Charity Community resources

Volunteering often brings unexpected rewards and new perspectives. To mark Volunteers’ Week, I spoke to Stuart McKay, Audit Partner at MHA, about his first trustee role. For Stuart, stepping into the role of a trustee at Brain Tumour Research was both a professional and personal milestone. Stuart’s story is a testament to the transformative power of volunteering and the impact one can make, even in uncharted territories.

CIPFA and Humentum have now published the third exposure draft (ED3) of the world’s first-ever International Non-Profit Accounting Guidance (INPAG) for Non-Profit Organisations (NPO).

2024 is likely to be a turbulent year so the need for charities to communicate what they do, why they do it and the difference they make continues to be important. The trustees’ annual report is a key part of a charity’s suite of communications and effective reporting helps to build trust. So, how can charities tell their story with impact?

Get an update on its implications for charities operating internationally and its potential to affect the future of UK-Irish GAAP and the Charities SORPs post 2025, and learn how to get involved in the development of INPAG.

Effective board reports enable informed decision-making and strategic alignment. However, crafting a board report that supports your board’s decision-making requires more than just compiling data and financial results. It demands communicating the report’s purpose clearly, understanding the requirements of the trustees, and anchoring the reports in the charity’s strategic priorities.

Call for review of charity audit thresholds as inflation drags many smaller charities into scope against a backdrop of harsh financial challenges across the third sector.

In this challenging economic environment, charities with commercial trading operations might face increasing calls to issue letters of support to their trading subsidiaries. Trustees will need to protect the charity’s interests and follow charity law and regulation if they consider issuing a letter of support.

Charities are always on the lookout for professionals to provide independent examinations – and as long as it’s pro bono and the charity is small, you may not need a practising certificate.

The banking challenges that charities face in their day-to-day operations have reached a crisis point, as we regularly hear from you. Now, the charity regulators have written a joint letter to the Chief Executives of UK Banks to request urgent action.

In this challenging economic environment, charities with commercial trading operations might face increasing calls to issue letters of support to their trading subsidiaries. Trustees will need to protect the charity’s interests and follow charity law and regulation if they consider issuing a letter of support.

The Charity Commission’s (CC8) guide on how to manage your charity’s financial activity and use internal financial controls to reduce the risk of loss.

This Sayer Vincent guide explains when trading is permitted within a charity, how to use tax exemptions and set up appropriate structures if they wish to expand trading activities.

Trustees can find themselves facing tough decisions, including when it comes to accepting donations. The Charity Commission for England and Wales has recently issued guidance to aid trustees in navigating these challenging situations.

All applicants will be asked as part of the registration process to declare whether the applicant organisation is linked to or has been established by a non-charitable organisation. A charity may establish or maintain a close relationship with connected non-charitable organisations but these links need to be appropriately managed, can result in significant risks and can, in certain instances, impact charitable status. This article considers connected entities and what applicants will need to consider when submitting their application.

The Charity Commission recently published a forward-looking strategy designed to steer the Commission's regulatory efforts over the next five years.

ICAEW’s Charity Committee Chair calls for more balanced and proportionate regulation as charities brace for a demanding year ahead.

Demand for charity services continues to grow. Be it the cost-of-living crisis, rising mental health challenges or our ageing populations, charities are finding themselves under increasing pressure to deliver more for less. Given the challenges they currently face in doing vitally important work, you’d hope that accessing banking services would be straightforward for them. However, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for charity trustees to do so. But why?

CFG has recently announced the launch of a new project which will develop principles for trustees and charity leaders.

The Charity Commission has published its refreshed guidance on charities and investments, aiming to provide greater clarity to trustees about their ability to account for factors such as the environmental impact of investments and reputational risks.

What level of reserves should a charity have? This Sayer Vincent guide sets out a method for analysing your charity’s financial position and developing a robust reserves policy.

The initiative emerges amid growing calls for mandatory environmental disclosure and UN talks towards a legally binding treaty to end plastics pollution.

Higher levels of ESG reporting in the charity sector will help to support accountability, best practices and access to finance, explain Nick Sladden and Carys Tetlaw of RSM UK.

The end of the last decade brought with it one of the most difficult years for investors of all hues, but ESG moved firmly from the periphery to centre stage. The E (environmental) has been prominent for several years, but it was the S (social) which had the standout year.

We are in the middle of a boom for ESG reporting, driven by the growing realisation of the risks arising from climate change and inequality, a realisation that has now permeated into capital markets. Every day sees a new tool for ESG or SDG or Sustainability Reporting.

In this challenging economic environment, charities with commercial trading operations might face increasing calls to issue letters of support to their trading subsidiaries. Trustees will need to protect the charity’s interests and follow charity law and regulation if they consider issuing a letter of support.

Court upholds ruling that entitles Nuffield Health, a registered charity, to mandatory business rates relief of 80 percent for a members-only gym in the London Borough of Merton Council.

This Sayer Vincent guide explains when trading is permitted within a charity, how to use tax exemptions and set up appropriate structures if they wish to expand trading activities.

The common way for charities to deal with trading outside their objects is to channel these activities through a separate company. This Sayer Vincent guide explains how to set up and operate a charity trading subsidiary.

Drawing insights from recent reports and analyses, this article provides an overview of the current state of the charity sector and offers advice on how to respond to the key challenges currently facing charities.

As we are planning our January 2024 flagship Charity Conference, our aim is not only to equip you with the knowledge (and verifiable CPD hours) to help you succeed in your professional and voluntary charity roles, but also to help you future-proof your charity. How can your charity, regardless of size, take the next right steps towards your mission? How can you use technology and data insights to create more impact with limited resources? How can you navigate typical ethical dilemmas and make decisions that align with your charity’s values?

The Charity Excellence Framework helps charities ask the right questions, identify priorities and access relevant, trustworthy resources or organisations that can help charities improve, all with the help of artificial intelligence and a big vision.

All charities should have a formal legal structure and governing document. Choosing the right structure will contribute to good governance and operation and to the organisation’s long-term success. It is possible to change structures once established, but converting can be complex so making the correct decision from the outset can save a lot of inconvenience.

Recruiting trustees is a crucial task for charities, as board members play a pivotal role in guiding the organisation, shaping its strategy and ensuring its mission is fulfilled effectively. However, many charities are hampered by board vacancies, so it’s never been more important to make your advertised role stand out from the crowd.

Charity Governance Awards are now accepting entries. Good governance should be celebrated, these awards aim to recognise and reward the charities and trustee boards for demonstrating excellence by shining shine a light on the people who make change possible day after day and showcasing the stories that demonstrate how effective governance can transform lives.

Marking the publication of the sixth edition of The Charity Treasurer’s Handbook in mid-September, I spoke to its author, ICAEW member Elaine Alsop, about the skills required of charity treasurers, the rising demand for financial literacy on charity boards and where to find guidance and support.

Charities are always on the lookout for professionals to provide independent examinations – and as long as it’s pro bono and the charity is small, you may not need a practising certificate.