Charity registration FAQs

A u3a in England or Wales needs to register as a charity when the annual income of the u3a is more than £5,000, or if the u3a is set up as a CIO. This includes membership fees and money taken for group activities.

Visit the Charity Commission website to register your u3a as a charity in England or Wales.

• Details of the charitable purpose of the charity. This will be the object clause in your constitution.
• Information to show how you run your charity for the public benefit.
• Proof that the income of your u3a is above £5000, unless you are a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). This can be your latest accounts or a scanned image of a recent bank statement.

• The name of your charity
• A copy of the most recent accounts for your u3a
• Contact details for your u3a including a postal address
• Details of the Trustees including full name, date of birth
• Contact details and a copy of your charities constitution in PDF format.

The first step is to complete an expression of interest form. This will notify the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland that your u3a recognises the need to be called forward for registration as a charity. Visit the Charity Commission website for Northern Ireland for more details on how to register your u3a as a charity.

No, a u3a does not need to be registered as a charity in Scotland.

However, if a Scottish u3a wants to be called a charity, it must be on the Scottish Charity Register. If an organisation is not listed in the Scottish Charity Register, then it is not a charity in Scotland.

There are no categories of charities exempt or excepted from registration in Scotland.

Visit the OSCR website to find out how to register as a charity in Scotland.