To help such people could have been a charity (4)
I believe the answer is:
aged
'charity' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both groups as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'to help such people could have been a' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'ged' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aged that I've seen before include "Matured like wine in wood" , "Grew older" , "Advanced in years" , "Geriatric" , "Like Uncle Arly" .)