Display of trustee legal names on the charity register
How to apply to remove a trustee’s legal name from public display on the charity register in England and Wales (known as a dispensation).
Applies to England and Wales
Changes to public display names on the register
From the 1 April 2020 the name of all charity trustees will be displayed to the public on the charity register, unless a dispensation has been granted.
In special circumstances, we can prevent a trustee’s name from being made public on the charity register. This is known as granting a dispensation.
We can grant a dispensation if displaying an individual’s name could put the relevant person or people in personal physical or mental danger. Dispensations will not be granted automatically.
If a trustee or charity has already been granted a dispensation for names not to be displayed to the public, this will remain in place. There is no need to apply for a dispensation again unless a time limit was specified when the dispensation was granted.
Dispensations are granted either to an individual trustee, or to a whole trustee board.
Why trustee names are displayed on the charity register
To keep your charity information up to date on the register you must provide the legal name and other details for all your trustees. Only trustee names are displayed to the public on the register, no other personal details are displayed, unless their address is provided as the charity public address.
The Charity Commission must maintain a register of charities (under section 29 of the Charities Act 2011). We also make the register available to the public under section 38 of the same Act.
Displaying a trustee’s name to the public is compliant with the Charities Act 2011 and data protection law.
This is because charity trusteeship is a serious responsibility. Trustees have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, a charity’s management and administration. They must be accountable to the public.
Display of a charity contact address on the register
Every charity needs to provide a contact address which is displayed to the public. A charity must consider which address would be suitable for display.
We do not show trustees’ addresses on the charity register, unless the address has been provided as the public contact address for the charity.
The address shown to the public does not need to be the physical location of the charity, but must be an address which is administered by the charity in respect of receiving communications in a timely manner.
As the address does not need to be the physical location of the charity, we do not as a general rule provide dispensations for charity addresses.
Who can apply for a dispensation
We will accept a request for a dispensation from:
- a charity (on behalf of an individual, or its whole trustee board)
- a charity trustee
We accept applications for individual and whole board dispensations, though the latter is less common. For an individual trustee dispensation, it will be the individual’s circumstances that will need to be considered which may or may not relate to the charity itself.
For a whole board dispensation our considerations will relate to why or how being a trustee of that particular charity places any trustee of that charity in personal danger.
Dispensations cannot usually be granted where the information is public on the Companies House register, or where trustees themselves have not taken steps to protect their own anonymity.
How to apply for a dispensation
Please read the dispensation privacy notice before applying.
To apply for a dispensation email trusteedispensations@charitycommission.gov.uk and provide the following information:
- The name of the person(s) applying for a dispensation
- The name and registered number of the charity or charities the request relates to. If someone is a trustee of several charities, you need to list all the charities and registered numbers
- Reason(s) why displaying the persons legal name to the public could put people in personal danger
- Any further information or evidence to demonstrate the risk of personal danger
- Confirmation that you have informed the other charity trustees of your intention to request a dispensation from your name being made public on the charity register.
If the above information is not provided we cannot make a decision and the request will be rejected. We assess applications on a case-by-case basis.
We aim to respond to you within 30 working days, but this may not be the final decision. If your application requires urgent attention, you should clearly state this in your email.
An application for dispensation can be made at any time, including at registration of the charity. If you are registering a charity you can apply for a dispensation as part of your online application.
When an unincorporated charity with dispensations applies to incorporate, any dispensation held is subject to a new decision based on request from the applicants.
But, if Companies House displays the legal name of trustees as directors, the Charity Commission will not usually grant a dispensation.
Dispensation reviews
Any dispensation may be reviewed if a complaint is received by the Charity Commission.
How we make a dispensation decision
The application must clearly explain why displaying a legal name to the public would put people in personal danger.
Example case 1
A trustee does not want to have their legal name displayed to the public. They want to remain anonymous online. They will not be put in personal danger if their name is displayed, and cannot provide evidence to support their application.
In this case a dispensation will not be approved.
Example case 2
A trustee who is also a social worker has received threats in the course of their work. There are concerns of being in personal danger from the threats received. They have an unusual name and are easily identifiable. The charity is a Village Hall and the trustee lives locally.
In this case it is likely a dispensation will be approved.
Example case 3
A prevent domestic abuse charity which works with women seeking to escape domestic violence, has credible concerns that if their trustees names are put into the public domain their trustees will be at risk of physical harm.
In this case it is likely a dispensation will be approved.
Example case 4
An international crisis causes a sudden spike in hate crime and puts trustees of a charity strongly associated with the region at risk of personal danger.
In this case it is likely a time limited dispensation will be approved, as it is anticipated that a future change in the global situation may mean the level of risk alters.
Names displayed in charity accounts and trustees’ annual reports
Your charity’s accounts and trustees’ annual report will be available to the public on the register. If any trustees have been granted a dispensation, you do not need to include the information to which the dispensation applies in your annual report and accounts.
When you submit your annual report and accounts you should show that there is information you have permission to withhold. For example, a trustee with a dispensation should be shown as:
XX - Trustee with a dispensation
It is your responsibility to do this. We will not remove information from your charity’s annual report and accounts before it is made available to the public online. You can read more about this in the annual return privacy notice.
Names displayed in governing documents
New charities
When you submit your governing document during the registration process, you must send it to us completed in full showing all relevant trustee data, even if you are requesting a dispensation.
Registered charities
Do not change and upload a governing document using our digital service until you have checked it will not show information that is covered by a dispensation.
If you are updating your governing document and it contains information to which a dispensation applies, contact us for advice first.
You should:
- explain you have been told you cannot use the digital service to update your governing document
- confirm who has a valid dispensation at your charity
- provide a complete copy of the new governing document and a copy of the governing document with the relevant details removed
We will make sure that the relevant names do not appear to the public. If you do not let us know, the governing document and any trustee names within it will be available to the public.
Updates to this page
Last updated 9 February 2024 + show all updates
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Clarified when dispensations are reviewed and added information on time limited dispensations.
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We have extended the date for changes to public display names on the charity register, to give trustees more time to apply for a dispensation if needed. 1 September 2019 has been changed to 1 April 2020.
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We have extended the date for changes to public display names on the charity register, to give trustees more time to apply for a dispensation if needed. 1 April 2019 has been changed to 1 September 2019.
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Added further information about the display of a charity contact address on the register.
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Added information about changes to public display names on the charity register. The process for applying for a dispensation has also been updated.
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First published.