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Public Trust

Covid-19 highlights the lifeline that charities are to so many – and we are playing our part as regulator

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Helen Stephenson (Charity Commission CEO).

As many thousands of people continue to step outside their homes to go to work each day amid a national lockdown, I am struck by how many of these frontline workers will be employed by charities. Care homes, hospices, specialist …

How do charities approach investing in line with their purpose and values? We want to know, and we want to help

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3 stacks of coins with small plants growing at the top.

Update (1 August 2023): Our refreshed investment guidance has been published. Read Investing charity money: guidance for trustees. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic which is affecting many charities, we have extended the deadline for responses to 30 April 2020. …

We regulate charities within the boundaries of a clear legal framework – the Courts and Tribunal hold us to that

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The High Court in London.

  This month (November 2019) we won a landmark case in the High Court. For the first time, we made an application for a finding of contempt of court, after trustees repeatedly failed to comply with Commission Orders seeking information …

Charities and political campaigning: a reflection on charities’ responsibilities

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Helen Stephenson (Charity Commission CEO).

With expectations growing of a general election before the end of this year and all political parties preparing for it, I want to remind charities of their responsibilities and of the guidance we publish to help decision making around political …

Educational charities must behave charitably

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A library with lots of books.

Universities and colleges are some of the most substantial charities in England. This status brings with it a special responsibility. Organisations established for the valued charitable purpose of advancing education must do so for the public benefit, helping society to …

Thanks but no thanks: when should charities refuse donations?

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£10 and £20 notes.

This article is no longer in date. Read our guidance on Accepting, refusing and returning donations to your charity.  Recent high-profile scandals have left many charity trustees wondering how to do the right thing when it comes to accepting certain …

Freedom of speech helps charity, and society thrive – but it’s not an absolute right

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As registrar of the 167,000 charities in England and Wales, we are witness every day to the outstanding role these organisations play in bettering society. Charities are at their best when they contribute to civil society by building social cohesion, …