Charitable status
The British Council is an executive non-departmental public body, a public corporation (in accounting terms) and are registered in England, Wales and Scotland as a charity.
Charter
The British Council was incorporated by a Charter of King George VI in 1940. We received a Supplementary Charter in 1992.
The Charter is our constitution. It sets out the objects for which we exist, namely:
‘To advance any purpose which is exclusively charitable and which shall:
- promote a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom;
- develop a wider knowledge of the English language;
- encourage cultural, scientific, technological and other educational co-operation between the United Kingdom and other countries;
or otherwise promote the advancement of education’.
Download our Royal Charter (pdf 192kb).
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