Earlier this month, the Charity Commission issued a series of five new ‘easy to understand’ guides, making up a ‘core syllabus’, designed to help trustees to operate lawfully.
The guides cover key aspects of charity management, including financial oversight, achieving a charities purpose, decision making, handling conflicts of interest, understanding what to file with the Commission and knowing what support is available.
It is expected that trustees will already be aware of much of the information contained within.
The publications go some way to delivering on the Commission’s commitment to improve access to clear guidance for the near 1million trustees currently contributing to the running of UK charities, so that they can succeed and maximise the difference they make.
Helen Stephenson CBE, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said: “When I started at the Commission, I said our guidance and advice needed to become more available and accessible to trustees, to help them deliver on the causes they support and champion.
“These new 5 minute guides are an important milestone in our delivery on that promise.”
The guides are aimed at trustees who are new to the role, as well as those with years of experience.
Samantha Green, chartered accountant, comments: “Trustees are legally responsible for the overall management and decision-making of their charities, so clearly the better equipped they are for that role and the more accessible support and guidance is, the more their organisations will benefit.
“This is so important now, more than ever; so many charities will be facing new challenges as a result of the pandemic and so trustees need to be aware of the support available to them and be able to seek reassurance that they’re doing the right thing.
“As advisers experienced in working with charities, we can provide advice, support and training to help charities and their trustees understand their responsibilities and to act in their organisations best interests.”
How can George Hay help?
Our expert charities team can support Trustees and key management, assisting you with planning, helping you to identify opportunities to diversify income and helping you to accommodate temporary changes in guidance (e.g. SORP).
In all our work with the Third sector, our proactive and practical advice is designed to help you find and maintain financial stability whilst also achieving your core objectives.
To discuss your charities requirements in more detail with one of our professionals, contact us today.
Link: Regulator’s new “5-minute guides” will support charity trustees to meet duties
