The Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation is a legal form unique to Scottish charities and is able to enter into contracts, employ staff, incur debts, own property, sue and be sued. It also provides a high degree of protection against liability.
However, there are important differences between a SCIO and any other type of body with charitable status in Scotland. Before applying, you should be fully aware of the requirements for this form of charitable status.
Please read our guidance for more information on the SCIO requirements:
SCIOs - as with all other charities - must meet certain legal requirements, for example reporting to us on an annual basis.
It is important to understand the operating and reporting requirements for SCIOs. Further information is available in section 5 of our publication, SCIOs: A Guide and the Managing your charity section of our website.
If you want to amend your SCIO’s constitution, you must pass a resolution of the SCIO’s members agreeing to the change. You can use our resolution template for this.
SCIOs are required to keep a register of their trustees and members (this will depend if your organisation is a single tier or two tier structure - see section 2 of SCIOS: A Guide).
We can give you general guidance on the application process and meeting our requirements, but we are unable to give you specific advice in setting up your SCIO. Please see the Help Setting Up Your Charity page for a list of bodies who can provide you with support.
Our How to Apply page provides advice on the SCIO application process.
If you are an existing charity wishing to change legal form to a SCIO, please read our Guide to Incorporation for further information and an application form.
Read our Incorporation to SCIO: Accounts factsheet for more information on the accounting requirements when incorporating to a SCIO.
Our Working with SCIOs leaflet gives anyone who is working with, or planning to work with, SCIOs more details about this legal form and how it is regulated. We explain what's different about SCIOs, the rules they must comply with, and what you need to know.
SCIOs must apply to us if they want to dissolve. You can complete our application forms to dissolve solvent and insolvent SCIOs. The application forms contain guidance notes.
You might also find this article useful - applying to dissolve a solvent SCIO – top tips to get it right.
Under charity law, we are required to publish all such applications. Current applications can be found here.
A SCIO may decide that all its property, rights and liabilities should be transferred to another SCIO, resulting in the dissolution of the transferor SCIO. SCIO's must apply to us if they want to take this action. You can download the application form here.*
Section 59 of the 2005 Act makes provision for the amalgamation of a SCIO with one or more SCIOs. Please note that a SCIO may not amalgamate with any other type of body (even though that other body is a charity).
What is an Amalgamation of SCIO’s?
The 2005 Act defines the amalgamation of SCIOs as two or more SCIOs (‘the old SCIOs’) ceasing to exist and a new SCIO being constituted and entered in the Register as their successor.
If one SCIO wishes to wind up and transfer its assets to an existing SCIO, this is not an amalgamation. OSCR will process such an application as a dissolution or a transfer of undertaking rather than an amalgamation. This is because the action does not result in a new SCIO being created.
Process for the Amalgamation of SCIOs
The two (or more) SCIOs wishing to amalgamate must submit to OSCR an Application for Consent to Amalgamate (SCIOs). This application form must be accompanied by:
• Copies of the constitutions of each of the old SCIOs
• A copy of the proposed constitution of the new SCIO
• A copy of a resolution from each of the old SCIOs approving the proposed amalgamation
• A copy of a resolution from each of the old SCIOs adopting the proposed constitution of the new SCIO.
The application form contains a template which SCIOs can use for for both of these resolutions.
Both of the resolutions must be passed by a two-thirds majority of those voting at a general meeting of the old SCIOs or unanimously by the old SCIOs' members otherwise than at a general meeting.
If OSCR determines that the proposed new SCIO meets the charity test, that its constitution contains the required elements and its name is not objectionable, OSCR will enter the new SCIO in the Scottish Charity Register. The new SCIO will then become a corporate body with a new charity number. The first members of the new SCIO are the members of the old SCIO, immediately before the new SCIO was entered in the Register. The new SCIO must, at this point, take steps to formally appoint to their positions, three or more person who were named during the application process as the proposed charity trustees. The process for appointing these charity trustees will be set out in the new SCIO's constitution.
The new SCIO's Register entry will state that it was created following the amalgamation of the old SCIOs, which will each be named. The old SCIOs will simultaneously be removed from the Register. At that point, all property, rights and liabilities of the old SCIOs transfer automatically to the new SCIO and the old SCIOs are dissolved.
The new SCIO may wish to take steps to ensure that there are no doubts as to their ownership of heritable property be registering a Notice of Title with the Registers of Scotland. If the application for amalgamation is refused, the applicant SCIOs have the right to seek a review of OSCR's decision.