Tag: RSM UK

Charity mergers fall 11% as economic uncertainty dampens deal activity

Stuart Mitchell

Mergers in the charity sector fell 11% last year from a record high in 2024 as economic uncertainty took hold, according to analysis of Charity Commission data* by leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK. The number of charities recording mergers declined from 142 in 2024 to 126 in 2025. There are over 171,000 registered charities in the UK**, suggesting there’s scope for further consolidation in the sector, particularly where two or more charities are looking for economies of scale, and also have shared goals. Hannah Catchpool, partner and…

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RSM UK and Anthony Nolan celebrate 15-year partnership with lifesaving milestone

Stuart Mitchell

Leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK is celebrating its 15-year partnership with Anthony Nolan – marking the milestone by funding its 10,000th courier trip to deliver life-saving stem cells to patients in need across the UK. Anthony Nolan is a charity that matches potential stem cell donors to patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, while carrying out pioneering research to increase the success of stem cell transplants. In collaboration with RSM UK it runs a courier programme where volunteers transport donated stem cells to a hospital to…

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Charities need consistency in financial thresholds, says RSM UK

Stuart Mitchell

In response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) consultation on financial thresholds in charity law and whether they should be increased in line with inflation, RSM UK says charities need consistency in financial reporting obligations, and requirements should be proportionate to the size of the charity. Nick Sladden, partner and head of charities at RSM UK, said: “We welcome the government’s commitment to review these thresholds at least every 10 years, but it’s crucial this is upheld to ensure out of date regulations are not being relied…

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Charity mergers up 90% as organisations look for economies of scale

Stuart Mitchell

Consolidation in the charity sector has seen an annual jump of 90% – reaching a record high, according to analysis of Charity Commission data by RSM UK. The number of charities recording mergers increased from 174 in 2023 to 331 in 2024, as growing cost pressures led charities to consolidate to deliver economies of scale. With over 180,000 charities in England and Wales, mergers can offer several benefits to the sector including reducing the duplication of efforts and resource where multiple charities might have the same objectives. Nick Sladden, partner…

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More than one in four charities have not reviewed their reserves policy in last year

Stuart Mitchell

New findings show more than one in four charities (26%) have not reviewed their reserves policy within the last year, according to a survey by leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK, leaving themselves at risk of failing to manage financial instability. This is particularly pertinent in the current economic climate. While the data found over a third (34%) of charity trustees had reviewed their reserves policy within the last three months and 40% within the last year, 11% of respondents had only reviewed it within the last two…

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