Setting up, structuring & change
Charity formation & registration
Setting up a charity is one of the most exciting things an organisation can do, and one of the easiest to get tangled up in. We help you start well: choosing the right legal structure, drafting a governing document that fits what you actually want to do, and getting you registered with the Charity Commission without the process taking over your life.
Who this is for
New ventures still finding their shape, established groups that have outgrown an informal arrangement, and founders or funders who want a charity set up properly the first time. We also help overseas organisations establish a UK arm, and existing charities that need a trading subsidiary to run their commercial activity.
Whether you are a handful of artists formalising a company, a community bringing a venue back into use, or a national body launching a charitable arm, we have almost certainly helped someone in your position before.
At a glance
- Choosing between a CIO, a charitable company and a trust
- Governing document drafted around your real aims
- Charity Commission application handled for you
- Trading subsidiaries and UK arms of overseas organisations
How we help
We advise on the choice between a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), a charitable company limited by guarantee, and a trust, and we explain in plain terms what each means for your liability, your reporting and your day-to-day running. We draft your constitution or articles around your real objects and activities, prepare the trustee declarations, and manage the Charity Commission application and its questions from start to finish.
Where you trade, or plan to, we set up a trading subsidiary and the agreements between it and the charity so your commercial income is handled cleanly. For overseas organisations, we establish the right UK structure and get it registered and running.
Talk to us
Not sure where to start? Book an online appointment and we will point you to the right help.
Email hello@proartsplus.co.uk or call 0330 127 1414 during office hours.
How it works
- A short conversation
We talk about what you want to build. - A recommended structure
We set out the options and recommend one. - Your documents
We draft them for you to review. - Registration
We handle the Charity Commission correspondence for you.
Most straightforward formations move from first meeting to submitted application in a matter of weeks, and we tell you at the outset where yours is likely to sit.
Why ProArtsPlus
We are specialists in the cultural and charitable sector, not generalists who happen to take charity work. Our founder qualified as a solicitor in the mid-1990s and has spent his career at the meeting point of law and culture, so we understand the organisations we advise from the inside as well as the law that governs them. We explain the rules clearly, we think carefully about the cost, and we treat setting up your charity as the beginning of a relationship rather than a transaction.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best legal structure for a new arts charity?
For most small and medium arts organisations a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) is the natural home: it gives you charitable status and limited liability in a single structure, with only the Charity Commission to report to. Larger or more commercially active organisations sometimes prefer a charitable company. We talk you through the trade-offs for your specific plans.
How long does charity registration take?
Drafting the documents usually takes a week or two once we understand your aims. The Charity Commission’s own review varies, but a well-prepared application with clear objects and evidence of public benefit moves considerably faster than one it has to send back with questions.
Do we need a minimum income to register a charity?
A charitable incorporated organisation can register at any income level. Unincorporated charities generally need to expect over £5,000 a year before they must register. We help you work out which route applies to you.
Do we need a trading subsidiary?
If your charity earns significant income from activities that are not themselves charitable, such as a bar, a shop or venue hire, a trading subsidiary is often the sensible way to protect its tax position. We advise on whether you need one and set it up alongside the charity.
Can you set up a UK arm of an overseas organisation?
Yes. We regularly help organisations based outside the UK establish a UK charity, subsidiary or branch, and we get the structure, registration and governance right for both jurisdictions.
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Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you are dealing with and we will point you to the right help.