Appeal against a Charity Commission decision about your charity
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-31)

How to appeal to an independent tribunal if you disagree with a Charity Commission decision about your organisation.

What you can appeal against

You can appeal if the Charity Commission:
- refuses to register your charity
- removes it from the register
- refuses to let you change the charity’s governing document
- disqualifies you from being a trustee
- suspends you from being a trustee
You may be able to ask the tribunal to review other Charity Commission decisions – for example, a decision to open an inquiry into your charity.

The Charity Commission and the Attorney General can also refer cases to the tribunal.

The tribunal

Your case will be dealt with by a tribunal in the General Regulatory Chamber.

The tribunal is independent of the government, and will listen to both sides of the argument before reaching a decision.

If you or your representative is outside the UK and wants to give live video or audio evidence, contact the tribunal (https://www.gov.uk/find-court-tribunal) to request it. Tell the tribunal what country you or the representative is in and what type of evidence is being given. You must do this as soon as possible.

Time limits for appealing

You have 42 days to appeal after the Charity Commission sends you its decision.

If you miss the time limit, you can ask for more time to appeal. Explain why you’re late, and the tribunal will decide if it can still accept your case.

How to appeal

Complete the relevant General Regulatory Chamber (First-tier Tribunal) form (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/general-regulatory-chamber-first-tier-tribunal-forms).

Clearly say why you think the Charity Commission’s decision was wrong.

Explain your involvement with the charity – for example, if you’re a trustee or someone affected by the decision.

Include any supporting documents, like the Charity Commission’s decision.

Send the form to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or:

General Regulatory ChamberPO Box 11230LeicesterLE1 8FQ

Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Tribunal staff can explain how the process works, but they cannot give you legal advice.

What happens next

The tribunal will write to you about the next steps.

Find out more about tribunal hearings and decisions (https://www.gov.uk/general-regulatory-chamber-tribunal-hearings-and-decisions).

List of current cases

New cases are listed on the register of current cases (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-appeals-register-of-tribunal-cases).

Previous decisions

Search the list of decisions (http://charity.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk/) to see how judges made decisions in previous cases.

Legislation and rules

The Charities Act 2011 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/25/contents) (as amended by the Charities Act 2022) contains rules on appealing to the tribunal.

The Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2016/4/contents) sets out what decisions can be appealed or reviewed.

You can read more detailed rules on how your appeal will be handled in the General Regulatory Chamber procedure rules (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-regulatory-chamber-tribunal-procedure-rules).