This toolkit is based on the Charity Commission model document, with guidance notes inserted in red. It is suitable for those with income under £5k pa and which do not have any significant contracts, such as employment, leases etc. It does not constitute professional advice.

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Model Constitution For A
Small Unregistered Charity
This Charity Excellence Resource expands on the Charity Commission’s model
constitution for a small charity. The Commission’s constitution is in black, with my
additional advice in red. I am not a lawyer and it’s not possible to create a template that
covers all organisations and situations, so, in using this, you accept I have no liability
whatsoever. If you need professional advice, this isn’t it - you can find links to pro bono
legal support on my website.
If your income exceeds £5k pa, you must register with your charity regulator. That’s the
Charity Commission for England and Wales, and OSCR and CCNI for Scotland and
Northern Ireland respectively. If your income is below £5k pa and you wish to register,
you can do so as a CIO charity. Here’s my guide to registering any kind of non-profit. In
part, this guide has been written to help make registering, as simple as possible.
SMALL CHARITY CONSTITUTION
Suitable for small charities with an annual income under £5,000 that don’t own a building
or employ people and do not intend to register with the Charity Commission.
1 NAME
The charity’s name is ______________________________________________________
Run a search on the Charity Commission and Companies House websites to ensure that
your name isn’t already being used by another organisation. If there is, you would not be
able to register without changing your name and the other organisation may complain, if
they were to become aware.
2 THE PURPOSES OF THE CHARITY ARE:-
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Sometimes also referred to as the objects, are what your organisation has been set up to
do. You can have one or more, but ensure that your purposes fit within one or more of
the 13 charitable purpose listed in CC4.
Write these as:
• The purpose – the relief of poverty, etc
• How you will do it – by making grants, providing advice etc

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• Who for (your beneficiaries) – older people, etc and;
• Where - globally, Pakistan, England, London etc.
3 TRUSTEES
The charity shall be managed by a committee of trustees who are appointed at the
Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the charity.
For registered charities, there are eligibility criteria that you may wish to consider.
4 CARRYING OUT THE PURPOSES
In order to carry out the charitable purposes, the trustees have the power to:
(1) raise funds, receive grants and donations
(2) apply funds to carry out the work of the charity
(3) co-operate with and support other charities with similar purposes
(4) do anything which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes
5 MEMBERSHIP
The charity shall have a membership. People who support the work of the charity and are
aged 18 or over, can apply to the trustees to become a member. Once accepted by the
trustees, membership lasts for 3 years and may be renewed. The trustees will keep an up-
to-date membership list.
The trustees may remove a person’s membership if they believe it is in the best interests
of the charity. The member has the right to be heard by the trustees before the decision
is made and can be accompanied by a friend.
6 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - AGM
(1) The AGM must be held every year, with 14 days’ notice given to all members
telling them what is on the agenda. Minutes must be kept of the AGM.
(2) There must be at least ___ members present at the AGM.
(3) Every member has one vote.
(4) The trustees shall present the annual report and accounts.

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(5) Any member may stand for election as a trustee.
(6) Members shall elect between 3 and 12 trustees to serve for the next year. They
will retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election.
7 TRUSTEE MEETINGS
(1) Trustees must hold at least 3 meetings each year. At their first meeting after the
AGM they will elect a chair, treasurer and secretary. Trustees may act by majority
decision.
(2) At least 3 trustees must be present at the meeting to be able to take decisions.
Minutes shall be kept for every meeting.
(3) If trustees have a conflict of interest they must declare it and leave the meeting
while this matter is being discussed or decided.
(4) During the year, the trustees may appoint up to 2 additional trustees. They will
stand down at the next AGM.
(5) The trustees may make reasonable additional rules to help run the charity. These
rules must not conflict with this constitution or the law.
8 MONEY AND PROPERTY
(1) Money and property must only be used for the charity’s purposes.
(2) Trustees must keep accounts. The most recent annual accounts can be seen by anybody on
request.
(3) Trustees cannot receive any money or property from the charity, except to refund reasonable
out of pocket expenses.
(4) Money must be held in the charity’s bank account. All expenditure transactions, such as
cheque signatures and online banking authorisation, must be authorised by 2 trustees.
9 GENERAL MEETINGS
If the Trustees consider it is necessary to change the constitution, or wind up the charity, they
must call a General Meeting so that the membership can make the decision. Trustees must
also call a General Meeting if they receive a written request from the majority of members. All

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members must be given 14 days’ notice and told the reason for the meeting. All decisions
require a two thirds majority. Minutes must be kept.
(1) Winding up - any money or property remaining after payment of debts must be
given to a charity with similar purposes to this one.
(2) Changes to the Constitution - can be made at AGMs or General Meetings. No
change can be made that would make the organisation no longer a charity.
(3) General Meeting - called on written request from a majority of members.
(4) Trustees may also call a General Meeting to consult the membership
10 INDEMNITY
<Insert Name> indemnifies the trustees/management committee, from the funds of the
charity, for losses and expenses that may arise from any claim made against them, as a
result of the proper exercise of their duties, including consequential losses and costs
incurred to rectify any harm done, such as legal fees or other professional costs.
Any charity would be well advised to have insurance cover, but public liability may well not
cover the above, which may require ‘directors’ and officers’ cover. Take advice from your
broker.
An unincorporated association cannot in its own name, enter into contracts, sue or be
sued, take on a lease, own property, or employ staff. If a claim is made, it cannot be
made against the charity, so it will almost certainly be against the individuals running it,
which is why I have drafted an indemnity clause above and suggested that you seek
specific insurance advice to confirm that your insurance company will accept this.
11 SETTING UP THE CHARITY
This constitution was adopted on _____________ 20___ by the people whose signatures
appear below. They are the first members of the charity and will be the trustees until the
AGM, which must be held within one year of this date.
Signed Print name and address
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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