These are the kind of things that a group must do to be ‘charitable’ in the UK. They must do things that; do not make a profit for a person; are helping someone or something because it is a ‘good thing to do’. Think of the aims or objects as the basic principle that your group does – the heart of what you want to do.
They will usually be about;
- making something better and will include the words ‘advancement’ or ‘promotion’;
- stopping something from happening and will include the word ‘prevention’;
- or helping something or someone and will include the word ‘relief’.
We have listed below the charitable aims and objects allowed by UK law with examples of the kind of things people do to complete this aim.
Charity Commission Aims
Example
The prevention or relief of poverty
Giving money, clothing or food to people who are poor.
The advancement of education
Teaching something, telling people about something – the topic could be many things, for example; a language, history, reading, maths, physics, theatre.
The advancement of religion
Running a church, mosque, synagogue or faith actions.
The advancement of health or the saving of lives
Giving medical care to people who are sick, telling people how to be healthy.
The advancement of citizenship or community development
Help people to become involved in their community. Helping charities to run well.
The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
Help people to become involved in their community. Helping charities to run well.
The advancement of citizenship or community development
Help people to become involved in their community. Helping charities to run well.
The advancement of amateur sport
Running sporting teams and facilities (pitches, rooms).
The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
Helping people live together peacefully, help people to understand each other. Telling people what rights they have under the law.
The advancement of environmental protection or improvement
Protecting the land, stopping animals or plants from being in danger.
The relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Providing housing to homeless people. Helping people who are diabled (eg blind, cannot walk, deaf).
The advancement of animal welfare
Caring for sick, injured or homeless animals.
The promotion of the efficiency of the armed forces of the Crown, or of the efficiency of the police, fire and rescue services or ambulance service
Helping the police, army, navy, air force, fire and rescue service to work better.
Any other purposes currently recognised as charitable and any new charitable purposes which are similar to another charitable purpose.
This is for anything else which is not covered by the above.
Remember your objects are not a list of what you are going to do but the central reason for helping people, places or animals.
For more help on charitable objectives for your organisation contact VAST