The Regulator for Charities in England and Wales

Public Benefit

Guidance on the legal requirement that all charities must have charitable aims that are for the public benefit

Charities and Public Benefit

This is the Charity Commission's statutory guidance on public benefit. It is guidance from the Charity Commission about public benefit and what charity trustees should consider in order to show that their charity's aims are for the public benefit.

HTML | PDF (309 kb)

Charities and Public Benefit: Summary Guidance for Charity Trustees

A summary of the key principles of the Charity Commission's general guidance to charities about public benefit.

HTML | PDF (47 kb)

Analysis of the law underpinning Charities and Public Benefit

This guidance explains the legal underpinning for the principles of public benefit set out in Charities and Public Benefit.

PDF (268kb)

Commentary on the Descriptions of Charitable Purposes in the Charities Act 2006

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Consultations on draft supplementary guidance

Following the publication of our general guidance on public benefit, Charities and Public Benefit, we have now issued draft supplementary guidance for public consultation. The consultations will run for four months and anyone is welcome to respond. The consultation material is available online and can be accessed via the links below. We plan to publish final versions of this supplementary guidance by the end of the year.

Public Benefit and the Prevention or Relief of Poverty
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF 148kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Prevention or Relief of Poverty (PDF 68kb) | The Promotion of Social Inclusion (PDF 41kb)

Public Benefit and the Advancement of Religion
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF 167kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Advancement of Religion (PDF 107 kb)

Public Benefit and the Advancement of Education
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF109kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and the Advancement of Education (PDF 91kb)

Public Benefit and Fee-Charging
Introduction and how to respond (HTML) | Draft supplementary guidance (PDF 165kb) | Analysis of the law underpinning Public Benefit and Fee-Charging (PDF 45kb)