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ADVICE

Bold, clear, free guidance for people running charities in the UK. No jargon. No fluff. Just what you need to know.

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Governance

Trustee duties, board structure and good decision-making.

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Finance

Accounts, budgets, Gift Aid and financial controls.

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Setting Up

Register a charity, choose the right legal structure.

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Fundraising

Grants, events, online giving and donor relationships.

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People

Staff, volunteers, safeguarding and HR basics.

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Charity Law

What you must do. What you can't do. Clearly explained.
GOV
ERN
Trustee Duties

You're a trustee.
Here's what that means.

Trustees are the people responsible for running a charity. They must act in the charity's best interests, manage its resources properly, and comply with the law. Being a trustee is a privilege — and a responsibility.

Trustee Essentials →
170K+
Registered charities in England & Wales
£84bn
Sector income per year
900K
Trustees serving UK charities
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GIFT
AID
Free Money

Claim 25p for
every £1 donated.

Gift Aid is one of the most valuable tools available to UK charities. If you have donors who pay UK income tax, you could be claiming Gift Aid on their donations — at no cost to them. Many charities miss out simply because they haven't set it up.

HMRC Gift Aid Guide →

Guides & Resources

What do you need to know?

Setting Up

How to register a charity

The Charity Commission registers charities with an annual income over £5,000. Here's what you'll need, step by step.

Read guide →
Governance

The Charity Governance Code

A practical tool to improve how your trustee board works. Seven principles, applicable to charities of all sizes.

Read guide →
Finance

Annual accounts — what's required

Every charity must prepare accounts. What you must produce depends on your income and legal form.

Read guide →
Fundraising

The Fundraising Code of Practice

How to fundraise legally and ethically. Managed by the Fundraising Regulator — free to access.

Read guide →
People

Safeguarding in charities

Protecting vulnerable people is a core trustee duty. The Charity Commission's safeguarding guidance is essential reading.

Read guide →
Expert Help

Trust Advice — specialist support

From CIO conversions to policies and away-days — Trust Advice — specialists in charity governance, CIO conversions, Gift Aid and more.

Visit trustadvice.org.uk →
Featured — Charity Support Partner

Need expert charity support?

Since 1996, Trust Advice has been helping charities across the UK with governance, set-up, Gift Aid, policies and trustee support. From policy writing and board away-days to CIO conversions — practical, experienced help at every stage of your charity's journey.

Visit trustadvice.org.uk →
Trust Advice — 30 years of great charity governance
30
Years in the charity sector
400+
Charities set up & supported
200+
Policies, templates & briefings
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