If we are satisfied from the information supplied that your organisation is considered charitable, we will enter the details of your organisation on to the Register of Charities. We will then send you a letter advising you of the registration number that your charity has been allocated. Registration means that while the organisation remains on the Register it will be legally presumed to be a charity and must be accepted as a charity by other bodies such as the Inland Revenue. Although registration does not necessarily indicate approval of the management of the charity, it does mean that it is subject to supervision by us and that information about it, including its governing document and accounts, is open to examination by the public, both through our offices and on our Internet site. To facilitate the setting up of charities and to simplify the process of registration, we have produced a set of draft model governing documents, covering the three main forms taken by charities.
Copies are available on request in the same way as our other publications.
There are also various standard governing documents drawn up for particular categories of charities and approved by us. Once a charity is registered, the trustees must tell us of any change to the charity's registered details. They are required to submit their annual accounts to us and may be asked periodically to complete a return or supply additional information. One of the ways in which we promote the effective use of charitable resources is by providing charity trustees with information and advice. Advice is therefore a major part of our work.