Charities & Social Enterprise

We advise charities, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations at every stage of their development, helping you make well-informed decisions grounded in sound governance and clear regulatory understanding. Our work combines sector familiarity with practical judgment, giving you the confidence to move through charity law requirements without losing sight of your organisation’s wider aims.

We support a broad mix of organisations, including charitable social housing providers, almshouse charities, care and support organisations, and social enterprises involved in procurement and social value initiatives. We also work with charities focused on training and education, organisations supporting those with drug and alcohol issues, and programmes aimed at reducing re-offending. Much of our work involves helping clients navigate the distinctions between exempt, registered and unincorporated charities, ensuring decisions are both compliant and commercially sensible.

Throughout, our charity law solicitors provide straightforward, proactive guidance to help you assess the implications from both a legal and governance perspective. This often includes advising on how best to approach constitutional change, property arrangements, funding structures or trustee responsibilities. Our team provides straightforward, proactive guidance - whether you need focused charity legal advice, broader legal support for non-profits, or experienced insight from a charity Solicitor.

Our Services

Our services are designed to support the strategic, structural and day-to-day needs of charities and social enterprises. We help you plan ahead, strengthen decision-making and stay aligned with regulatory expectations.

Examples of our services to charity and social enterprise clients include:

• Structuring advice to meet charity law requirements and maximise tax efficiency
• Trustee training built around practical responsibilities and risk management
• Advice on almshouse corporate trustee transfers
• Guidance on the use and management of permanent endowment assets
• Governance reviews tailored to organisational needs
• Constitutional advice, including amendments and strategic updates to governing documents
• Applications for Charity Commission consent
• Charity mergers, including due diligence and integration planning
• Support with compliance under the Charities Acts

We also bring specialist experience in the housing and care sectors, advising charitable registered providers of social housing, care and support organisations and other not-for-profit landlords on governance, funding and property issues connected to their charitable status.

For social enterprises, we provide clear, practical support on structure, regulation and governance. We work with boards and leadership teams to review funding arrangements, manage growth and ensure that decision-making remains aligned with your social purpose.

Where you are planning a partnership, joint venture or merger, we help you assess options early, understand the regulatory implications and move through the process with confidence. Our charity governance solicitors and wider teams work together to provide joined-up advice that reflects both legal requirements and operational realities.