New Fundraising Code: What You Need to Know Before November
In this edition of the Governance Blog, we’re reminding VCSE organisations that the new Code of Fundraising Practice will come into effect on 1 November 2025. The Fundraising Regulator has published a revised version of the Code, designed to be clearer, more concise, and easier to navigate. It reflects a more modern and adaptable approach to fundraising standards and is significantly shorter than the previous version. You can read the new Code here: Code of Fundraising Practice
Celebrating the Unsung Heroes Behind Local Charities
As we head into summer, we wanted to spread a short, good news story in this issue of our governance blog! The Interim Chair of the Charity Commission, Mark Simms OBE, has recently released a statement on the Charity Commission Blog to say a big “Thank You” to all the trustees and other volunteers across England and Wales. In his article, which you can read in full here, Mark points
Trustee Recruitment: Updated Advice from the Charity Commission
The Charity Commission has refreshed its trustee recruitment guidance (CC30) to help charities connect with a wider range of candidates and remove common barriers to becoming a trustee. This update follows research by the regulator and think tank Pro Bono Economics, which revealed that only 6% of trustees applied for their role via an advert. In contrast, over half of charities relied on personal contacts to recruit new trustees, potentially
Charity Mergers: What Are They, and When Should You Consider One?
With growing interest in mergers across the voluntary sector, this issue of our Governance Blog explores what a charity merger involves and why it might be the right step for your organisation. What is a Charity Merger? The Charity Commission states that a merger of charities usually means two or more legally separate charities coming together to form one charity under one governing document and one body of trustees. In
New Right to Neonatal Care Leave and Pay – What You Need to Know
From 6 April 2025, a new workplace right will allow parents of babies in neonatal care to take extra time off work. Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of neonatal care leave on top of their existing parental leave if their baby is admitted to the hospital within the first 28 days of birth and stays for at least seven full days. This right follows the Neonatal Care
What is the Charity Governance Code?
Charity Governance Code: Ongoing Review and Updates In this issue of our Governance Blog, we discuss the ongoing review of the Charity Governance Code following public consultation and input from the Charity Law Association’s working group. The updated Code is expected to be published soon, with changes aimed at making it more accessible for small and medium-sized charities. What is the Charity Governance Code? The Code is a practical tool
Governance Blog: New Workplace Recycling Laws
In this issue of our Governance Blog, we are going to discuss the new laws regarding workplace recycling and how they will apply to your organisation. The new rules From 31 March 2025 (or 31 March 2027 for micro-firms), all workplaces (businesses and non-domestic premises, including charities) in England have a legal duty to present the following wastes separated in accordance with the arrangements with their waste collector: dry recyclable
Governance Blog: Converting from a CIC to a CIO
Did you know that it is possible to convert from a Community Interest Company (CIC) to a form of charity known as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)? Read on to learn why you might consider making the switch and what the process involves. Background CICs are simpler to set up than charities, with less rigid rules on trading and distributing profits. For example, directors can be paid, and dividends can
Celebrate Trustees’ Week: Resources for Aspiring Trustees
This Trustees’ Week (4-8 November) is a time to come together and celebrate the achievements of the trustees across North Tyneside and indeed the rest of the UK. Trustees play a vital role in shaping the future of our communities by guiding charitable organisations and ensuring they operate effectively and ethically. To celebrate Trustees’ Week, we are encouraging more people to become trustees. To support this, here are five valuable resources
Charity Commission Launches New My Charity Commission Account (MCCA)
Charity Commission Launches New My Charity Commission Account (MCCA): What Trustees Need to Know The Charity Commission has recently reminded all registered charities about the new way to log in to the Charity Commission portal. Last year, to enhance efficiency and comply with data protection legislation, the Charity Commission launched the My Charity Commission Account (MCCA). This new system allows charities to access their online services, offering each trustee or
Updated Guidance: Improving Your Charity’s Finance
The Charity Commission has recently refreshed its guidance called Improving your Charity’s Finances (also known as CC12). The Commission is urging all trustees, even if they are very experienced, to read the updated guidance. The main change has been to write the document in plainer English and a more accessible format so that it can benefit as many trustees as possible. The Commission has also split the content into three
Charity Meetings Guidance Update
The Charity Commission has recently updated its guidance CC48 Charity Meetings now that an increasing number of charities are using virtual or hybrid formats for their trustees and members meetings. During the COVID-19 pandemic, special dispensation was granted to charities to hold online meetings where their governing document didn’t specifically permit them to do so. This dispensation expired some time ago, but many organisations continue to hold online meetings where
Organisational Health Checks: A How-to Guide
Health checks are an increasingly accepted way of identifying how your organisation really works and whilst primarily aimed at smaller organisations they can be used as a starting point for larger organisations. A health check for your organisation is like an MOT for your car. It enables you to look at all the different elements within your organisation and to check that they are working properly and running smoothly. Like
Where are all the Young Trustees?
Taken on Trust research published by the Charity Commission shows that 92% of trustees in England and Wales have an average age of 55-64 rising to 65-74 in smaller charities. A huge swathe of the population (and potentially your organisation’s beneficiaries) is simply not being represented on Boards nationwide. If you are looking to diversify your Charity Board (and many charities are or should be considering this), then trying to
North East Child Poverty Commission publishes ‘No Time to Wait’
The North East Child Poverty Commission has published a major new report published which calls for regional leaders to take a ‘public health approach’ to tackling child poverty, based on the findings of wide-ranging research undertaken over the last year throughout the region. More than one-third of all babies, children and young people in the North East (35%) are living in poverty, with our region having experienced the steepest increases
Charity Commission aiming to open the doors to charity trusteeship
Following Trustees Week in Autumn 2023, the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, Helen Stephenson, has recently provided feedback on the discussions which she held with Trustees during this time. She has said that the Charity Commission are aware that work still needs to be done to open the doors to trusteeship and that one of the common misconceptions was that trusteeship isn’t suitable for the average person. Helen recounts
Tipping Point: The Cost of Living Crisis
Tipping Point, the latest report by VCS Emergencies Partnership, describes some of the ways the voluntary and community sector (VCS) has been responding to the challenge of the cost of living crisis, focusing on the early part of 2023. It draws out insights, knowledge and practical ideas to help inform future preparedness and response to an ongoing crisis that will escalate again as winter approaches. Read more and download the report
Social Media Guidance for Charities
An update on the new guidance on social media produced by the Charity Commission The Charity Commission has released new guidance on the use of social media for charities which provides a very useful tool for trustees. The Charity Commission recognises that social media has become a powerful way for many charities to promote their work, engage their supporters and campaign for change. The public is also using social media
Embedding the VCSE sector in Integrated Care Systems
NAVCA has announced (25/09/23) the publication of a new set of resources for the VCSE around embedding the sector in Integrated Care Systems. The aim of these resources is to help VCSE organisations work effectively with ICSs to create a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, ensuring that community concerns are identified and acted upon through effective VCSE representation. The resource is split into two pages. Page one covers: Understanding
Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service
The Ministry of Justice has just launched a new service to help those at risk of losing their homes called the Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service. The service provides: Early legal advice (legal help) on housing, debt and welfare benefits issues to those at risk of possession proceedings and loss of their home; and On the day emergency advice and representation at court to those with a listed possession hearing
