The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has completed the registration of the first Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).

South Seeds, based in Govanhill, Glasgow, has been entered into the Scottish Charity Register with the Scottish charity number SC042244.

Kirstie Penman, one of South Seeds SCIO’s trustees, said: “SCIO status offered us an opportunity to set our sights higher and to take on more ambitious challenges than we would have been comfortable with as an unincorporated association, especially in terms of entering into contracts and employing staff.”

She added: “Because SCIO status provides protection against personal liability for individuals, we believe it will make it much easier for fledgling organisations like ourselves to get up and running.”

OSCR’s chief executive Jane Ryder (pictured) said the regulator expects to receive many more applications in the coming months.