Charities and community groups

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:

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

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

• Charity Event - sample message
• Local Community
• Specific Circumstances
• Running Your Group