Legal Structures
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New legal structures are becoming available for organisations that provide benefits to the public or to the environment, giving them more flexibililty and choice depending on whether their activities are charitable or commercial or community based.
The main legal forms for voluntary organisations or social enterprises are unincorporated associations, trusts, companies (including community interest companies) and community benefit societies or co-operatives. Describing an organisation as a charity refers to its status rather than its legal form, all of the above, except community interest companies, can be charities.
most commonly associated with social enterprises.
One of the most important things to remember when choosing a legal form is that legal forms are flexible and, within certain limitations, each can be tailored to suit your organisation.
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