Charity Commission Updates
Welcome to the first edition of our Forum for Charities newsletter. Since our launch, we’ve been thrilled to see our community grow, with new members joining and engaging with our content.
Our goal is to keep you informed about the latest updates on our website, alongside key developments from the charity sector. In recent months, the Charity Commission has been actively refining its regulatory guidance, and we have seen both the launch and conclusion of several consultations.
We hope you find this newsletter valuable, and we look forward to sharing insights, news and opportunities to support yourself and your charities work.
Recent Articles and Press Releases
Trethowans’ charities law team advised on the merger of New Theatre Royal and The Kings Theatre, ensuring strong governance and regulatory compliance to secure their future.
Charities must regularly review their privacy notices to comply with evolving UK data protection laws, particularly post-Brexit changes to GDPR.
Building connections among charity trustees enhances governance, fosters collaboration, and improves best practices across the sector.
A privacy notice informs individuals how their data is used. Charities need one to ensure transparency and legal compliance.
- Providing information to the Charity Commission: Understanding the criminal offence under Section 60
Providing false or misleading information to the Charity Commission is a criminal offence under Section 60 of the Charities Act 2011, carrying serious legal consequences.
Upcoming Trethowans Events
This online session will provide charity trustees with essential insights into managing intellectual property. Led by Laura Trapnell, a Partner in Trethowans’ Intellectual Property team, the webinar will cover key considerations for protecting and strengthening a charity’s assets, followed by an interactive Q&A.
- Charity Trustee Training – Poole – Trethowans – 1 July 2025
A free induction and refresher training session for charity trustees, hosted at Trethowans’ Poole office. The session, led by Kirsteen Hook, will cover trustees’ legal duties, best practices, and governance essentials to help them fulfil their roles effectively.
- Charity Trustee Training – Southampton – Trethowans – 23 September 2025
Similar to the Poole session, this free training event at Trethowans’ Southampton office will provide both new and experienced trustees with guidance on their responsibilities, governance, and compliance with charity law.
Charity updates and guidance:
The Charity Commission has published a range of useful guidance over the last couple of months. Some of which include:
The Commission have reported on statistics presented regarding the skills, experience and demographics of trustees in England and Wales.
The Charity Commission has updated its trustee recruitment guidance, offering practical steps to help charities attract more candidates. Key recommendations include conducting a skills audit, keeping role descriptions updated and distinguishing between essential and learnable skills. It also suggests using social media, trustee finder services and free resources to broaden outreach, while acknowledging that paid recruitment services remain an option.
The guidance clarifies the rules on paying charity trustees, distinguishing between payments and expenses. While trustee roles are usually voluntary, some charities may offer compensation, requiring strict legal compliance. It outlines key regulations, risks and steps for updating governing documents, while emphasising the importance of reimbursing legitimate expenses to remove financial barriers to participation.
More news:
A statutory investigation is underway into multiple charities regarding the management of £22 million in funds, with evidence showing that issued cheques are being converted into cash. To prevent further issues, the regulator has imposed an immediate temporary restriction requiring approval before issuing any cheques.
A review of the Code of Fundraising Practice has been completed, and a new Code has been published, due to take effect in November. You can find a breakdown of the new Code in our article here.
Disclaimer
This information is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We recommend seeking professional advice before taking any action on the information provided. If you would like to discuss your specific circumstances, please feel free to contact us on 0800 2800 421.
