Download the pdf version of Making Changes to your charity |
If you want to make any changes to your charity, first check what (if any) rules are set out:
If there are rules in your governing document for making the change then you must follow them.
Basic process if OSCR gives consent
Depending on what the change is the process for consent can be slightly different. The pages on changing name, purposes and winding up contain more detail.
Other processes you need to contact OSCR about before making any changes:
You must ask for our consent 42 days before you plan to make the change. |
You must notify us once you have made the changes that need our consent (listed above). At the time we give consent we will set out the evidence you need to send us and the timescales for doing so.
You need to notify OSCR within three months of making any of these changes:
changes to your charity's principal office or the name, or address of the charity trustee specified in the Scottish Charity Register if there is no office – you can notify us by updating OSCR Online
changes to other details set out in your charity's Register entry – you can notify us by updating some of these details in OSCR Online
changes to your charity's governing document (other than changes to your charity's name or purposes):
- Non-SCIOs: you can use the Notification of Changes Made Form to inform us of these changes or email us at info@oscr.org.uk.
- SCIOs: for changes to a SCIO constitution you should send us:
A. the Notification of Changes Made Formany action taken to amalgamate, or wind up, or dissolve your charity, or if there is an application to court to do so (once you have had OSCR’s consent).
You can use the Notification of Changes Made Form to inform us of these changes or email us at info@oscr.org.uk.
Notify us within one month (changes that don't require our consent)
Charities must advise us of the following changes within one month of the change taking place:
If your charity is part of a group structure or has a parent charity it may need their permission before it can make certain changes.
Your charity may also need to follow the requirements of other regulators, such as:
What happens if you don’t follow these rules?
For example you fail to:
If you fail to comply with these rules, this is a breach of charity trustee duties and we do have powers to take action against charity trustees, where appropriate. Any action taken will be in line with our Inquiry Policy.
The most common changes to a charity are: