Charities and community groups: Difference between revisions

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Freegle groups can welcome and even encourage the participation of local charities and community groups, but may feel it is important that they follow the same rules as individual members. Some groups are concerned about the authenticity of charities and community groups. To check if a charity is registered or pending registration you can go here:  
Freegle communities can welcome, and even encourage, participation from local charities and community groups, though it's reasonable to expect them to follow the same rules as individual members. If you're unsure about the authenticity of a charity or community group, you can check whether it's registered or pending registration:


* http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk (for England and Wales)
* https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ (England and Wales)
* http://www.oscr.org.uk/ (for Scotland)
* http://www.oscr.org.uk/ (Scotland)
*http://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk (for Northern Ireland)
* http://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk (Northern Ireland)


or here: http://www.guidestar.org.uk/
The rules on whether an organisation can call itself a charity vary by country.


==England and Wales==
Depending on which country you are in, there are different rules about whether an organisation can call itself a charity.


In England and Wales, charities do not have to be registered with the Charity Commission, although an organisation cannot call itself a charity unless it abides by certain laws.
Charities don't have to be registered with the Charity Commission, although an organisation can't call itself a charity unless it abides by certain laws.


In Scotland, a charity has to be included on the Scottish Charity Register.
Freegle itself, for instance, is a registered society whose regulator is the FCA rather than the Charity Commission (see https://www.ilovefreegle.org/about), and can refer to itself as "registered as a charity with HMRC".


Northern Ireland has only just instigated an official body to register charities and is still not operating a register.  Previously designated charities are on a 'deemed list', however, so if you have concerns, please email them for advice at admin@charitycommissionni.org.uk
==Scotland==


Please remember, though, that community groups and smaller organisations are often not registered charities and are still doing very good things for your community.
A charity has to be included on the Scottish Charity Register. However, an organisation not registered as a charity in Scotland can still refer to itself as a charity if all of the following apply:


* It's established under the law of a country other than Scotland and entitled to refer to itself as a charity in that country, and is managed wholly or mainly outside Scotland.
* It doesn't occupy any land or premises in Scotland, or carry out any activities in an office, shop or similar premises in Scotland.
* When referring to itself as a charity, it makes clear it's established as a charity under the law of a country other than Scotland.


Tip: Some Freegle groups have a database of known local charities and community groups that use Freegle and that the mods team have verified.  Having a database enables members to check the credentials of those responding to their posts on behalf of organisations.
==Northern Ireland==


Sample Admin message to encourage members to welcome charities and other groups as participants - [[Charities and nonprofits]].  
See http://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk to check registration status.


Remember that community groups and smaller organisations are often not registered charities, and are still doing very good things for your community.


==See also==
* [[Charity Event]] - sample message
* [[Local Community]]
* [[Specific Circumstances]]
* [[Running Your Group]]


Back to [[Local Community]] or [[Specific Circumstances]] or [[Running Your Group]] [[File:Manage-local-group.png|20px|link=Running Your Local Group]]
[[Category:Running Your Community]]
 
[[Category:Local_Community]] [[Category:Specific_Circumstances]]

Latest revision as of 12:00, 17 July 2026

Freegle communities can welcome, and even encourage, participation from local charities and community groups, though it's reasonable to expect them to follow the same rules as individual members. If you're unsure about the authenticity of a charity or community group, you can check whether it's registered or pending registration:

The rules on whether an organisation can call itself a charity vary by country.

England and Wales

Charities don't have to be registered with the Charity Commission, although an organisation can't call itself a charity unless it abides by certain laws.

Freegle itself, for instance, is a registered society whose regulator is the FCA rather than the Charity Commission (see https://www.ilovefreegle.org/about), and can refer to itself as "registered as a charity with HMRC".

Scotland

A charity has to be included on the Scottish Charity Register. However, an organisation not registered as a charity in Scotland can still refer to itself as a charity if all of the following apply:

  • It's established under the law of a country other than Scotland and entitled to refer to itself as a charity in that country, and is managed wholly or mainly outside Scotland.
  • It doesn't occupy any land or premises in Scotland, or carry out any activities in an office, shop or similar premises in Scotland.
  • When referring to itself as a charity, it makes clear it's established as a charity under the law of a country other than Scotland.

Northern Ireland

See http://www.charitycommissionni.org.uk to check registration status.

Remember that community groups and smaller organisations are often not registered charities, and are still doing very good things for your community.

See also

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