▁for ▁England ▁and ▁Wales ▁and ▁for ▁Scotland ▁by ▁the ▁Office ▁of ▁the ▁Scottish ▁Char ity ▁Reg ulator . ▁The ▁Char ity ▁Commission ▁for ▁Northern ▁Ireland ▁maintain s ▁a ▁register ▁of ▁char ities ▁that ▁have ▁completed ▁formal ▁registration ▁( see ▁below ). ▁Organ izations ▁applying ▁must ▁meet ▁the ▁specific ▁legal ▁requirements ▁summar ized ▁below , ▁and ▁have ▁fil ing ▁requirements ▁with ▁their ▁reg ulator , ▁and ▁are ▁subject ▁to ▁ins pection ▁or ▁other ▁forms ▁of ▁review . ▁The ▁oldest ▁char ity ▁in ▁the ▁UK ▁is ▁The ▁King ' s ▁School , ▁Can ter bury ▁established ▁in ▁ 5 9 7 . ▁ ▁The ▁Trans par ency ▁of ▁Lob by ing , ▁Non - party ▁Camp aign ing ▁and ▁Trade ▁Union ▁Administration ▁Act ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁subjects ▁char ities ▁to ▁reg ulation ▁by ▁the ▁Elect oral ▁Commission ▁in ▁the ▁run - up ▁to ▁a ▁general ▁election . ▁ ▁England ▁and ▁Wales ▁ ▁Definition ▁ ▁Section ▁ 1 ▁Char ities ▁Act ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁provides ▁the ▁definition ▁in ▁England ▁and ▁Wales : ▁ ▁( 1 ) ▁For ▁the ▁purposes ▁of ▁the ▁law ▁of ▁England ▁and ▁Wales , ▁" char ity " ▁means ▁an ▁institution ▁which — ▁( a ) ▁is ▁established ▁for ▁char itable ▁purposes ▁only , ▁and ▁( b ) ▁falls ▁to ▁be ▁subject ▁to ▁the ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁High ▁Court ▁in ▁the ▁exercise ▁of ▁its ▁juris diction ▁with ▁respect ▁to ▁char ities . ▁ ▁The ▁Char ities ▁Act ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁provides ▁the ▁following ▁list ▁of ▁char itable