Public Benefit: Two principles must be satisfied

By Emilie Filou, Third Sector, 16 January 2008

From 1 April, all registered charities will have to demonstrate that their activities are for the public benefit, as set out in the Charity Commission's guidance on the subject, published today.

The guidance sets out two principles that charities must satisfy: there must be an identifiable benefit in a charity's activities, and the benefit must be to the public, or a section of the public. Under the first principle, the benefit cited must be related to the charity's aims. It must...