Charities newsletter – May 2018

Our Charities team here at Blake Morgan publishes e-bulletins to keep you up-to-date with breaking news and topical issues affecting the sector. We also offer regular charity trustee induction and refresher training sessions.

Are you ready for GDPR?

With the impending deadline of 25 May 2018 looming are you ready for the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)?

Charity Commission: new welcome pack for trustees

The Charity Commission has published a new welcome pack for trustees. The welcome pack is freely available on the Commission’s website and provides essential information to help you understand governance basics, financial filing requirements and how the Charity Commission can offer support. It also suggests practical steps that can be taken to carry out trustee duties effectively. The welcome pack can be accessed on the Commission’s website.

Charity Commission: automatic disqualification changes

From 1 August 2018, new rules will come into effect which means that the automatic disqualification rules will also apply to senior management positions in charities, as well as charity trustees.

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Institute of Fundraising publishes guide on acceptance of donations

The Institute of Fundraising (IoF) has released guidance which says that whilst value and ethics are important when considering whether to accept donations, they are not decisive. Donations to charities should only be refused in exceptional circumstances and if it is in the best interests of the charity.

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Risk governance for charities

The Institute of Risk Management has published new guidance “Risk governance for charities: risk management structures and accountabilities (2018)”. This new guide looks at governance structures charities can put in place to help make effective risk management decisions. It considers roles and responsibilities for managing risk and sets out risk governance options for small, medium and large charities. Charity trustees and senior management may wish to familiarise themselves with this guidance.

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator issues new guidance on trading

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has published new guidance on the different types of charity trading, subsidiaries and trustee duties in relation to trading. The guidance is aimed towards trustees and those who work with them. The guidance outlines what must be in place before a charity begins trading.

The full guidance can be viewed here and is relevant to those charities that are regulated by OSCR.