How to Register a Charity in the UK (Step-by-Step Guide 2026)

Registering a charity in England and Wales is free but requires careful preparation. This guide walks you through every step, from deciding your structure to receiving your charity number.

Before You Start: Do You Need to Register?

Not every good cause needs to be a registered charity. You must register with the Charity Commission if:

• Your organisation has exclusively charitable purposes (as defined by the Charities Act 2011)
• Your income is over £5,000 per year (or you want to be a CIO, which requires registration regardless of income)
• You operate in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate regulators)

Step 1: Choose Your Structure

The four main charity structures in England and Wales:

Our recommendation for most new charities: CIO (Foundation model). It gives you limited liability, a legal identity, and you only report to the Charity Commission (not Companies House). Read our full CIO guide.

Step 2: Define Your Charitable Purposes

Your charity must have purposes that fall within the 13 descriptions of charitable purposes in the Charities Act 2011:

1. The prevention or relief of poverty
2. The advancement of education
3. The advancement of religion
4. The advancement of health or saving of lives
5. The advancement of citizenship or community development
6. The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
7. The advancement of amateur sport
8. The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation
9. The advancement of environmental protection or improvement
10. The relief of those in need due to youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
11. The advancement of animal welfare
12. The promotion of the efficiency of the armed forces or emergency services
13. Other purposes recognised as charitable

Your purposes must also provide public benefit — they can't just benefit a private group.

Step 3: Write Your Governing Document

Your governing document is your charity's rulebook. For a CIO, it's called a constitution. The Charity Commission provides model constitutions — use these as your starting point.

Key sections:

• Name — must not be too similar to an existing charity
• Objects — your charitable purposes (from Step 2)
• Powers — what you can do to achieve your objects
• Trustee provisions — appointment, removal, meetings, quorum
• Membership (for association CIOs)
• Dissolution clause — what happens to assets if you close

Step 4: Recruit Your Trustees

You need at least 3 trustees (the Charity Commission strongly recommends this minimum). Trustees must:

• Be over 16 (18 for charitable companies)
• Not be disqualified (bankrupt, certain criminal convictions, etc.)
• Act in the charity's best interests, not their own
• Understand their responsibilities as trustees

Step 5: Apply Online

Go to gov.uk/setting-up-charity and apply through the Charity Commission online portal.

You'll need:

• Your governing document (constitution)
• Names, addresses, and dates of birth of all trustees
• A description of your charity's activities
• Financial information (estimated income for the first year)
• Details of how you'll deliver public benefit

Step 6: Wait for Assessment

The Charity Commission aims to process applications within 30-45 working days, but complex applications can take longer. They may come back with questions or requests for amendments.

Common reasons for delay:

• Objects that are too vague or too narrow
• Using non-standard governing documents
• Not demonstrating clear public benefit
• Similar name to an existing charity

Step 7: Registration Complete

Once approved, you receive:

• A charity registration number
• Your charity appears on the Charity Commission register (public record)
• You can now claim Gift Aid on eligible donations
• You must file an annual return each year

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overly complex objects — keep your charitable purposes clear and focused
2. Not using the model constitution — the Commission loves familiar formats
3. Too few trustees — 3 is the minimum, 5-7 is ideal
4. Rushing the application — incomplete applications get rejected or delayed
5. Choosing the wrong structure — a CIO is right for most. Don't default to a charitable company unless you need it.