2009/3/19 Thomas Dalton thomas.dalton@gmail.com:
If you really want to know all the ugly details (and don't say I didn't warn you!), see: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/publications/cc35.asp
I've just been reading through that guidance again myself, and actually we might be ok. The conference would probably fall under "primary purpose trading", which you are allowed to take risks doing. I knew primary purpose trading was tax exempt without the need for a subsidiary, but I thought the risk requirement still applied, but it looks like I may have misremembered that. This is why we need to seek professional advice on these things!