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Checking a charity

How do I check a charity is registered?

In short: Search the charity's name or number on the official register for its nation — the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR for Scotland, or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Every CharityCompare profile links directly to the register entry. Charities under £5,000 income in England and Wales, and some excepted bodies such as many churches, can operate legitimately without a number.

Data from CharityCompare editorial, last updated .

Search the name or registration number on the register for the relevant nation:

  • England and Wales — the Charity Commission. Registration is compulsory above £5,000 income.
  • Scotland — the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). All Scottish charities register regardless of income.
  • Northern Ireland — the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

Every rated CharityCompare profile links straight to the official register entry, so you can verify the source in one click.

Legitimate exceptions. Charities under £5,000 income in England and Wales need not register; some “excepted” bodies including many churches and scout groups, and “exempt” bodies such as most universities, also operate without a Commission number. A missing number is a reason to look closer, not proof of a scam — see how to check a charity is legitimate.

Related questions

Look up any UK charity's free Clarity Score from regulator filings.

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