Tag: Charity Commission

Charity Commission Chief Executive, David Holdsworth, is today writing to all local authorities in England and Wales setting out urgent action they can take to ensure they comply with the legal responsibilities of charity trusteeship, which makes them responsible for running the charity and managing its assets.   The letter, which coincides with updated guidance the regulator has developed with the Local Government Association, will highlight the Commission has dealt with several recent cases involving council trusteeship and warns of the “significant administrative headaches” councils could face from any failure to…

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The Charity Commission has published a report of its casework during the 2024 General Election, revealing a significant decline in serious concerns about a charity’s campaigning activity compared with previous elections. The regulator praises the sector for its conduct during the UK General Election, with its Chair, Orlando Fraser KC, restating the sector’s right to campaign and reminding all that this right is enshrined in charity law.    The report found a rise in proactive efforts by charities to seek advice from the Commission and a 60% decline in high-risk cases…

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The Charity Commission has published new guidance to help charities when deciding whether to accept, refuse or return a donation. The regulator’s guidance makes clear that trustees should start from a position of accepting donations, but from time to time a charity may face a difficult decision as whether to refuse or return a donation. The guidance is designed to help trustees have informed discussions when faced with a choice that has potentially significant consequences. The Commission has set out an approach for trustees to take on these occasions, advising…

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The Charity Commission for England and Wales has launched its five-year strategy, setting out its core purpose and strategic priorities for 2024-2029. The strategy embeds the regulator’s ambition to be fair, balanced, and independent, in setting out five key priorities for the next five years. The ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and the disruption brought by the pandemic, have tested the resilience of many charities, whilst highlighting their central importance to society – and the strategy says financial resilience will be a central issue in the coming five years. The strategy also…

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David Holdsworth has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.   David, who has been CEO of the Animal and Plant Health Agency since 2022, will take up the role on 1 July 2024, replacing Helen Stephenson, whose term comes to an end this summer after seven years in the role.   David was previously Deputy Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office, and prior to that served at the Charity Commission as Deputy Chief Executive and Registrar. In that role David led a…

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