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Charity law
is complicated one, all charities are reguled by the Charity Commission
and laws, rules and regulations are constantly increasing.
If you are embarking
upon the setting up of a charity or voluntary organisation, you
will need advise and legal representation on the most suitable legal
structure of your entitity.
If you are about
to register a charity after 23 April 2007 it will only have to be
registered if its annual income is over £5,000. It is no longer
the policy of Charities Commission to register charities that do
not meet this minimum requirement.
Not just new
set-ups require advice from charity law solicitors, established
charities and voluntary organisations need advice, either from time
to time oron an ongoing basis.
Issues such
as;
Advising trustees
on their responsibilities and liabilities
Updating the governing document
Compliance with Charity Commission rules
Trading and fundraising
Joint ventures/sponsorship
Charity mergers
Constitutional issues
Incorporation
these are just
a few complicated issues.
Often a tragedy
impels an individual to start a charity but be mindful that setting
up your charity may not be the best way forward and it may not be
legally possible.
Consulting a
charity law solicitor should be made a priority before you spend
money on promotion and fund raising.
If you are about
to commemorate an individual by forming a charity in their name,
consider creating a separate fund within an existing charity named
after the person.
Using this method,
you have the might of a major established charity behinf you and
although it may be just as effective as creating a new charity,
you have the experience of others with the same goals.
You might choose
to set up a charity that will help a disaster.
Instead of
setting up a new entity as a charity, why not offer money or services
to an existing charity, such as the Disasters Emergency Committee
for example. Take a look at the Charity Commission Disaster
Appeal documentation.
Whether you
register or not, all charities must operate within the constraints
of charity law.
Without professional
legal advice, you can easily fall foul of the law despite your good
intentions.
Adverse publicity
could ruin your new charity before it gets off the ground. Ensure
you consult a charity law solicitor.
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