graphic of hands holding hearts

It can be difficult to keep on track with all the charity updates flying into your inbox.  Below are all the ones we think you definitely need to know about from the last few months.

Alerts

  • Charities are being told to ensure the close relationships some enjoy with non-charitable organisations are made clear to people outside their charity

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/charity-regulator-warns-trustees-to-protect-their-charity-from-non-charitable-interests

 

  • Changes to the fundraising levy bands

http://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/more-from-us/news/changes-fundraising-levy

https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/registration/large-charities/levy-changes

 

  • Department for International Development’s fund for small UK based not-for-profit organisations – grants of up to £50,000 for those with an annual income of £250,000 or less

https://dfidnews.blog.gov.uk/2019/03/17/small-charities-challenge-fund/

 

  • Charities to have 21 days to action a suppression request under the Data Protection Act from 1 March 2019

http://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/more-from-us/news/important-change-fps

 

  • Increased upper limit for trading that charities can carry out without incurring tax liability

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-detailed-guidance-notes/annex-iv-trading-and-business-activities-basic-principles

 

Reports

  • The Fundraising Regulator has issued its complaints report for 2017/18

http://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/more-from-us/resources/complaints-report-201718

 

  • Make accepting cash more affordable for charities – Access to Cash Review

https://www.accesstocash.org.uk/media/1087/final-report-final-web.pdf

 

  • The government is looking at changing the law so that organisations engaged in “public interest journalism” can register as charities 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/779882/021919_DCMS_Cairncross_Review_.pdf

 

Guidance

  • New government guidance for charities with a connection to a non-charity

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-charities-with-a-connection-to-a-non-charity

 

  • New government guidance for charities and trading

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charities-and-trading

 

Case reports

  • Statements on live cases published in 2019

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statements-on-live-cases-charity-commission#statements-released-in-2018

 

Legislation

  • Charity Trustees (time Off for Duties) Bill is a private members bill that proposes to allow trustees to request unpaid time off from their jobs to carry out their trustee duties

https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/charitytrusteestimeoffforduties.html

 

  • Probate fee reform – proposed new fee structure has unintended consequences that could be detrimental to charitable giving

https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7929 https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/charities-warn-moj-over-impact-of-probate-fee-hike/5069583.article

 

Blogs/sector insights

  • How charities are responding to cyber security threats

https://charitycommission.blog.gov.uk/2019/04/05/how-charities-are-responding-to-cyber-security-threats/

 

  • What makes a successful charity rebrand?

https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/kate-plummer-what-makes-a-successful-rebrand.html

 

Preparing for Brexit

  • Five ways civil society organisations can prepare for EU exit

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/five-ways-civil-society-organisations-can-prepare-for-eu-exit

 

Updates 

  • Baroness Stowell’s speech at the Charity Commission’s Annual Public Meeting on 5 March

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chairs-speech-to-the-charity-commission-annual-public-meeting

 

  • Volunteering round up – April 2019

https://blogs.ncvo.org.uk/2019/04/16/volunteering-round-up-april-2019/