The Regulator for Charities in England and Wales
The Charity Commission is not responsible for the content of any of the websites linked to here, and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. The Charity Commission cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and has no control over the availability of any of these sites.
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Alphabetical Index of Useful Links
Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO)
www.acevo.org.uk
ACEVO is the membership body for chief executives of voluntary sector organisations. ACEVO works to connect, develop and represent the sector's leaders.
A.C.R.E (Action with Communities in Rural England)
http://www.acre.org.uk
Supports sustainable rural community development and includes information for village halls and links to Rural Community Councils.
Almshouse Association, The (NAA)
http://www.almshouses.org
Provides advice and training to trustees, clerks and wardens of almshouse charities.
Association of Charitable Foundations
http://www.acf.org.uk
The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) is the umbrella body for grant-making trusts and foundations across the UK. ACF hosts Philanthropy UK which has published “A Guide to Giving” offering guidance and advice on options available to donors and introducing new ideas and approaches to giving. ACF also publishes information for grant-seekers on applying to charitable trusts and foundations.
Association of Children's Hospices (ACH)
http://www.childhospice.org.uk
The Association of Children's Hospices (ACH) is the national voice for children's hospice services, and through them the children and families who use them. ACH works together with other organisations to support the development of best practice and provision of children's hospice services across the UK.
Association of Charity Shops
http://www.charityshops.org.uk
The Association of Charity Shops is the only member organisation dedicated to supporting charities who run shops as part of their fundraising activities. By pooling expertise and joining forces to promote common interests, the Association helps members to operate their shops as effectively as possible. Members range from the largest national charities to locally based hospices.
Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)
http://www.amrc.org.uk/
AMRC is a membership organisation of the leading UK charities that fund medical and health research. It provides information, guidance and a strong and representative voice for its members and the wider charity sector involved in medical and health research.
Charity Finance Directors’ Group (CFDG)
www.cfdg.org.uk
The membership organisation for those working in charities with responsibility for financial management.
Charity Logistics
http://www.charitylogistics.org
Provides help to charities with logistics / facilities issues with the aim of helping charities to save money when buying IT equipment, office space and parcel distribution.
Charity Trustee Networks (ctn)
http://www.trusteenet.org.uk
Charity Trustee Networks is the national charity that supports trustees of charities and voluntary organisations. ctn works to increase trustees’ access to information, guidance and support through networks, a website, signposting and services.
Community Matters
http://www.communitymatters.org.uk
Community Matters is the National Federation of Community Organisations. They provide a wide range of services and support to build the capacity of the community sector across the UK. Community Matters also produce and accredit the recognised national standards for community centre based community organisations - VISIBLE Communities(tm).
Community Transport Association
http://www.communitytransport.com
The Community Transport Association is a rapidly growing national charity giving voice and providing leadership, learning and enterprise support to a wide range of organisations delivering innovative and flexible transport solutions to achieve social change in their communities.
Evangelical Alliance
www.eauk.org
An umbrella group representing evangelical Christians in the UK and made up of member churches drawn from over 30 different denominations.
Help for independent churches
To help independent churches set themselves up effectively when they register as a charity, we have recently agreed a model Trust Deed and accompanying guidance notes, suitable for some independent churches with a non-voting membership, with the Evangelical Alliance and the African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance. To access the document, and for further information, click on the following link: www.eauk.org/modeltrustdeed.
Hospital Broadcasting Association, The
http://www.hbauk.com/
Supporting and representing over 250 independent hospital broadcasting organisations, most of whom are registered charities.
Institute of Fundraising
http://www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk/
The professional body representing and supporting fundraisers.
National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA)
www.navca.org.uk
Local voluntary organisations and community groups can use the NAVCA website to find their nearest local infrastructure organisation (LIO) in England. See Wales Council for Voluntary Action below, for Wales. These LIOs provide support and training for local voluntary organisations and community groups on many practical issues, including management, IT and volunteering.
National Council for Voluntary Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO)
http://www.ncvcco.org
Umbrella group representing child care charities. Provides publications, briefings and consultations to members on child care and family issues and represents members’ views, to central, regional and local government.
National Council For Voluntary Organisations
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Website of the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in England, which includes an online gateway to voluntary sector information and ask NCVO, a source of guidance for trustees on a wide range of practical and legal issues.
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/asp/search/main.aspx
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Organisations (NICVA)
http://www.nicva.org
NICVA is the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, an umbrella body for voluntary, community and charitable groups in Northern Ireland. It provides over 1000 affiliated members with information, advice and training on a wide range of issues from management consultancy and finance, through to policy development and lobbying.
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)
www.scvo.org.uk
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in Scotland
Wales Council for Voluntary Action
http://www.wcva.org.uk
Interactive site offering information for and about the voluntary sector in Wales.
Camelot
http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/p/goodcauses/goodCausesLanding.jsp
These pages provide information about applying for money from the National Lottery.
CharityBank
http://www.charitybank.org
Charity Bank is a charity where people can deposit money to be used solely for charity and social enterprise - lending, not giving. It is also a not-for-profit bank whose sole business is providing affordable finance for charitable work.
CAF Bank
http://www.cafonline.org/Default.aspx?page=6880
ImpACT coalition
http://www.impactcoalition.org.uk
The ImpACT coalition seeks to represent the views of the full range and diversity of voluntary sector organisations by improving Accountability, Clarity and Transparency (ImpACT).
Grants for Listed Buildings used as Places of Worship
www.lpwscheme.org.uk
Information about government grants to help with the VAT costs of repairing and maintaining listed buildings which are used primarily as places of worship.
Improving financial relationships with the third sector: Guidance to funders and purchasers (HM Treasury, 2006)
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk./spending_review/spend_ccr/spend_ccr_guidance.cfm
Guidance for government departments and other funders that distribute public money to charities and third sector organisations. It will help charities, and other organisations that apply for funding, to understand the considerations that funders need to bear in mind.
Trust funding
www.trustfunding.org.uk
Contains up-to-date comprehensive coverage of all the grant-making trusts included in all DSC or CAF directories. Available by subscription, visit the home page for a demonstration.
Memorials Grant Scheme
www.memorialgrant.org.uk
An interim grant scheme which returns in grant aid the amount of VAT incurred on the construction, renovation and maintenance of eligible memorials. The scheme is currently due to continue until 2008.
CCLA Investment Management Ltd
www.ccla.co.uk
CCLA provides the broadest range of funds designed specifically for charities and we invest money for far more charities than any other fund manager in the UK. We are owned entirely by our charity and not-for-profit clients, and manage our business exclusively for their benefit.
Association of Charitable Foundations
The Association of Charitable Foundations publishes "A Guide to Giving". Produced by Philanthropy UK, this guide provides advice on all aspects of giving to charities. It includes a model deed and application form which can be used to set up and quickly register a grant-making charity [see Annexes A and B]. Philanthropy UK was a special project of the Association of Charitable Foundations.
Charities Aid Foundation
http://www.cafonline.org.uk
Charities Aid Foundation can help people who want to give one off donations or donate to a range of charities through their effective giving services. Contact them to find out about their range of services.
CharityBank
http://www.charitybank.org
Charity Bank is a charity where people can deposit money to be used solely for charity and social enterprise - lending, not giving. It is also a not-for-profit bank whose sole business is providing affordable finance for charitable work.
Charities Act 1992
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1992/Ukpga_19920041_en_1.htm
Charities Act 1993
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1993/Ukpga_19930010_en_1.htm
Charities Act 2006
http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060050_en_1
Charity Law Association
http://www.charitylawassociation.org.uk
The Charity Law Association is established with the aim of enabling those who advise on or use charity law to meet together, to exchange ideas and intelligence and to use their experience and expertise for the benefit of the charity sector.
In-House Charity Lawyers Group
http://www.cigroup.org.uk/charity.asp
The In-House Charity Lawyers Group is run by and for in-house lawyers in charities, enabling its members to meet together, network and exchange ideas, experiences and resources/best practice.
Charity Logistics
http://www.charitylogistics.org
Provides help to charities with logistics / facilities issues with the aim of helping charities to save money when buying IT equipment, office space and parcel distribution.
Charity Trustee Networks (ctn)
http://www.trusteenet.org.uk
Charity Trustee Networks is the national charity that supports trustees of charities and voluntary organisations. ctn works to increase trustees’ access to information, guidance and support through networks, a website, signposting and services.
Community Accountancy National Network
http://www.communityaccounting.org/
This site provides information on local community accountancy services. Information, training and services are available, sometimes free, through these local support services. They provide help with, bookkeeping, planning, financial procedures, payroll, annual accounts and other financial management issues.
The Cranfield Trust
http://www.cranfieldtrust.org
The Cranfield Trust is a leading provider of free management support to the UK voluntary sector. Working with a register of skilled volunteers from the commercial world, the Trust offers consultancy projects across a wide range of management areas.
Investing in Volunteers
http://www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk
Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations which involve volunteers in their work. The Standard enables organisations to comprehensively review their volunteer management, and also publicly demonstrates their commitment to volunteering.
LawWorks
http://www.lawworks.org.uk
Law Works' - the Solicitors Pro Bono Group - offers a means of linking charities and others with pro bono legal advice.
PFRA (Public Fundraising Regulatory Association)
http://www.pfra.org.uk
The PFRA works to ensure that fundraising on the street and door-to-door is of the highest possible standard.
ThirdSectorJobs
http://www.thirdsectorjobs.co.uk
A specialist jobs site for people working in or looking to join the charity and voluntary sector. It extends the successful recruitment service already provided by Third Sector magazine to deliver best quality response from relevant, high-calibre candidates.
Volunteering England
http://www.volunteering.org.uk
Volunteering England is an independent voluntary agency committed to supporting, enabling and celebrating volunteering in all its diversity. Our work links research, policy innovation, good practice and grant making in the involvement of volunteers.
Charities Safety Group
http://www.csg.org.uk
The Charities Safety Group exists to support charities and voluntary organisations to meet their legal requirements for health and safety. Members are people working in the sector who face this challenge. The Group provides meetings on key topics, support, information, shared learning and works with regulators to ensure the sector is recognised.
Charity Resource Network
http://www.cfdg.org.uk/crn/index.asp
Online information service of the Charity Finance Directors Group to support charity managers. Provided for members to give access to a range of practical documents, guidance and links to related sites. The site provides a useful guide to online information and helpsheets from a range of specialist bodies and organisations.
Directory of Social Change (DSC)
http://www.dsc.org.uk
DSC is an independent source of information and support to the voluntary sector. It
Also provides comprehensive database of grantmaking trusts at www.trustfunding.org.uk
The Governance Hub
http://www.governancehub.org/
The Governance Hub is there to help trustees build good governance within their charity. The Hub has free information for trustees on their website and further details of how they can help trustees.
Institute of Chartered Accountants
http://www.icaew.co.uk
Support on accounting issues for charities, including links to many other useful sites.
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA)
http://www.icsa.org.uk
Support to charity administrators through training and qualifications, publications, trustee recruitment and a forum for members and non-members.
ICSA's website also contains a series of guidance notes and model documents for charity trustees and administrators.
The ICT Hub
http://www.icthub.org.uk
The ICT Hub promote information technology for charities. They have a range of free resources specifically designed for small new start up groups these include: 'ICT Signposting Guide for Small Voluntary and Community Organisations' and 'ICT briefings for organisations who are starting out on their ICT journey', which are available online and also hard copy publications 'How to cost and fund ICT publication'and 'A guide to managing ICT'.
Institute of Legacy Management (ILM)
www.ilmnet.org
The ILM is a not for profit organisation that promotes professional standards in legacy administration and provides consultancy, training and support services to its members.
National Council For Voluntary Organisations
www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Website of the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in England, which includes an online gateway to voluntary sector information and ask NCVO, a source of guidance for trustees on a wide range of practical and legal issues.
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/asp/search/main.aspx
Non-domestic Rates – guidance for charities
http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/busrats/nndr.pdf
Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)
http://www.cre.gov.uk/index.html
Publicly funded body which tackles racial discrimination and promotes racial equality.
Disability Rights Commission
http://www.drc-gb.org
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is an independent body, established by Act of Parliament to eliminate discrimination against disabled people and promote equality of opportunity.
Companies House
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk
Information about companies
Financial Services Authority (FSA), The
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/index.shtml
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is the independent watchdog set up by government to regulate financial services and protect your rights.
HM Revenue and Customs
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities
Includes guidance on taxation for charities, and donors, and deals with questions about charities & VAT, with links to useful related publications.
Housing Corporation
http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk
Regulates and funds housing associations in England.
Land Registry
http://www.landreg.gov.uk/assets/library/documents/lrpg014.pdf
Practice advice from the Land Registry on land transactions.
National Association for Wales – Housing
http://www.wales.gov.uk/subihousing/index.htm
Regulates housing associations in Wales.
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), The
http://www.oscr.org.uk
The regulator of charities in Scotland.
Regulator of Community Interest Companies ("CICs")
http://www.cicregulator.gov.uk
Provides information, advice and regulation for this type of company which is designed specifically for those wishing to operate for the benefit of the community rather than for the benefit of the owners of the company.
Charities Aid Foundation
http://www.cafonline.org.uk
Charities Aid Foundation can help people who want to give one off donations or donate to a range of charities through their effective giving services. Contact them to find out about their range of services.
The Giving Campaign
http://www.givingcampaign.org.uk
Established to increase the amount of money given to UK charities; and, in the long term, to encourage a culture of giving where it is thought natural for everyone able to do so to give money and time to improve the quality of life for others.
Office of the Third Sector
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/thirdsector
Cabinet Office department responsible for promoting the development of the voluntary and community sector and encouraging people to become actively involved in their communities, particularly in deprived areas.
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO)
http://www.hmso.gov.uk
Help with access to and re-use of government information, including Crown Copyright material and parliamentary legislation.
Public Records Office (PRO)
http://www.pro.gov.uk
The Public Record Office is the national archive of England, Wales and the United Kingdom. It brings together and preserves the records of central government and the courts of law, and makes them available to all who wish to consult them.
info4local
http://www.info4local.gov.uk
info4local is a government portal that gives local authorities a quick and easy way to find and link to relevant information on the web sites of central government departments, agencies and public bodies.
CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution)
http://www.cedr.co.uk/
CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) and the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) run a joint scheme which is funded by the Home Office to raise awareness of mediation, through training events, seminars, etc. and also offers a discounted mediation service for charities.
Charity Logistics
http://www.charitylogistics.org
Provides help to charities with logistics / facilities issues with the aim of helping charities to save money when buying IT equipment, office space and parcel distribution.
Charity Skills
http://www.charityskills.org
Provides voluntary organisations in England and Wales with business support, Internet services and training
Charity Trustee Networks (ctn)
http://www.trusteenet.org.uk
Charity Trustee Networks is the national charity that supports trustees of charities and voluntary organisations. ctn works to increase trustees’ access to information, guidance and support through networks, a website, signposting and services.
The Cranfield Trust
http://www.cranfieldtrust.org
The Cranfield Trust is a leading provider of free management support to the UK voluntary sector. Working with a register of skilled volunteers from the commercial world, the Trust offers consultancy projects across a wide range of management areas.
Employee Volunteering
http://www.employeevolunteering.org.uk
Promotes volunteering by providing support for employers, employees and charities.
The Governance Hub
http://www.governancehub.org
The Governance Hub is there to help trustees build good governance within their charity. The Hub has free information for trustees on their website and further details of how they can help trustees.
The ICT Hub
http://www.icthub.org.uk
The ICT Hub promote information technology for charities. They have a range of free resources specifically designed for small new start up groups these include: 'ICT Signposting Guide for Small Voluntary and Community Organisations' and 'ICT briefings for organisations who are starting out on their ICT journey', which are available online and also hard copy publications 'How to cost and fund ICT publication'and 'A guide to managing ICT'.
Professionals4Free
http://www.professionals4free.org.uk/
Helps with finding free professional services.
Volunteering England
http://www.volunteering.org.uk
Volunteering England is an independent voluntary agency committed to supporting, enabling and celebrating volunteering in all its diversity. Our work links research, policy innovation, good practice and grant making in the involvement of volunteers.
Volunteering Wales
www.volunteering-wales.net
Support for volunteering in Wales.
Work With Us
www.workwithus.org
Workwithus.org is the single gateway to Scotland's charities, voluntary and community groups.
Community Foundation Network
http://www.communityfoundations.org.uk
Community Foundation Network have launched a project known as Boost. This is an innovative project that releases money in dormant and inactive trust funds and uses them to fund the voluntary and community sectorin local areas. Charities struggling to continue or facing winding up may want to contact Community Foundation Network to explore whether the local Community Foundation can help.
Charities Aid Foundation
http://www.cafonline.org.uk
Charities Aid Foundation can help people who want to give one off donations or donate to a range of charities through their effective giving services. Contact them to find out about their range of services.
Charities Safety Group
http://www.csg.org.uk
The Charities Safety Group exists to support charities and voluntary organisations to meet their legal requirements for health and safety. Members are people working in the sector who face this challenge. The Group provides meetings on key topics, support, information, shared learning and works with regulators to ensure the sector is recognised.