£90+VAT. (Click here for information on the Flexiticket discount scheme - fees as low as £39.60+VAT per place. Attendance at this course together with SESCA course ‘Charities Update’ is offered to registered charities at a concessionary fee of £90+VAT (half standard fee).

Charities have a far higher profile than they did 30 years ago and there have been significant changes in the law in relation to charities in the last few years.  The professional advisor assisting a charity is under a considerable responsibility to understand the basic legal regulation underpinning the charitable sector.  This course provides an overall picture of the framework of the law relating to charities, dealing in particular with the  Charities Act 2006, as well as covering the duties and responsibilities of those running the organisation, aspects of company law that are relevant, and the implications of the introduction of the new Charitable Incorporated Organisation, assuming it has been introduced at the time the course takes place.  There is also a summary of employment law relevant to charities.  The course does not deal with the administration of charities from an accounting perspective. 

Charities staff, trustees and their advisors

Formation of a Charity

• A brief discussion of the common law and statutory definition of a charity
• The public benefit test – how is it working?
• The legal forms of constitution
• Registration with the Charities Commission

The Charity Trustee

• Qualities of a good trustee
• Who cannot be a trustee?
• Removal of trustees
• Key roles of trustees
• Powers and duties of trustees
• Liability of trustees
• Remuneration of trustees

The Charity Secretary

• Role and core duties
• Status, authority and liability

Committee Administration

• The law of meetings
• Administration of meetings
• Additional requirements applicable to a charitable company

Employment Law and the charity

Employment law generally applies to charities as it does to all employers whether in the public or private sector.  This  short section focuses on a few issues which may be peculiar to voluntary sector organisations or may affect them particularly.  The lecturer can deal with all employment related queries from delegates, whether in the list below or not.

• Determining the status of volunteers
• Should a charity give a reference?
• the national minimum wage
• Health and safety issues for charities
• Issues around care workers

Charity Law Reform

At the time of writing the government is planning to introduce legislation to allow charities to use the new structure of the  Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
The course will examine the detail of these provisions and the implications.