The Regulator for Charities in England and Wales
Public benefit is central to the work of all charities
See our latest reports on the public benefit of 12 charities and the emerging findings from the programme. In this section you will find:
1. Introduction to public benefit assessments
2. The public benefit assessment reports
3. Emerging findings report
4. Glossary
5. Methodology
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.
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Our guidance and example trustee annual reports show how trustees can approach the duty to report on public benefit.
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.
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A summary of the key principles of the Charity Commission's general guidance to charities about public benefit.
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This guidance explains the legal underpinning for the principles of public benefit set out in Charities and Public Benefit.
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There are no current consultations.
The Prevention or Relief of Poverty for the Public Benefit
Supplementary guidance HTML | PDF
Analysis of the law underpinning The Prevention or Relief of Poverty for the Public Benefit (PDF)
Summary of responses (PDF)
The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit
Supplementary guidance HTML | PDF
Analysis of the law underpinning The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit (PDF)
Summary of responses (PDF)
The Advancement of Education for the Public Benefit
Supplementary guidance HTML | PDF
Analysis of the law underpinning The Advancement of Education for the Public Benefit (PDF)
Summary of responses (PDF)
Public Benefit and Fee-Charging
Supplementary guidance HTML | PDF
Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and Fee-charging (PDF)
Summary of responses (PDF)
Introduction (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Advancement of Moral or Ethical Belief Systems (PDF)
Following the consultation, we made the decision not to take the guidance forward. Below is a summary of the feedback we received in response to the consultation:
Summary of consultation responses (PDF)
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
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