Forming a Charity

First Steps

Before you consider registering a charity, there are several things you need to get sorted. Your charity needs a name, volunteers and trustees and a structure that is right for its objectives.

You need to be aware that in order to qualify as a charity, your organisation must operate solely for charitable purposes and must meet the public benefit test. There are 13 charitable objects and your organisation must operate for the purpose of at least one of them in order to be recognised in law as a charity and to be registered by the Charity Commission.

Charities cannot operate for the benefit of their trustees (or their relatives), for political purposes or for any profit. Trustees must not benefit financially from the charity (save in very limited circumstances) although charities can employ paid 'volunteers'.

We can discuss all of this, the best structure for your charity, trustee duties, registration and meeting the public benefit test to ensure that your charity is set up right, first time ensuring you can get on with fundraising for your chosen cause.