Glossary

charitable company

A charity registered both at Companies House (as a company) and with the Charity Commission [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] as a charity in its own right. (Compare this with an incorporated charity: a charity form that has its own legal personality enabling it to enter into contracts and to limit the liability of the trustees. A charity that employs staff, leases a building or enters into any kind of contract then it is likely to be incorporated.)

constitution

A type of document setting out an organisation’s purposes and rules. This is the most commonly known name for a governing document. For some organisations this document may be called ‘memorandum and articles of association’, ‘trust deed’ or ‘rules’ instead.

governing body

The group of people (often called the board of trustees) who control, manage and lead a voluntary organisation.