Well yes.... but by that rational I could claim that playing Warhammer is both a sport and an art.

SORP really only relates to the accounting practices of Charities. The main changes have been brought in by the Charities Act 2006 which was passed in November last year. This is the one that really allows more unusual types of organisations to try and apply for charitable status which will be the main interest point for most LRP groups

The main points of it are listed on the CC web-site at

http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/spr/ca2006prov.asp

I suspect the majority of us won't have an income over £5K, so won't be able to register with the Charities Commission. We could still declare ourselves Charities and set up Trust deeds, but won't be able to register, unless we also become Limited companies

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Brighton Below : Organiser

Serenity: Capt Tom Crowson

RL: Simon / Trez

"What is LRP" is a whole other debate that I don't think is particularly relevant to the criteria of the charities commission unless its them debating it. Its plain as a hobby we don't naturally fit into any box, but I think we can broadly agree any support for that hobby's infrastructure is useful provided it is going into the hobby itself.  

A basic societies account is easy to set up and is tax and charge free in most banks and gives you a 'corporate name' on your cheque books so that none of the cheques paid to your group go in your name and so make Mr Taxman go 'Oi! Why haven't you declared this as income?' The only flaw with it is that, in most cases, they don't give you a card to access the account (so no cheque guarantee card, no ATM use, no debit or credit cards for those you need a professional business account which costs tax and charges) which makes some uses awkward as you have to find a bank that has counter service and that is getting increasingly difficult in this day and age. Oh, you also have to elect a committee to manage your account - naming a chairman and a treasurer at least - and they are the people who access the account.

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The Whispering God is your friend... trust the Whispering God...

Ruins of Empire

1st - 3rd Feb, 2008, Gladstone scout centre, Chester

Sorry I was responding to the topic starter and the CC's new statement regarding amateur sports and arts.

As with most things its entirely dependent on the nature of the group running it. LRP as a whole is not something I could ever really consider being a 'charitable enterprise' however individual groups efforts utilising LRP as a tool might well be considered charitable.

curiously Chess is a sport!

according to the olympic committee at least.

Most LRP groups would fall into that. The big boys like Maelstrom and Merlinroute (LT) wouldn't, cos they're profit-making companies, but smaller groups which are providing social and leisure activities for people without making a profit, would probably benefit.

What would be the point of being a charity though? As mentioned there's the tax breaks but most LRPs dont fall into that category. Theres also the possibility of being able to apply for grants. Theres also a bit more credibility attached to being a charity which might help with any business negotiations

Also, whilst trustees aren't allowed to pay themselves for being trustees the new rules mean that they are allowed to charge the charity for other services rendered (i.e. running the game)

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Brighton Below : Organiser

Serenity: Capt Tom Crowson

RL: Simon / Trez