Charity Update 15 June 2021
Locations
There is a refreshing mix of news this week, with a focus on reported cases, new legislation and funding and assistance to get the charity sector back to doing what it does best. We do hope you are enjoying our bulletins – please do come back to us if you have any comments.
Neil Palmer
9 June 2021
Public Accounts Committee finds “a notable opaqueness over some aspects” of Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport decision making on charity funding
A PAC report has found that despite DCMS acting quickly to release its £513 million COVID-19 financial support package, there has been an "opaqueness" in the decision making on which charities have been awarded the funding. DCMS also failed to provide a clear rationale for spending up to £2 million of taxpayers' money on consultants.
Parliament
7 June 2021
Court of Appeal releases important judgement in Nuffield Health v London Borough of Merton case
This judgement finds that local authorities must look at the "overall activities and purposes" of a charity when determining its entitlement to business rates relief for multiple sites. "The public benefit requirement is thus to be applied to the purposes of the charity and not to its activities carried on at the individual hereditament."
BAILII
7 June 2021
Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) totals £28m
RRLF approved funding to 77 charities and social enterprises across the UK with £24m worth of loans and over £3.9m worth of grants approved.
Social Investment Business
2 June 2021
Fundraising Regulator is to develop a process for self-reporting
The Fundraising Regulator plans to create a process for self-reporting breaches of the Code of Fundraising Practice.
Fundraising Regulator
26 May2021
First reading of Charities Bill 2021-22 before the Lords
The Charities Bill was introduced to the House of Lords for its first reading. Please see here for the explanatory notes.
Parliament
26 May 2021
Charity Commission reinstates National Equine Training Trust
The Charity Commission has re-instated the National Equine Training Trust onto the charity register after taking action to protect the charity's land from being lost. The Commission has also appointed two new trustees to run the charity. Read the decision in full here.
Charity Commission
25 May 2021
Charity Commission finds royal charities did not act outside of charity law
The charity MWX Foundation (formerly Sussex Royal The Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex) did not act in breach of charity law in transferring funds to Travalyst. Read more about the decision here. The Commission found the trustees of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge acted in accordance with guidance and found no issues of concern.
Charity Commission
24 May 2021
Latest Covid-19 Voluntary Sector Impact Barometer Survey released
The May survey shows a mixed impact on volunteering numbers, with some organisations reporting an increase and others a decline, as well as a rise in digital volunteering. Many organisations have reported a significant shift in the diversity and range of volunteers participating.
NCVO
24 May 2021
Charity Commission improves the Register of Charities
Read about the improvements to the Register of Charities here. The Charity Commission is asking for feedback on the developed service via their feedback form.
Charity Commission