Useful Links

Charity Commission

The Charity Commission is established by law as the regulator and registrar of charities in England and Wales. Its website contains a wealth of information about the rules and regulations concerning charities. It also takes users through the process of applying for charitable status.

Community Interest Companies Regulator

To be a community interest company, social enterprises must apply to the office of the CIC regulator, and demonstrate they they are operating in the community interest. The CIC regulator's site contains information about how to apply, as well as an extensive question and answer section explaining the difference between CICs and other legal structures.

Compact Voice

The Compact is the agreement between government and the voluntary sector in England to improve their relationship. The website contains a host of information on all aspects of the compact locally and nationally. It also includes codes of good practice and a list of FAQs.

Financial Services Authority

In 2001 the FSA took over the functions of the central office of the former Registry of Friendly Societies. It is now responsible for registering new industrial and provident societies, friendly societies and credit unions. Details are available on its website.

National Assembly for Wales

The website for the Welsh National Assembly contains a host of information including an agenda and a list of future business, including upcoming debates. There is also a list of members and an archive of past business.

NCVO Collaborative Working Unit

The Collaborative Working Unit is part of the Partnerships Team at NCVO. It works with an advisory group of people from partner agencies and voluntary organisations engaged in collaborative working. Its website contains information, advice, news and case studies.

Neighbourhood Renewal Unit

The NRU is responsible for overseeing the Government's comprehensive neighbourhood renewal strategy, which aims to address local needs and to pilot new ways to fight deprivation in deprived communities. The website contains a lot of information about the programmes, including funding information.

Northern Ireland Department for Social Development

The Department for Social Development has strategic responsibility for, among other things, community and voluntary sector development in the province. The website contains details of the department and its objectives, as well as links to various non-departmental public bodies including the Charities Advisory Committee.

Northern Ireland Executive

The Northern Ireland Executive's website contains information on the composition and organisation of the Northern Irish Executive when it is in operation. It also contains a link to the website of the Northern Irish Assembly.

Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is the independent registrar and regulator for charities in Scotland. Its website contains information on registering as a charity in Scotland. It also contains a searchable list of all 21,000 Scottish charities.

Office of the Third Sector

The Office of the Third Sector, part of the Cabinet Office, was created in May 2006 to reflect the sector's growing prominence in government. The website includes information on the Compact, charity law, sector development and the government's various programmes to promote volunteering. It also contains an archive of ministerial speeches.

Scottish Executive

The website for the Scottish executive website includes a list of topics on which the executive is currently consulting. It also contains links to the various departments within the executive. Within the People and Society department there is a page on the third sector in Scotland.

Scottish Parliament

The website of the Scottish Parliament includes a host of information, including a list of MSPs and the composition of the Parliament's various committees. It also contains a list of bills currently going through the Parliament.

United Kingdom Parliament

This is the homepage of the UK Parliament. The site contains lots of information including a list of MPs and the composition of ministries and select committees. It also contains details of all the bills, at their various stages, currently going through Parliament, as well as Hansard and various other archives and background documents.

Voluntary and Community Sector Funding Portal

This website, developed by the Directory of Social Change with funding from the Home Office, aims to provide a a common point of access to Government grant funding for the third sector. Among many other features, the site allows third sector organisations to search for sources of funding various ways, such as by keyword or specific scheme.