Officer information

Who are your officers and what do they do?
Officers of a charitable entity are responsible for ensuring that their organisation is run in accordance with its rules and the requirements of the Charities Act 2005. In particular, an officer needs to ensure that their organisation’s funds and assets are used exclusively to advance the charitable purposes of the organisation. Your organisation’s charitable purposes are stated in its rules document, so one of the most important roles of an officer is to have a thorough understanding of these rules.

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Officer Certification
To be registered with Charities Services, your organisation must ensure that each of its officers is qualified to be an officer under the Charities Act 2005.

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Personal liability
People often ask us to clarify their personal liabilities as an officer of a charity. Your personal liability depends on the structure of your charity.

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Governance information for new officers
The information and resources on this page can help you with running and governing your charity. 

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Disqualified officers
This section explains what you should do if one of your officers becomes disqualified under the Charities Act 2005.

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Officer Kit booklet
This downloadable resource is designed to help you understand the responsibilities of being a certified officer. It also provides information about Charities Services and the benefits and obligations of being a registered charity, answers some common questions, and recommends useful resources.

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