EPIC Assist is registered as a charity in Scotland
A charity is a voluntary organisation that has been set up only for charitable purposes and to provide public benefit. Only around half of Scotland’s voluntary sector organisations are charities.
To be a registered charity in Scotland, an organisation must register with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). This status guarantees they meet the charity test confirming their charitable purpose of providing public benefit in Scotland or elsewhere.
EPIC Assist (EPIC) was granted charity status in Scotland in 2013, recognising our contribution to society.
It is against the law to describe yourself as a charity unless you are on the Scottish Charity Register.
EPIC has charity trustees who undertake ongoing legal responsibilities that come with being a charity as follows:
- Always do what is best for your charity.
As a charity trustee, you have a legal responsibility to put the interests of your charity above your own interests. All the charity trustees are collectively responsible for making sure the charity is run properly and lawfully. - Act with care and diligence.
You must protect your charity including its beneficiaries, assets, and reputation. - Understand your charity’s legal responsibilities.
Ensure your charity is meeting its legal duties under charity law and other relevant laws.
EPIC takes its charity status very seriously and we are proud to be implementing programs that provide public benefit across a number of sectors.
Our Australian counterpart is a not-for-profit organisation
There are many organisations in the Australian disability employment services sector where EPIC Assist operates. Some are not-for-profit organisations like EPIC, and others are for-profit businesses.
Some people believe the difference between not-for-profit organisations and for-profit businesses is obvious: not-for-profits don’t make money and for-profits make money. But this is not the case. In fact, both types of businesses make money.
The difference between not-for-profit and for-profit organisations is what they do with the money left over after expenses (e.g., salaries, rent and electricity) are paid.
For-profit businesses call this money ‘profits’ and apply it for the benefit of particular people, e.g., the people who run the business.
Not-for-profits like EPIC call this money ‘surpluses’ and reinvest these surpluses back into pursuing the organisation’s objectives and delivering their mission.