VCHAR3800 - Business and non-business: Charitable activities: Services contracted out by local authorities and health authorities

Increasingly services that have historically been supplied by local or health authorities are being offered for tender to external organisations. Many of the activities concerned are areas in which charities have relevant expertise and consequently they may be invited to bid for local or health authority contracts. Where charities obtain such contracts, whether or not in competition with commercial providers, then the resulting supplies will normally be a business activity. The supplies may however be exempt eg residential care or other welfare services. Please also see VCHAR10000.