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This article considers the case law which applied to define charitable purposes before Charities Act 2006. Although that Act introduced a definition of charitable purpose, the case law listed in this article may still be of relevance.

Case law¹ states that:

'The references to such trusts [ie for the advancement of education] in the preamble to the Statute of Elizabeth are as follows: 'The maintenance of schools of learning, and free schools and scholars in universities; the education and preferment of orphans'.'

The propagation of learning generally is a charitable object²; but it would appear that provision for the increase of the available stock of knowledge, where there is no provision made for the propagation of that knowledge, would not be charitable³.

The establishment or maintenance of schools⁴ or colleges⁵ and the provision of scholarships⁶ and schoolmasters⁷ are directly within the terms of the preamble.

By analogy gifts for the provision of prizes⁸, organised games⁹, and an annual school treat¹⁰