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To start a charity you need trustees, to choose a business structure, decide suitable charitable purposes and you may have to register with the Charity Commission.

• Set up a charity

  There are 6 steps to setting up a charity. Find trustees for your charity…

• Charitable purposes

  Your charity must have ‘charitable purposes’ that help the public (known…

• Name your charity

  The official name of your charity is known as its ‘main name’. Your…

• Structures

  You must choose a structure for your charity, which will affect things…

• Governing document

  You must create a ‘governing document’ (or ‘rulebook’) for your charity…

• Register your charity

  You must apply to register your charity if both: its income is at least…

Start a business to help people or communities - business structures including community interest companies and co-operatives

Before you start to set up a charity make sure that you know it is the best option for what you want to do.

• Updated: 12 September 2018

Decide whether to set up a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), a charitable company or an unincorporated association or trust.

• Updated: 4 November 2014

Find out what it means to be a charity and what to do if setting up a charity is the right option for you.

• Updated: 4 November 2014

How to register as a community amateur sports club (CASC) - eligibility, tax relief, form CASC A1

Unincorporated associations are organisations set up through an agreement between a group of people who come together for a reason other than to make a profit

You can start to raise funds for your charity once you have your governing document and trustees in place.

• Updated: 20 July 2016

Tax relief on donations, Gift Aid, payroll giving, leaving a gift in your will, keeping tax records; find a charity; donating land, property or shares

Apply for funding for community projects that prevent hate crime.

• Updated: 19 October 2018