Charities — Finding Support and Checking Registration
Finding the right charity can help you access practical support, information and someone who understands what you are facing. This page explains how to search for charities, check their registration and ask about the help available.
Finding a charity
Start with the type of help you need. You might be looking for support with disability, health, housing, bereavement, family life, financial hardship or animal welfare.
Check whether the organisation works in your area and supports people in your circumstances. A charity’s registration does not mean that it offers every service or can accept every request.
Check the official charity registers
The UK has separate charity registers for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
England and Wales — Charity Commission
Search for a charity’s name, registration number, aims, trustees and financial information.
Search the Charity Commission register (opens in a new tab)Scotland — Scottish Charity Regulator, OSCR
Search the Scottish Charity Register by name, charity number or other available filters.
Search the Scottish Charity Register (opens in a new tab)Northern Ireland — Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
Search the official register for charities registered in Northern Ireland.
Search the Northern Ireland charity register (opens in a new tab)Use the relevant register when checking an organisation. Some charities operate across more than one UK nation.
What to check before making contact
Compare the charity’s name and number with its official register entry. Look at its stated activities, contact details and available reports.
When asking for help, useful questions include:
- Do you support people in my area?
- Am I eligible for this service?
- Can I contact you directly, or do I need a referral?
- Is there a waiting list?
- Is the service free, or are there any charges?
- Can you offer accessible communication or help with an application?
Help with money or essential items
If you need a grant, equipment or essential household items, ask whether the charity provides this kind of support.
Before applying, check what it funds, who can apply and what evidence it needs. Prepare a short explanation of your circumstances and the help you are requesting.
Avoid sending sensitive documents until you have confirmed that you are contacting the genuine organisation and understand how your information will be used.
If an organisation is not on a register
An absent entry does not automatically mean an organisation is dishonest. Some charities in England and Wales are not required to register with the Charity Commission, including certain exempt or excepted charities and some smaller charities.
Ask the organisation to explain its legal status and how it is regulated. A Companies House number is not the same as a charity registration number.
Donating safely
Before donating:
- Check the organisation’s identity.
- Reach its donation page through its verified website.
- Read whether the payment is one-off or recurring.
- Check how the money will be used.
- Take time to decide rather than responding to pressure.
Registration is a useful check, but it does not guarantee that every message, account or fundraiser using a charity’s name is genuine.
Concerns or complaints
If you are unhappy with a charity’s service, ask for its complaints procedure.
Concerns about serious wrongdoing may need to go to the relevant regulator. Different reporting routes apply in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Official guidance on complaining about a charity:
Read guidance on complaining about a charity (opens in a new tab)This guidance explains which concerns regulators can consider and where other complaints should go.
Thinking of starting a charity?
Starting a charity involves choosing its purposes and structure, appointing trustees, preparing governing documents and meeting the relevant registration requirements.
Read the official guidance before deciding which structure suits your plans:
Read guidance on setting up a charity (opens in a new tab)Rules differ across the UK.
About Sixpence Support UK
Sixpence Support UK CIC is a community interest company, not a registered charity. This page helps visitors find official charity information and explore support available elsewhere.