Charities : The New Law 2006 A Practical Guide to the Charities Act

The Charities Bill, currently before Parliament, aims to overhaul the law regulating charities in order to provide a modern framework in which charities and not-for-profit organisations can thrive and grow while at the same time ensuring public confidence in such organisations.

The Bill provides for a new definition of charities based on the concept of public benefit. Organisations must demonstrate that they provide public benefit in one of the 12 key areas including relief of poverty, and advance of education.

The major reforms proposed in the Bill include: simpler arrangements for trustees to obtain relief from liability for honest mistakes and new powers to remunerate them for their services; introduction of Charitable incorporated organisation, a new legal form for charities, which will reduce administration and reduce the risk for those charities who want to become companies; Independent tribunal to hear appeals against some types of decision made by the Charity Commission.

This is a new guide written by a team of leading charity lawyers.

In addition to the expert commentary, the full text of the Act will be included.