumstances affecting the group change.