Dewsbury East Community Trust (DECT) is a registered charity in England and Wales, operating under charity number 1169528. As a regulated charity, it is overseen by the Charity Commission, ensuring that it operates transparently, responsibly, and in accordance with the law and charitable purpose guidelines.

The organisation is set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), a modern legal structure designed specifically for charities. A CIO provides the charity with its own legal identity (separate from its trustees), meaning it can hold property, employ staff, and enter contracts in its own name. This structure also limits trustees’ personal liability, making it a practical and secure model for long-term community-based work.