Once you have decided the best legal structure for your group, there are a range of resources available to help you get set up and registered with the appropriate body.
Set up a Charity
The steps you need to take to set up a charity vary depending on the size of your charity and how you intend to operate. If your charity is relatively small and will have an annual income of less than £5,000, you can get set up using a Small Charity constitution and you do not need to register with the Charity Commission. Please see the template Small Charity Constitution in our resources section below.
If your charity’s income is at least £5,000 per year or you specifically wish to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), you will need to register your charity with the Charity Commission.
When you apply you will be asked:
- about your charity’s charitable purposes
- how you run your charity for public benefit
- for proof that your charity’s annual income is above £5,000, unless you’re a CIO
You’ll also need to give your charity’s:
- name
- bank or building society details
- most recent accounts
- contact details, including a postal address
- trustees’ names, dates of birth and contact details
- a copy of your charity’s governing document (in PDF format)
Find out more about setting up a CIO here: https://www.gov.uk/setting-up-charity/register-your-charity
Set up a Community Interest Company (CIC)
A CIC is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.
To set up a CIC, you’ll need:
- a ‘community interest statement’, explaining what your business plans to do
- an ‘asset lock’- a legal promise stating that the company’s assets will only be used for its social objectives, and setting limits to the money it can pay to shareholders
- a constitution – you can use the CIC regulator’s model constitutions
- to get your company approved by the community interest company regulator – your application will automatically be sent to them
The CIC regulator has guidance on setting up a CIC here
