The Charities Act 2006

The Charities Bill received Royal Assent in November 2006. This means that the Bill has become the Charities Act 2006. The first group of provisions will come into force on 27 February 2007 when the first commencement order takes effect. The Office of the Third Sector's implementation plan outlines when the other parts of the Act are expected to come into force. Our autumn 2006 edition of our newsletter, Charity Commission News, provides details of the main provisions of the Act.

Key information on the Charities Act 2006:

• Information about the Charity Tribunal.
• A new plain English guide, 'Charities Act 2006 - what trustees need to know', aimed at small, volunteer-led charities has been launched. This is being published jointly by the Office of the Third Sector and the Charity Commission. People can order or download this guide from the Office of the Third Sector's website.
• Charities Act 2006: Provisions effective from 27 February 2007
• Information from Office of the Third Sector on the Charities Act 2006 including the implementation plan and the first commencement order: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• Charity Commission News
• The Charities Act 2006 – a guide to the main provisions
• Charities Act 2006 and explanatory notes
• Information about charity law and the Act from the Office of the Third Sector:
  http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Supporting the implementation of the Act

The Commission is working closely with the Office of the Third Sector and other parties interested in the implementation of the Act.

The Commission has produced information in connection with aspects of the Act and its implementation:

Briefings on the Charities Bill

• Charities Bill - Parliamentary Briefing from the Charity Commission (October 2006)
• The Charity Commission's approach to public benefit, appendix to Parliamentary Briefing (October 2006)

Information on Public Benefit

• Consultation on Draft Public Benefit Guidance
• The Charity Commission's approach to public benefit, appendix to Parliamentary Briefing (October 2006)
• Public Benefit: The Charity Commission's position on how public benefit is treated in the Charities Bill (Commission statement July 2005)

Information on Charitable purposes

• Revised guidance on The Promotion of Human Rights as a charitable purpose
• Commentary on the Descriptions of Charitable Purposes in the Charities Act 2006

Return to Charities Act 2006 Homepage