Charity Commission publishes new “five-minute guides” to help trustees cope with COVID-19 pandemic

16/11/2020

The Charity Commission has published a range of new “five-minute guides” to help trustees get up to speed with their regulatory and accounting obligations.

Available in both English and Welsh, the regulator said its new “user-friendly” guidance covers a “core syllabus” of basic information that will help both new and established trustees manage their charities effectively.

The Charity Commission added that the guides will be of particular help to those facing challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The guides will also help trustees stamp out fraud in their charity, said the regulator, after a recent study revealed that fraud cost the sector some £3.6 million since the start of the pandemic in March.

We’ve provided quick links to the guides below:

• controlling your charity’s finances
• keeping ‘on mission’ and within the rules
• decision making
• spotting conflicts of interest and dealing with them
• sending information to the Commission, as well as what support you can get from us

Commenting on the launch of the new guides, Helen Stephenson CBE, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said: “Our five-minute guides are designed with real trustees and real situations in mind.

“They recognise that good governance is not a bureaucratic detail – it underpins the delivery of a charity’s purposes to the high standards expected by the public – and is all the more important in the midst of this pandemic which is impacting civil society so heavily.

“I hope trustees, both new and experienced, read and use them to help them fulfil their charity’s purpose for the public benefit.”

For help and advice on matters relating to the Charity and Not for Profit sector, contact our expert team at WMT – Chartered Accountants today.