Use of Term Charity

MiniLaura

Hi

Wondering what the rules are on someone using the term charity to describe fundrasing efforts for a good cause but not actually a charity?

I know that some people jsut use the term off hand but wondering if there can be any repercussions etc?

Just want to know position so I am able to advise - I feel its misleading to state something is for charity when they arent actually a charity, despite how good/true the cause is.

Would fundrasing be a better term or does that have an implications

Thanks

fengirl_2

You can only describe an event as being for charity if it is for a registered charity or for an organistion which has charitable objects. There are 12 charitable objects in English charity law and you can see these on the CC website. (Things like promotion of education, religion, releif of poverty, environmental causes, hellping animals, disabled people, young people - even raising an army!) In addition, the organisation has to have a wide public benefit, so you cannot fundraise to, say, buy an individual child a wheelchair and call it a charity event.
Its fine to desscribe your activity as fundraising as long as you make it clear where the money is going.

soolin

I would avoid any organisation that used the word charity when they were not actually registered as such. Some years ago I was on the board of a large organisation that most people thought was a charity, however it was always stressed to us that if any reporter or other person or organisation referred to as a charity we should take immediate steps to correct them.

We were not a charity and were always led to believe that if we allowed people to think we were then there would be serious repercussions.