The Regulator for Charities in England and Wales
Guidance on the legal requirement that all charities must have charitable aims that are for the public benefit
This is the Charity Commission's statutory guidance on public benefit. It is guidance from the Charity Commission about public benefit and what charity trustees should consider in order to show that their charity's aims are for the public benefit.
HTML | PDF (309 kb)
A summary of the key principles of the Charity Commission's general guidance to charities about public benefit.
HTML | PDF (47 kb)
This guidance explains the legal underpinning for the principles of public benefit set out in Charities and Public Benefit.
PDF (268kb)
Following the publication of our general guidance on public benefit, Charities and Public Benefit, we have now issued draft supplementary guidance for public consultation. They will each run for four months and anyone is welcome to respond to open consultations by following the instructions on how to respond. The consultation material is available online and can be accessed via the links below.
Current Consultations
Public Benefit and the Advancement of Moral or Ethical Belief Systems - Consultation ends 05 January 2009
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF 129kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Advancement of Moral or Ethical Belief Systems (PDF 58kb)
Closed Consultations
Public Benefit and the Prevention or Relief of Poverty - Consultation closed 30 June 2008
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF 148kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Prevention or Relief of Poverty (PDF 68kb) | The Promotion of Social Inclusion (PDF 41kb) | Summary of consultation responses (PDF 29kb)
Public Benefit and the Advancement of Religion - Consultation closed 30 June 2008
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF 167kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Advancement of Religion (PDF 107 kb) | Summary of consultation responses (PDF 31kb)
Public Benefit and the Advancement of Education - Consultation closed 11 July 2008
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF109kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Advancement of Education (PDF 91kb) | Summary of consultation responses (PDF 31kb)
Public Benefit and Fee-Charging - Consultation closed 11 July 2008
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF 165kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and Fee-Charging (PDF 45kb) | Letter from Andrew Hind to heads of charitable independent schools ( PDF 814 kb) | Summary of consultation responses (PDF 31kb)
We have spoken to trustees at a number of events, exploring what the public benefit reporting requirement might mean for them. This section also includes a selection of key speeches given which explain public benefit against different charitiable purposes
HTML
The Charity Commission is starting a programme of public benefit assessments. This information sheet provides further details about this work, and what it means for your charity.
HTML