Dealing with the Regulators
We understand the numerous requirements which regulators place on those involved in the running of charities and not for profit organisations. Our team’s strength lies in our ability to assist a charity in meeting these requests and our skill in demonstrating to regulators your organisation’s objectives, to ensure the best results are achieved.
The Charities Group has established a strong working relationship with the Charity Commission, the main regulator of charities in England and Wales. We provide detailed advice on the Commission’s role as a regulator and enforcer. The Charities Group also liaises with other regulators in the sector including:
- The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
- Companies House
- HMRC
- Public bodies e.g. The Housing Corporation, the CIC Regulator.
Our extensive knowledge and experience in advising charity and not for profit clients in dealing with regulators includes the following areas:
- Applications to register new charities, charity mergers and charity transfers;
- Satisfying the public benefit requirement in England and Wales;
- Convincing the Charity Commission to accept new charity objects;
- How to respond to review visits and full investigations;
- Constitutional issues, including applications for schemes and orders to amend, replace or amplify a charity’s governing document;
- Reporting requirements under charity and company law, including preparing accounts, annual returns and trustees’ reports;
- Liaising with the Privy Councillor Royal Charter organisations;
- Application to the Attorney General where appropriate in her role as protector of charity;
- Negotiations with HMRC;
- Registration with and deregistration from The Housing Corporation
Our work with the Charity Commission is further supported by our membership to organisations such as the Charity Law Association through which we work to promote enhancements to charity law.
