How to set up a charity in the UK?

FerminaThreads: 1 Posts: 7 Joined: May 20, 11 ♀	Edited by: Moderator May 20, 11, 21:48 #1
Does anyone know how to set up a charity in the UK? And if the registration process in very complicated?

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	May 20, 11, 21:49 #2
Yes , its very complicated , been there myself..gave it up in the end.... You can get a book on how do to it from your local library....

FerminaThreads: 1 Posts: 7 Joined: May 20, 11 ♀	May 20, 11, 21:50 #3
Thank you

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07 ♂	Edited by: szarlotka May 20, 11, 21:54 #4
This link provides an overview of the process. It is fairly complicated. When I set one up I has the benefit of having a friend who had been through the process.

FerminaThreads: 1 Posts: 7 Joined: May 20, 11 ♀	May 20, 11, 22:03 #5
Could you tell me what kind of charity are you interested in?

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	May 20, 11, 22:08 #6
I was organising and leading convoys of 4 x 4 Landrovers to Belarus to help children suffering from the Chenobyl accident... then later i was helping a kids home in Poland....

DaisyThreads: 16 Posts: 2,172 Joined: Apr 28, 07 ♀	Edited by: Daisy May 20, 11, 23:15 #7
You need to register with the Charity Commission http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Start_up_a_charity/default.aspx info here registering as a charity

espanaThreads: 40 Posts: 2,233 Joined: Feb 28, 07 ♂	May 20, 11, 23:21 #8
Fermina: Charity in the UK charity for what?????

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May 20, 11, 23:25 #9

It may be that you do not need to set up the charity as such. If you are looking to set up a charity in aid of cancer, or illnesses, or similar there will already be a charity existing in which case they can help you organise fundraisers on a small and large scale. You should look for similiar charities to your idea. Its easier this way than trying to register a charity here which is very hard.

As an extra point if you are looking to fundraise for yourself or family or friends, try justgiving. its a very good website, with a large capacity of donators, easy to advertise and very easy to set up.

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May 21, 11, 22:47 #10

Thank You all so much for all the answers. It is very helpful.

I think to set up a charity to help people or children, I have not choose it yet but it is generally the area I have an experience as a qualified psychologist, with many years of experience in working with Special Need Children and also with People with Depression or Anxiety.

I am looking for someone who would be interested to set up this charity with me, here in London, ideally English person or someone who is familiar with all these policies because for me is a jungle really :).

And I also wonder if charity can be a business as well, I mean something you can earn money for life?

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	May 21, 11, 22:56 #11
Fermina: And I also wonder if charity can be a business as well, I mean something you can earn money for life? some might argue that u need a better understanding of the word charity.

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	May 21, 11, 22:59 #12
Fermina: And I also wonder if charity can be a business as well, I mean something you can earn money for life? A charity has to be a business these days if its to survive... How well it can pay you depends on how successfull it is....

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May 21, 11, 23:03 #13

Fermina:

And I also wonder if charity can be a business as well, I mean something you can earn money for life?

A charity can be incorporated as a business, it is known as a charitable incorporated organisation or CIO, the purpose of the business is to make money for the charity. Staff who work for charities can be paid, but there must be no conflict of interest. For someone involved with the charity, either as a trustee of charity correspondent, to be taken onto the payroll, they must first clear it with the charity commission, proving no conflict of interest. If you are looking for a business venture, then be prepared to pay taxes, charitable status is not for you.

Marynka11Threads: 8 Posts: 1,447 Joined: Nov 3, 10 ♀	Edited by: Marynka11 May 21, 11, 23:39 #14
Fermina: And I also wonder if charity can be a business as well, I mean something you can earn money for life? You should think more in lines of a non-profit organization. I think it would be easier to be an employee and you still could do charitable work.

FerminaThreads: 1 Posts: 7 Joined: May 20, 11 ♀	May 21, 11, 23:55 #15
Thank you Marynka. But it is not easy to get a job in these times in London even in non profit or charity sector. That's why I was thinking about my own business...

Marynka11Threads: 8 Posts: 1,447 Joined: Nov 3, 10 ♀	May 22, 11, 00:05 #16
I actually meant for you to set up a non-profit and employ yourself, and pay yourself a salary. I know someone, who set up a runaway shelter and she runs the organization as her full time job and pays herself a salary.

FerminaThreads: 1 Posts: 7 Joined: May 20, 11 ♀	May 22, 11, 00:13 #17
That's interesting. I have not heard about it yet. Could you tell me a little bit more about it? How to do it?

Marynka11Threads: 8 Posts: 1,447 Joined: Nov 3, 10 ♀	May 22, 11, 00:22 #18
Unfortunately I don't know much about English rules. I live in the States, and the girl I'm talking about registered a non-profit, created a business plan and and she is getting the money from some state and private grants.

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May 22, 11, 10:18 #19

Marynka11:

Unfortunately I don't know much about English rules. I live in the States

Evidently.

For one, if it is not registered with the Charity Commission it cannot use the words charity or charitable, or claim to be such. I have found American 'rules' rather lax when it comes to charity. Whereas our charity laws, were first brought into effect in 1601 with the statute of Elizabeth, it was then given a permanent commission in 1853, thus becoming the Charity Commission. Queen Liz the first was no fool, she could see people were using the word 'charity' to fill their own pockets and not those in need, so she set about making laws to change that.

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