Charities and social enterprises

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Services

• Claim Gift Aid online

  Submit a claim for Gift Aid, the Gift Aid small donation scheme (GASDS) and other income; schedule spreadsheets; registering and enrolling for a Charities Online account; activation codes

• Send a charity's annual return

  You must send an annual return if your charity’s income is more than £10,000. All charities must keep their registered details up to date.

• Set up a charity

  To start a charity you need trustees, to choose a business structure, decide suitable charitable purposes and you may have to register with the Charity Commission

• Claiming Gift Aid as a charity or CASC

  What Gift Aid is, who can claim, what donations are eligible for Gift Aid, Gift Aid declarations for your charity or community amateur sports club (CASC), how to claim

• Set up a charity: step by step

  Set up a charity - find trustees, choose a structure, choose a name,

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Guidance and regulation

• Online services for charities
  • Detailed guide
  • 11 September 2019
  • The Charity Commission
• Prepare a charity annual return
  • Detailed guide
  • 4 March 2020
  • The Charity Commission
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector
  • Detailed guide
  • 8 January 2021
  • The Charity Commission
• Incorporation and names
  • Guidance
  • 26 June 2020
  • Companies House
• Charity Commission guidance
  • Detailed guide
  • 2 November 2020
  • The Charity Commission

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News and communications

• Helen Stephenson CBE speech at the ICAEW Charity Conference 2021
  • 21 January 2021
  • The Charity Commission
  • Speech
• Regulator oversees governance improvements after senior figures in development charity post anti-Semitic and offensive social media comments
  • 20 January 2021
  • The Charity Commission
  • Press release
• Charity Commission to consult on responsible investment guidance
  • 15 January 2021
  • The Charity Commission
  • Press release
• Charity Inquiry: Rigpa Fellowship
  • 30 December 2020
  • The Charity Commission
  • Decision
• Regulator opens statutory inquiry into Nottingham poverty relief charity after disqualifying former trustee
  • 21 December 2020
  • The Charity Commission
  • Press release

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Research and statistics

• Ad hoc statistical analysis: 2020/21 Quarter 4
  • 21 January 2021
  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
  • Statistical data set
• DCMS Sector Economic Estimates: Employment Oct 2019 - Sep 2020
  • 21 January 2021
  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
  • Official statistics
• Community Interest Companies registered in November 2020
  • 2 December 2020
  • Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
  • Official statistics
• Ad-hoc statistical analysis: 2020/21 Quarter 2
  • 11 September 2020
  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
  • Statistical data set
• Regulating in the public interest
  • 2 July 2020
  • The Charity Commission
  • Research

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Policy papers and consultations

• How the Charity Commission appoints Interim Managers
  • 18 January 2021
  • The Charity Commission
  • Policy paper
• Charity Commission Regulatory and Risk Framework
  • 29 April 2020
  • The Charity Commission
  • Policy paper
• CIC Regulator: MoU with the Fundraising Regulator
  • 9 October 2019
  • Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
  • Policy paper
• The value of the charity sector
  • 2 October 2019
  • The Charity Commission
  • Policy paper
• MOU: Charity Commission and the Information Commissioner
  • 19 September 2019
  • The Charity Commission
  • Policy paper

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Transparency and freedom of information releases

• Register of merged charities
  • 15 October 2020
  • The Charity Commission
  • Transparency
• Whistleblowing disclosures made to the Charity Commission for England and Wales 2019 to 2020
  • 30 September 2020
  • The Charity Commission
  • Transparency
• CIC Regulator: Annual Report 2019 to 2020
  • 9 September 2020
  • Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
  • Corporate report
• Charity Commission spending over £25,000: June 2020
  • 3 August 2020
  • The Charity Commission
  • Transparency
• Whistleblowing disclosures made to the Charity Commission for England and Wales 2018 to 2019
  • 27 September 2019
  • The Charity Commission
  • Transparency

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Organisations

• Cabinet Office
• HM Revenue & Customs
• Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
• Office for Civil Society
• HM Treasury

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• Companies House
• Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Department for Education
• Department of Health & Social Care
• Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
• Department for Work & Pensions
• Home Office
• Office for Product Safety & Standards
• Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
• Office of the Secretary of State for Wales

• The Charity Commission
• Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
• Innovate UK
• Sellafield Ltd
• Environment Agency
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Explore sub-topics

• Charity money, tax and accounts
• Community interest companies
• Fundraising
• Trustee role and board