Charity Community resources

Get an update on its implications for charities operating internationally and its potential to affect the future of UK-Irish GAAP and the Charities SORPs post 2025, and learn how to get involved in the development of INPAG.

Charities need to set out clearly how they are run and carry out their work to combat common myths and build public and donor confidence in the sector.

This Sayer Vincent guide aims to make reading a set of charity accounts simple for those new to the charity sector.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is seeking feedback on draft amendments to FRS 102. Here’s why it’s important for all charity finance professionals to make their voices heard before the consultation deadline of 30 April 2023.

In this challenging economic environment, charities with commercial trading operations might face increasing calls to issue letters of support to their trading subsidiaries. Trustees will need to protect the charity’s interests and follow charity law and regulation if they consider issuing a letter of support.

Charities are always on the lookout for professionals to provide independent examinations – and as long as it’s pro bono and the charity is small, you may not need a practising certificate.

The squeeze that charities are facing at present is unprecedented. One of the ways that chartered accountants can help is by carrying out an independent examination of their annual trustee report and accounts, a ‘light touch’ alternative to an audit.

Find out what ICAEW members should consider when they take on independent examinations of charities.

In this challenging economic environment, charities with commercial trading operations might face increasing calls to issue letters of support to their trading subsidiaries. Trustees will need to protect the charity’s interests and follow charity law and regulation if they consider issuing a letter of support.

The Charity Commission’s (CC8) guide on how to manage your charity’s financial activity and use internal financial controls to reduce the risk of loss.

This Sayer Vincent guide explains when trading is permitted within a charity, how to use tax exemptions and set up appropriate structures if they wish to expand trading activities.

The common way for charities to deal with trading outside their objects is to channel these activities through a separate company. This Sayer Vincent guide explains how to set up and operate a charity trading subsidiary.

While the Autumn Statement made little explicit reference to charities, its measures will be felt by the charity sector, whether that’s in increased wage bills due to the uplifted National Living Wage or the impact on demand from those that rely on charities’ services. Lourens Du Plessis, member of the Charity Community’s Advisory Group and Managing Director of Church and Charity Professional Services at Stewardship, shares his reaction to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

The impact of regulation on our members and the wider economy is enormous. ICAEW’s Better Regulation initiative aims to help us assess whether the UK’s regulatory regime is “good enough” (we know it isn’t perfect) and how it might be improved, drawing on our experience and insights from ICAEW members. We now need your help to understand which areas of regulation are impacting charities the most.

As part of this series of articles, we have been covering common registration themes and issues. This article will update ICAEW Charity Community members about recent changes to our model CIO constitutions introduced by the Charities Act 2022.

Drafting your organisation’s objects comes with a reputation for being something of a fine art. That doesn’t need to be the case. This article will explain the fundamentals of charitable purposes and assist you in drafting objects that are exclusively charitable.

The Charity Commission has published its refreshed guidance on charities and investments, aiming to provide greater clarity to trustees about their ability to account for factors such as the environmental impact of investments and reputational risks.

What level of reserves should a charity have? This Sayer Vincent guide sets out a method for analysing your charity’s financial position and developing a robust reserves policy.

Following the latest announcement by the Bank of England in mid-May, the UK’s official rate of interest is now 4.5%. That is forty-five times greater than the 0.1% which was in place until December 2021, when the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) began raising rates in its drive to bring inflation under control.

At some point this year, inflation is likely to drop significantly. This would of course be a welcome development, especially for charities, whose investment objectives are particularly threatened by inflationary environments. But beware mirages.

The initiative emerges amid growing calls for mandatory environmental disclosure and UN talks towards a legally binding treaty to end plastics pollution.

Higher levels of ESG reporting in the charity sector will help to support accountability, best practices and access to finance, explain Nick Sladden and Carys Tetlaw of RSM UK.

The end of the last decade brought with it one of the most difficult years for investors of all hues, but ESG moved firmly from the periphery to centre stage. The E (environmental) has been prominent for several years, but it was the S (social) which had the standout year.

We are in the middle of a boom for ESG reporting, driven by the growing realisation of the risks arising from climate change and inequality, a realisation that has now permeated into capital markets. Every day sees a new tool for ESG or SDG or Sustainability Reporting.

In this challenging economic environment, charities with commercial trading operations might face increasing calls to issue letters of support to their trading subsidiaries. Trustees will need to protect the charity’s interests and follow charity law and regulation if they consider issuing a letter of support.

Court upholds ruling that entitles Nuffield Health, a registered charity, to mandatory business rates relief of 80 percent for a members-only gym in the London Borough of Merton Council.

This Sayer Vincent guide explains when trading is permitted within a charity, how to use tax exemptions and set up appropriate structures if they wish to expand trading activities.

The common way for charities to deal with trading outside their objects is to channel these activities through a separate company. This Sayer Vincent guide explains how to set up and operate a charity trading subsidiary.

As we are planning our January 2024 flagship Charity Conference, our aim is not only to equip you with the knowledge (and verifiable CPD hours) to help you succeed in your professional and voluntary charity roles, but also to help you future-proof your charity. How can your charity, regardless of size, take the next right steps towards your mission? How can you use technology and data insights to create more impact with limited resources? How can you navigate typical ethical dilemmas and make decisions that align with your charity’s values?

The Charity Excellence Framework helps charities ask the right questions, identify priorities and access relevant, trustworthy resources or organisations that can help charities improve, all with the help of artificial intelligence and a big vision.

All charities should have a formal legal structure and governing document. Choosing the right structure will contribute to good governance and operation and to the organisation’s long-term success. It is possible to change structures once established, but converting can be complex so making the correct decision from the outset can save a lot of inconvenience.

NCSC warns of increasing attacks, but help is available, including free NSCS Funded Cyber Essentials Programme for certain types of charities to help you keep client data safe.

Charity Governance Awards are now accepting entries. Good governance should be celebrated, these awards aim to recognise and reward the charities and trustee boards for demonstrating excellence by shining shine a light on the people who make change possible day after day and showcasing the stories that demonstrate how effective governance can transform lives.

Marking the publication of the sixth edition of The Charity Treasurer’s Handbook in mid-September, I spoke to its author, ICAEW member Elaine Alsop, about the skills required of charity treasurers, the rising demand for financial literacy on charity boards and where to find guidance and support.

Charities are always on the lookout for professionals to provide independent examinations – and as long as it’s pro bono and the charity is small, you may not need a practising certificate.

Could your pro bono work be subject to ICAEW’s revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations? Kristina Kopic, ICAEW’s Head of Charity and Voluntary Sector, considers the changes coming into force in November 2023.