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Starting a charity can be complicated, with a range of charitable structures to choose from and extensive rules and regulations to observe. Having expert charitable startups solicitors by your side will ensure that your organisation has the solid legal foundation it needs.
At Glanvilles, we can advise you on the right type of charitable organisation for your requirements and ensure you have the incorporation documents in place that will allow you to carry out the charitable work you wish to do.
We have wide experience in setting up charities of all types and sizes and the legal understanding to find solutions to any complications that may arise. We will take the time to assess your needs and work with you to put a structure in place that will serve your organisation both in the short term and as it grows and evolves.
Our charity team provides a full range of charity startup services, including:
We will make sure that we have a full understanding of the way in which you want to run and operate your charity and that a robust framework is put in place to support this.
Contact our expert charity startups solicitors in Chichester, Fareham or Havant or fill in our simple online enquiry form for a quick response.
Having a sound and comprehensive basis for your organisation can avoid difficulties later on and it is worth taking the time to get things right from the start. Obtaining charity startup advice from an experienced charity solicitor is always recommended. It is not a straightforward area of law and it is easy to make mistakes or miss crucial legal requirements.
We provide comprehensive advice on setting up a new charity tailored to the organisation’s current needs and also ensuring the foundational documents will stand the test of time if the charity expands.
We can take your organisation through the whole set-up process, from helping you decide on the right trustees to registration.
If you are thinking of setting up a charity, you need to make sure that it has a charitable purpose. This means that it must be for public benefit. It must also have a charitable purpose. The Charities Act 2011 contains a list of areas of charitable activity. Your charitable purpose should fall under one of these headings.
By way of example, a charitable activity could be animal welfare. A charitable purpose related to animal welfare could be running an animal sanctuary, providing veterinary treatment or educating people on animal welfare issues.
You will also need to name your charity and decide on the right structure. This could be:
A charity generally needs three or more trustees. If the charity is run as a charitable company, its directors are classed as trustees.
The duty of charity trustees is to guide the organisation and ensure that it keeps to its charitable purpose and acts in accordance with its governing documents and for the public benefit.
A charity’s governing document sets out a wide range of guidance on how the organisation will be run. Common clauses include:
Your charity will usually need to be registered with The Charity Commission if it has an income of more than £5,000 per year.
You can also register with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you want to claim tax back on certain donations.
Registering with the Fundraising Regulator is optional. It shows your commitment to complying with the Code of Fundraising Practice, which aims to ensure that fundraising is open, honest and respectful. Registration entitles you to use their fundraising badge on your fundraising materials and to be listed in their public directory.
There may be charity startup grants available to your charity. We can advise you on eligibility and, where necessary, assist with the completion of grant application forms, which can be lengthy and in-depth.
If you are setting up a new charity, you need to take the following steps:
We can help you with the above steps, in particular, ensuring you have a clearly set out charitable purpose, a well-drafted governing document and the structure that will best suit the charitable work that you want to do.
The Charity Commission have an online system for registering a charity. You need to go through the following steps:
We routinely help charities with registration and we can make sure that your application includes all necessary evidence and information in support.
Our charitable startup lawyers have the experience to ensure that you have the right structure in place and a robust legal foundation. We can suggest the types of issues to be dealt with in the governing document, giving you the scope to work for your cause in the way that you want while protecting the charity’s assets and personnel as far as possible.
Our in-depth understanding of charity law means that we can deal effectively with any complex or unusual situations. We deal with all types of charity from small startups to substantial organisations.
We also deal with time-sensitive charity startups and registrations, where action needs to be taken promptly to comply with charity regulations. We will work efficiently to ensure you have the necessary framework in place without delay.
Our charity startup lawyers offer:
For more information in respect of our services, see our charitable organisations page.
When you use our charity startups service, we promise:
If you are looking for expert advice for starting a charity, contact our charity solicitors in Chichester, Fareham or Havant or fill in our simple online enquiry form for a quick response.
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