CH:

Wealth_Wizard

What are the steps to setup a new charity?

heleen

For advice and information on getting set up, contact the Charity Commission's central helpline on 0870 333 0123.

Savvy_Sue

They also have a website:

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/

which has a link on the rh side:

Becoming a Registered Charity
All the forms you will need to complete to apply for registration of your organisation

Be warned it's not an overnight process! Worth taking time to get it right and keep it right.

Wealth_Wizard

thanks

Dodsy

We have a page on our website detailing the whole process you need to go through to set up a charity

https://www.alisdream.org.uk

just go to the officil section and select helpful hints on setting up a charity

Bani_2

You could/should also contact your local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) which should be funded to help you. Unfortunately not all use the CVS name (town/area name CVS) but use Voluntary Action or similar. They should be funded to help with registration and other matters involved in setting up and running a charity. If you can't find them your local council should be able to give you a pointer.

Fionnuala_2

Some of my friends set up a little charity and used a contract, agreement..whatever you want to call it..as advised by the Charity Commission to make it all official, and to make themselves Trustees. We recently had a legal adviser (a barrister) look over the paperwork and he pointed out that under the contract signed should anyone sue the charity for whatever reason then the Trustees are personally liable. Gosh...we're holding a Cycle Challenge in a remote part of Africa next year! This agreement was on the Charity Commission's advice!! We (I am now involved in this venture) have decided to become a Limited Company but with charitable status - so if anybody sues we don't have to sell our homes. The Trustees would then become Directors. I strongly advise you to get independent legal advice before putting your name to anything. It might be expensive...but it will be worth every penny for peace of mind. The charity commission also know about setting up limited companies so worth asking them about it anyway.

Savvy_Sue

Some of my friends set up a little charity and used a contract, agreement..whatever you want to call it..as advised by the Charity Commission to make it all official, and to make themselves Trustees. We recently had a legal adviser (a barrister) look over the paperwork and he pointed out that under the contract signed should anyone sue the charity for whatever reason then the Trustees are personally liable. Gosh...we're holding a Cycle Challenge in a remote part of Africa next year! This agreement was on the Charity Commission's advice!! We (I am now involved in this venture) have decided to become a Limited Company but with charitable status - so if anybody sues we don't have to sell our homes. The Trustees would then become Directors. I strongly advise you to get independent legal advice before putting your name to anything. It might be expensive...but it will be worth every penny for peace of mind. The charity commission also know about setting up limited companies so worth asking them about it anyway.

These people will have a look at your governing document and give advice for free:
http://www.independentexaminers.co.uk/

They also produce a jolly useful e-newsletter you can sign up for for free, and it's always worth reading to the end ...

Bani_2

A couple of points on recent posts.

I am currently taking the charity of which I am trustee ( a CVS) through the process of incorporation (moving from an unincorporated association to a Company Limited by Guarantee in this case - this is the most likely form of a charitable limited company) Once the company and its Memorandum & Artlicles of Association (Company Law term for constitution) are registered with companies house (£20 fee) it will need to register (or in our case re-register) with the Charity Commission.
If the CC don't like your Mem & Arts you go back to the start, do not pass GO, do not collect £200! so its best to get it right first time.

As I said in earlier post your local Council for Volutary Service may be able to help for free.

Hope this helps.