Legal Structuring for Social Justice: A Community Legal Toolkit

The toolkit is aimed at groups led by people from minoritised communities working on racial and social justice. The toolkit focuses in particular, on the needs of very early-stage grassroots organisations and on the needs and experiences of minoritised communities in the UK. It covers the following:

Part 1:

Introduction

About Sistren; why they wrote the toolkit; who it’s for and whether you should read it.

Part 2:

Legal forms

A summary of what a legal form is; and how to choose the best legal form for your work.

Part 3:

Incorporation

How to set up your chosen legal form; whether you should incorporate; the costs of setting up; common challenges and complexities in the practice of incorporating community organisations; and the need for a registered office address.

Part 4:

Unincorporated legal forms

An outline of unincorporated associations; and info about fiscally hosted or incubated organisations.

Part 5:

Common incorporated legal forms

Covering the roles, regulation and other specifics of Company limited by share (CLS); Company limited by guarantee (CLG); and Community interest company (CIC).

Part 6:

Charities

Covering registered charities and their objects; tax benefits; trusteeships; fundraising; regulation and the newer Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs). 

Part 7:

Co-operatives

Covering different types of co-operatives, including Community benefit societies (CBS or BenCom); and Co-operative societies more generally. 

Part 8:

Annexes

Annex 1: A useful table comparing legal forms.

Annex 2: Other helpful resources.

Annex 3: How to DIY register a CIC CLG

Annex 4: How to DIY register a CIO

Annex 5: Organisations participating in Sistren’s research for the toolkit.

Ending with Author info; Acknowledgments; Licensing and Disclaimer.