Public benefit guidance

Trustee news has reported regularly on the new public benefit requirements arising out of the Charities Act 2006. The CC has just published its detailed general guidance, Charities and Public Benefit. This is an essential publication for all trustees and further sector specific guidance will be published as follows:

• January-February 2008 - start of consultations on draft supplementary guidance on public benefit for:
  Charities for the prevention and relief of poverty
  Charities for the advancement of education
  Charities for the advancement of religion
  Fee-charging charities;
• Late March 2008 - expected date on which the public benefit provisions in the Charities Act 2006 come into force (sections 1, 2, 3 and 5);
• Late March 2009 - charities will begin reporting on public benefit as part of their annual reports to the Commission from this date.