1. This includes any charitable purpose not covered by the other descriptions of purposes and any new charitable purposes that may be recognised in the future as being similar to another charitable purpose.

2. Examples of the sorts of charities and charitable purposes falling within this description include:

• the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom they are intended. Further guidance on this can be found in our separate publication The Recreational Charities Act 1958 (RR4). (NB facilities made available to the public as a whole or to women only are currently regarded as charitable under the 1958 Act.  The Charities Act amends the 1958 Act so that facilities made available to men only are also to be regarded as charitable on the same basis. The Charities Act also repeals section 2 of the 1958 Act, which confirmed the charitable status of miners’ welfare organisations. This means that miners’ welfare charities whose charitable status had been confirmed by the 1958 Act will need to widen their objects to make their facilities available to other inhabitants of the local community (but still including miners) in order to remain charitable);
• the provision of public works and services and the provision of public amenities (such as the repair of bridges, ports, havens, causeways and highways, the provision of water and lighting, a cemetery or crematorium, as well as the provision of public facilities such as libraries, reading rooms and public conveniences);
• the defence of the country (such as trusts for national or local defence);
• the promotion of certain patriotic purposes, such as war memorials;
• the social relief, resettlement and rehabilitation of persons under a disability or deprivation (including disaster funds);
• the promotion of industry and commerce;
• the promotion of agriculture and horticulture;
• gifts for the benefit of a particular locality (such as trusts for the general benefit of the inhabitants of a particular place); the beautification of a town; civic societies;
• the promotion of mental or moral improvement;
• the promotion of the moral or spiritual welfare or improvement of the community;
• the preservation of public order;
• promoting the sound administration and development of the law;
• the promotion of ethical standards of conduct and compliance with the law in the public and private sectors;
• the rehabilitation of ex-offenders and the prevention of crime.

3. Charitable purposes have been extended and developed by decisions of the courts and the Charity Commission over the years by comparison with purposes originally held to be charitable. This development of the law reflects changes in social conditions. The process continues today. Further guidance on this can be found in our separate publication Recognising New Charitable Purposes (RR1a).

Charity Commission guidance

Related decisions of the Commission

Community Server

Review of a decision concerning the charitable status of an organisation set up to provide and operate a cyber café for the use of the local community living or working in an area of Croydon which was an area in social and economic deprivation. The Commissioners considered that the provision of a cyber café facility in the manner proposed could be regarded as a charitable recreational facility under the RCA and as a public amenity.

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Internet Content Rating Association (“ICRA”)

Review of a decision concerning an application for charitable status by an organisation providing a system whereby users of the internet can prevent access to websites based on objective information about the content of the website and the subjective preferences of the users. The Commissioners noted that the care and protection of children who are in some way disadvantaged or defenceless was charitable. They considered public benefit and the private benefits to members arising from the activities. They also considered the extent to which the activities were protecting free speech on the internet, whether this was a political purpose and the relevance of Article 10 of the ECHR. The Commissioners concluded that the purpose of ICRA was charitable being the advancement of the protection of the public, particularly children and young people from harm arising from contact with unsuitable material on the internet.

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See also:

Living in Radiance