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Establishing New Organisations

We regularly advise individuals and groups wishing to establish new organisations, either as social enterprises or as charities. We believe that it is key to an organisation’s long-term success to be established with care, using the best structure to fit its individual circumstances. For this reason we take care to understand the aims and objectives of anyone wanting to start a new venture so that we can give the best possible advice on an appropriate structure.

Our experience includes establishing:

• Companies limited by guarantee (with or without charitable status)
• Community interest companies (CICS)
• Industrial and provident societies
• Charitable trusts
• Unincorporated members’ associations
• Trading subsidiary companies

We are keeping abreast of developments in relation to the new structure for charities, the Charitable Incorporated Organisation or “CIO”. At present, we expect this to become available for use in the spring/summer of 2010. We will issue updates on progress in relation to the CIO as more news becomes available.

Please see our Guide to the CIO

Please see our guide to establishing Community Interest Companies 

Case studies

1. Negotiating with the Charity Commission for the registration of a new charity to maintain and develop an historical site in Somerset. Due to the innovative plans for the use of the site we had to provide significant evidence to the Commission to satisfy it of the organisation’s charitable nature.
2. Acting in the formation of a new charity, the Lupton Trust, established primarily to support the voluntary sector in Torbay. We advised the Trust in its taking of a 999 year lease of Lupton House, near Brixham. The property is the listed 18th Century former home of Lord Churston and more recently a hotel and school. The building and surrounding grounds are to be renovated and developed for use as a hub for charities and social enterprises based in the Torbay area to be known as the “charities enterprise village”.
3. Assisting with the formation of ‘The Senior Council for Devon’, a new not-for-profit organisation to act as a representative body for people aged 50+ in Devon. We advised on the most appropriate legal structure and then worked with the key stakeholders in establishing the new entity.

For initial advice please contact:

• James Evans on 01392 685243
• Anna Roderick on 01392 685367