The charities SORP gives guidance on financial accounting and reporting for charitable entities. On this page you can access a range of articles, books and online resources providing quick links to the regulations, guidance and other key documentation.
Statement of Recommended Practice
Issuing bodies
The Charity Commission and the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator are responsible for issuing the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for charities.
Full-text sources for the SORP and associated guidance
Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (PDF 521.7kb/134 pages)
The full text of the SORP 2005, updated in May 2008, is available for download from the Charity Commission.
Preparing your Trustees' Annual Report
A summary of associated materials from the Charity Commission.
SORP 2005 documents
Overview of materials from the Charity Commission with information sheets and other resources to help preparers of charity accounts.
Other regulations
Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008
Full text of the Statutory Instrument that came into force on 1 April 2008.
Reporting and Accounting Framework for Charities
Guidance from the Charity Commission with tables showing when charitable entities must comply with the SORP 2005 and the 2008 Regulations.
Useful links
ICAEW
Charity and Voluntary Sector Group
The ICAEW special interest group supports professionals working in this area and provides up-to-date information and newsletters, technical helpsheets, seminars and events.
Exposure drafts and related papers
SORP Committee Meetings and Papers
Online archive of SORP committee minutes and selected papers.
Commentary and guidance
SORP 2005
International Financial Reporting Standards and Charities: A review of the potential impact of recent proposals (PDF 1.23mb/12 pages)
Report by the Charity Finance Directors Group and BDO, published 1 January 2010, on the adoption of IFRS for SMEs and its impact on charity sector accounting.
Charity Reporting and Accounting: Taking Stock and Future Reform
Report published in December 2009 by the Charity Commission assessing the role of the SORP and a direction for future developments.
Example Trustees' Annual Reports and Accounts
Example reports and accounts for a variety of different charitable organisations, as published by the Charity Commission.
The Charities SORP 2000 and 2005: Common pitfalls to avoid when acting as auditor or adviser
Helpsheet published by the ICAEW Charity and Voluntary Sector Group in May 2006. Available to members only.
SORP 2005: Risk Review
Helpsheet published by the ICAEW Charity & Voluntary Sector Group in April 2006. Available to members of the Charity & Voluntary Sector Group.
Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008
Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008
Briefing published by Baker Tilly in April 2008 summarising the regulations.
Archived documents
2007
Charities and Risk Management
Guidance from the Charity Commission on the risk management elements introduced by the SORP 2005. Topics include reporting of risk management in the Trustees' Annual Report, example format of a risk register and examples of potential risk areas, their impact and mitigation.
2004
A Summary of the Consultation Responses on the Exposure Draft of the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charity Accounts issued in June 2004 (PDF 112.23kb/20 pages)
A report on the responses to the consultation in June 2004, published in December 2004 by the Charity Commission.
2003
Inputs Matter: Improving the Quality of Reporting in the Charity Sector
In November 2003 the Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) published a consultation document, which made a number of proposals to 'improve the quality and consistency of charity annual reports' ranging from the valuation of volunteer time to redefining management and administration costs as governance costs. The consultation focuses on the inputs into charity accounts and it was anticipated that the report would contribute to the next annual SORP review.
2002
Private Action, Public Benefit: A Review of Charities and the Wider Not-For-Profit Sector (PDF 387.67kb/101 pages)
Report published by the Strategy Unit (Cabinet Office) in September 2002. The report's conclusions include the recommendation to strengthen the focus of the Charity SORP 'on achievements against objectives, organisational impact and future strategy' (see chapter 6 on Building public trust and confidence and supporting the sector in improving performance).
2000
Risk management for charities: threat or opportunity? (Charities Alert) (PDF 548.46kb/18 pages)
A guide from Horwath Clark Whitehill Chartered Accountants looking at the risk reporting aspects of the Charities SORP, and the wider context of risk management for charities.
Accounting by charities: the proposed changes to the regulations on charity accounts and reports
ICAEW memorandum published in March 2000 in response to the Charity Commission's Consultation on Draft Regulations on Charity Accounts and Reports.
Online articles
The library provides access to a range of articles in full text from leading business, finance and management journals.
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Articles and books in the Library collection
To find out how you can borrow books from the Library please see our guide to book loans.
You can obtain copies of articles or extracts of books and reports by post, fax or email through our document delivery service.
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