Part 11Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
CHAPTER 1General
Nature and constitution
204Meaning of “CIO”
In this Act “CIO” means charitable incorporated organisation.
205Nature
1
A CIO is a body corporate.
2
A CIO must have—
a
a constitution;
b
a principal office, which must be in England or in Wales;
c
one or more members.
3
The members may be—
a
not liable to contribute to the assets of the CIO if it is wound up, or
b
liable to do so up to a maximum amount each.
206Constitution
1
A CIO’s constitution must state—
a
its name,
b
its purposes,
c
whether its principal office is in England or in Wales, and
d
whether or not its members are liable to contribute to its assets if it is wound up, and (if they are) up to what amount.
2
A CIO’s constitution must make provision—
a
about who is eligible for membership, and how a person becomes a member,
b
about the appointment of one or more persons who are to be charity trustees of the CIO, and about any conditions of eligibility for appointment, and
c
containing directions about the application of property of the CIO on its dissolution.
3
A CIO’s constitution must also provide for such other matters, and comply with such requirements, as are specified in CIO regulations.
4
A CIO’s constitution—
a
must be in English if its principal office is in England;
b
may be in English or in Welsh if its principal office is in Wales.
5
A CIO’s constitution must be in the form specified in regulations made by the Commission, or as near to that form as the circumstances admit.
6
Subject to anything in a CIO’s constitution—
a
a charity trustee of the CIO may, but need not, be a member of it,
b
a member of the CIO may, but need not, be one of its charity trustees, and
c
those who are members of the CIO and those who are its charity trustees may, but need not, be identical.