How to Set Up a Charity in the UK – 10 Steps
- Yael Simon
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
This guidance accurately reflects current UK charity law and procedure as of 2025
Eligibility Requirements
Legal Structure Options:
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) - most common for new charities
Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee
Unincorporated Association
Trust
Must Meet These Criteria:
Exclusively charitable purposes (education, poverty relief, health advancement, community benefit, etc.)
Public benefit requirement
Annual income expectation above £5,000
Based in England or Wales (different process for Scotland/Northern Ireland)
Pre-Application Preparation
Step 1: Choose Your Charity Name
Check name availability on the Charity Commission website
Cannot be too similar to existing charities
Must not be misleading about activities or status
Step 2: Define Charitable Objects
Write clear statements of your charity's purposes
Must fall within recognized charitable purposes
Be specific about what you'll do and who you'll help
Step 3: Prepare Governing Document
Constitution (for CIO or unincorporated association)
Memorandum and Articles of Association (for charitable company)
Trust deed (for trusts)
Must include required clauses about dissolution and trustee powers
Step 4: Recruit Trustees
Minimum 3 trustees required
Cannot be disqualified persons (undischarged bankrupts, previous charity misconduct, certain criminal convictions)
Consider skills mix needed for governance
Application Process
Step 5: Complete Online Application
Use the Charity Commission's online registration service
Provide charity details, trustees' information, and governing document
Upload supporting documents including financial projections
Step 6: Required Information
Detailed explanation of activities and beneficiaries
How you'll demonstrate public benefit
Financial information and funding sources
Trustee declarations and eligibility confirmations
Step 7: Submit Application
Review all information thoroughly
Pay any required fees (currently no fee for most charity registrations)
Application reference number provided for tracking
After Submission
Step 8: Charity Commission Review
Initial acknowledgment within 5 working days
Full assessment typically takes 20-40 working days
May request additional information or clarification
Step 9: Registration Decision
Approval: Receive charity number and certificate
Rejection: Detailed reasons provided with appeal options
Conditional approval: Must meet specified requirements
Post-Registration Requirements
Step 10: Ongoing Compliance
Annual Return submission (due 10 months after financial year-end)
Annual accounts filing
Notify changes to trustees, contact details, or governing document
Maintain proper financial records
Follow charity law and trustee duties
Key Documents Needed
Governing document (constitution/articles)
Trustee details and declarations
Financial projections for first year
Explanation of public benefit
Bank account details (can be opened after registration)
Timeline and Costs
Preparation time: 2-8 weeks depending on complexity
Registration processing: 20-40 working days
Registration fee: Check current fees with the Charity Commission. Contact the Charity Commission directly at 0300 066 9197 to confirm current application fees
Annual compliance: Ongoing responsibility
Common Reasons for Rejection
Insufficient public benefit demonstration
Objects too narrow or not clearly charitable
Inadequate financial projections
Trustee eligibility issues
Poorly drafted governing documents
The process requires careful preparation but is straightforward if you meet the requirements and provide complete documentation. Consider seeking professional advice for complex structures or if you're unsure about charitable status eligibility. If you require assistance, please contact Yael Simon yael@arakura.co
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