Charities in Scotland

Charities in Scotland are regulated by the Scottish charity regulator, which is called OSCR (The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator). OSCR also awards charitable status in Scotland. There are currently just over 23,000 charities in Scotland, ranging from small local charities to large international charities.

OSCR is an independent body, and you can find out more information about it by visiting its website.

Current Activities

The SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) became available to new and unincorporated Scottish charities on 1 April 2011. Provisions allowing charitable companies and industrial and provident societies to convert to become SCIOs will come into force on 1 January 2012.

The Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (Removal from Register and Dissolution) Regulations 2011 and the Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations Regulations 2011 came into force on 1 April 2011.

Scottish Government