Correspondence

Charity Commission News: November 2020

Published 13 November 2024

Applies to England and Wales

This issue of CC News is available in Welsh.

New user-friendly guides for trustees

The Commission has published a range of user-friendly guides for trustees. Launched in Trustees’ Week 2020, the five, new 5-minute guides cover a ‘core syllabus’ of basic information that will help trustees run their charities effectively. Available in English and Welsh, they explain the fundamentals of:

• controlling your charity’s finances
• keeping ‘on mission’ and within the rules
• decision making
• spotting conflicts of interest and dealing with them
• sending information to the Commission, as well as what support you can get from us

Good governance underpins the delivery of your charity’s purposes to the high standards expected by the public. Read more in a blog from our CEO, Helen Stephenson about the crucial role trustees are playing and how we are helping them navigate the rules: This #Trustees Week ‘take 5’ to read our new quick and easy guides.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for charities

We know that the pandemic is continuing to have a significant impact on charities’ services and income.

Our approach to regulation during this uncertain period has been as flexible and pragmatic as possible.

Our regularly updated guidance includes answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Read Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector.

Our Annual Public Meeting (APM)

At the annual public meeting we reported on our work over the past year and gave an update on how we are delivering support and services through the current pandemic.

Keynote speech

Our Chair, Tina Stowell, used her keynote speech to highlight the lessons from COVID-19 and why they are critical to maintaining public support and building a stronger charity sector of the future.

Charity Commission Chair, keynote speech.

Full recording of the APM

Because of the pandemic this year’s meeting was a virtual event open to all members of the public and charity representatives. If you missed it the recording is now available on YouTube.

Charity Commission Annual Public Meeting recording.

Charity fraud awareness

Like all sectors, charities can be susceptible to fraud and cybercrime. Those providing vital services and support to local communities during the pandemic may be particularly vulnerable.

In October we ran a fraud awareness campaign with the aims to encourage and empower charities to talk about fraud and share best practice.

All the free resources and webinars remain available to help you keep charity fraud out. See charity fraud awareness week 2020.

New register of charities

In September 2020 we launched an improved online register of charities.

Our ambition for the new register is that it is used increasingly widely to help people make informed choices about the charities they support.

The new register displays charity information more clearly, and it will be continually updated based on user feedback. Charity trustees can easily check and update their information following links on the register.

Read the blog from Helen Stephenson, our Chief Executive, online register of charities – new and improving.

The UK and EU transition

The UK has left the EU, and the transition period comes to an end this year. Check the new rules from January 2021 to make sure that you are ready. Here is what you need to do if your charity:

• receives EU funding
• employs EU staff or has EU volunteers
• receives personal data from the EU
• imports goods from the EU
• exports goods to the EU

There is also a range of guidance for DCMS sectors on GOV.UK.

How to get help to revitalise your charity funds

The ‘Revitalising Trusts’ programme supports charities who find it hard to spend their income on the public benefit to either close or revitalise their charity. Charity trustees should discuss their charity’s future if it is hard to:

• get new trustees
• spend their income
• identify beneficiaries
• find time to run the charity

Find out how to get help for your charity from the Revitalising Trusts programme.

Keeping in touch with us

Call our contact centre on 0300 066 9197. We are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

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