A CIO must have a constitution in the form specified by regulations made by the Commission, or as near to that form as the circumstances allow. These regulations specify that the constitution should be in the form of one of our model constitutions. These models still allow some flexibility, as explained in the guidance notes attached to the models.
The Charities Act 2011 and the General Regulations don't require you to use a particular wording, but the wording in the Commission's models has been carefully considered and informed by experts in the charity sector.
There are distinct advantages to using one of our models. These include:
- the models contain all the powers you will need meet the necessary legal requirements and comply with good practice
- there will be fewer questions for us to ask and consider when you apply for charity registration
- the models are available free of charge
As a result, we recommend you use one of our models.
See also: Model constitutions for CIOs
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