Consultation response on Public Benefit

The Charities Act (NI) 2008 provides that to be a 'charity' an organisation must be established for charitable purposes. It further provides that these purposes are charitable only if they satisfy the test that they are for the public benefit.

The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is required to issue guidance on how it will apply the 'public benefit' test and has published a consultation document entitled Meeting the Charity Test - Demonstrating Public Benefit. This document sets out the Commission's views on what it needs to take into consideration when deciding whether an organisation can become, or continue to be, a charity under the law of Northern Ireland.

Whether you are a charity employee, trustee, volunteer or member of the public the Charity Commission would like to hear your views on this draft guidance. Copies of the document and summary guide are available for download at www.charitycommissionni.org.uk

The closing date for the consultation was 27 November 2009.

For more information on NICVA's consultation response, please contact the Governance Team on 028 9087 7777 or email cas@nicva.org