Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Charity definition

What does Charity mean? In practice, a charity is an organisation established solely for charitable purposes to deliver public benefit, with assets held for those purposes and supervised by the courts and charity regulators. Common forms include a trust, unincorporated association or company limited by guarantee (including CIO/SCIO). Surpluses cannot be distributed to members; funds must be applied to the purposes. Political activity is permitted only as ancillary. Status determines regulatory duties and eligibility for charity tax reliefs. England and Wales: Charities Act 2011, s 1, defines a charity as an institution established for charitable purposes only and subject to High Court control;...

Charity Trustees in England and Wales: Appointment, Replacement, Disqualification, Incorporation, Property Vesting and Charities Act 2022 Reforms; Powers of Court and Charity Commission

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Practice notes

Trustees can appear in many different forms. They may be individuals, companies, or even a local authority in appropriate cases, as the law permits. That said, some categories of trustee face restrictions in practice. Companies can act as trustees, yet their ability to hold trust property is curtailed. Typically, such bodies are confined to serving as trustees of charitable trusts created to pursue the purposes for which they exist. One benefit, however, is that any property vested in that trustee automatically devolves to its successor without further conveyance. For charities connected with non-educational Church of England matters, churchwardens may serve ex officio as trustees, but only as regards personalty and not realty; otherwise a Diocesan authority or other custodian trustee must also be in place. Under the School Sites Act 1841 (SSA 1841), the churchwardens of a church can be appointed ex officio as a quasi-corporation for these purposes. A local authority can act as trustee of an educational endowment, or of a Charity with educational, recreational or heritage aims, for example a village hall. In practice, advisers most frequently encounter charities formed for the aims of a local club, such as a cricket club or allotments, where the beneficiaries...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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