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Charity in Jamaica - How Do I Go About Setting One Up?

by Jo
(Bedford UK)

Kids At A Jamaican Charity Event

Kids At A Jamaican Charity Event

QUESTION:

Hi, I have been visiting Jamaica regularly for the past 3 years... My last visit was for 3 months where I helped out at the Portland Rehab Centre, a place for the homeless based in Port Antonio... I was not there by accident... It was all part of the bigger plan.

I have a strong love of Jamaica & the people. I admire their resilience & positive outlook but I also recognized a long time ago that there is very little support for the homeless.

My favourite part of the island outside Boston Bay is Trelawny & this is the parish I want to focus on.

I am currently assisting to feed people on the street. When I am in JA I help to cook & distribute food... When Im here in the UK I raise money to send to a lovely lady in JA who shares my passion.

My dream (& hers) is the create a homeless centre for the people of Trelawny... I know it's a big dream... but everyone has a dream, right? :)

The time I spent at Portland Rehab Centre taught me a lot. I realize it's not going to be easy to build a homeless centre but it's so needed & I so want to try.

I have been making inquiries into becoming a registered charity in the UK but it's catch 22 -You need to raise at least 5K before they will consider you for charity status, however, it's really hard to raise money without charity status...

It is very hard to find people who share my passion & want to help too.

I was advised that one way around things might be to create a trust in the UK & seek charity status in JA.As a trust in UK, I would then be able to apply for corporate funding...

Here lies my problem... I need some interested & passionate people in the UK to become Trustees & I can't seem to find any.

I also need a good understanding of how to form a charity in Jamaica. What is required & how to go about it... I really want to do this but I need some help. Any ideas who to speak to? Love Jo x
ANSWER: by Wellesley, July 30, 2013

Hi Jo,

You have a really big heart, God bless you, my friend! I really appreciate your willingness and sacrifice to do this for Jamaica.

I don't have your answers now, but I will be checking into it and let you know.

I will also be posting this question on my fan pages for my fans and friends who might have some information to post - just watch the comments below

Related: Great Jamaican Charity Ideas.

See Also: Items to dontate to a Jamaican school.

Regards,
Wellesley

Comments for Charity in Jamaica - How Do I Go About Setting One Up?

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Mar 27, 2016
 Non Profit In Jamaica
by: Andrea Tater-Perry

Hi Jo;
It is great to have like hearted and minded persons who want to take ACTION. My friends and I are working on our non profit charity. We named it wrote a business plan and got it registered as a 501c.3 tax exempt Non Profit in our state (USA).

Next we have to have it registered in Jamaica at the registrar of Companies.I followed this yahoo answer response of which is copied and pasted below,(the fees and precedures might have been changed) I hope that you find it helpful:

Best Answer: Step 1) Draft the bylaws and the articles of incorporation for your company. These documents lay out how your business will operate and include the intricate details of your company such as how officers will be elected, how many shares the company will authorize, and what events trigger such things as buyout rights or dissolution of the company.

Step 2) Choose a name for your business and check with the Register of Companies to see if the name is acceptable and available. In essence, the name should not be illegal or misleading. For example, it would be improper to name your business something outrageous such as "Burt's Stolen Goods" or something misleading such as "Jamaica's Official Office of Trade and Vacations."

If the name is available, register it with the Register of Companies. The total process takes about a day and costs 500 Jamaican dollars, or roughly $6 U.S. dollars.

Step 3) Take your company documents (such as the bylaws and the articles of incorporation) to the Register of Companies and have them stamped by the Stamp Commissioner. The cost of this procedure is 500 Jamaican dollars, or roughly six U.S. dollars. It will take about a day to finish this step.

Step 4) File the company documents with the Register of Companies. After the documents have been stamped by the Stamp Commissioner they may be filed with the Register of Companies. Along with the company documents, you must also file the following: Notice of Registered Office, Notice of Appointment of Directors and Notice of Appointment of Company Secretary. These documents will list where the office of your business is located, who the directors are, and who the company secretary is.
This procedure will cost roughly 16,000 Jamaican dollars, or approximately 180 U.S. dollars.

The filing procedure takes about three days. An expedited service is available for an additional fee of 3,000 Jamaican dollars (33 US dollars). It will take about one day to process the documents using the expedited service.

Step 5) Apply for and obtain the Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) reference number. You must obtain the NIS number first as that number is needed to get the TRN. To obtain these documents you must present two passport-sized photographs signed by the Justice of the Peace and a copy of your birth certificate. These services are free. The TRN can be obtained at the Collector of Taxes. The NIS can be obtained at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Step 6) Register with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). After obtaining the TRN and the NIS numbers you may register with the Inland Revenue Department. Registration withe the IRD will allow you to receive permission from the government to take certain tax deductions such as those for income tax, education tax, and the general consumption tax.
e_cool · 6 years ago
Dec 14, 2013
 someone with a similar interest living near you
by: Jo

Hi Jo

I have a colleague in the UK who feels just as you do about the homeless in Jamaica and the need for shelters. She was here for a year and is intending to return permanently. Currently she lives relatively close to you in the UK. I could link you up if there is mutual interest. I am interested in setting up a Mental health Charity and would be happy for any information or support

email:meggiedaley167@yahoo.com

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