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
Boardroom Behaviour: A Recipe for Success
How your board works together as a group is vital and improving this is often a key development need for boards. Some of the things that you can do to help to ensure ideal behaviour in meetings include: Effective chairing: A chair should spend their time listening, moving the discussion on, and then summarising. At the end of each agenda item the chair should ensure that everyone is clear about
The Charity Commission 2023 trustee and public trust annual research
The Charity Commission undertakes annual research which relates closely to their statutory objectives, including increasing public trust and confidence in charities, promoting compliance by charity trustees with their legal obligations and enhancing the accountability of charities to donors, beneficiaries and the wider public. The 2023 research has confirmed the following key findings: Public Trust: Charities continue to be well regarded and highly trusted, ranking second only to doctors. The research
National Lottery Awards for All
Social connections and community activities are at the heart of creating healthier, happier lives and a flourishing society. That’s why the National Lottery Awards for All fund supports amazing community-led projects. With funding from £300 to £20,000, for up to two years. You can apply for funding to deliver a new or existing activity or to support your organisation to change and adapt to new and future challenges. Awards for
Restructuring advisors say charity sector facing a challenging 2023
The number of charities in financial difficulty is expected to rise this year as a result of the increasing economic challenges facing the sector. This is the view of a North East restructuring expert, Chris Ferguson, who is Head of Recovery & Insolvency at RMT Accountants & Business Advisors based in Gosforth, Newcastle. His advice follows the publication of official statistics that showed there were over 22,000 corporate insolvencies across
Raising awareness of Usher Syndrome
Jo Milne, founder and Chair of UK Charity Cure Usher has teamed up with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to create an educational film which will help to raise awareness about the condition both within the NHS and the wider public. The film, which gives viewers an insight into what life is like for Jo as well as hearing from medical professionals, was produced by Northumbria Healthcare’s charity, Bright, with
Charity Trustee 5-min guides
As a trustee, your charity relies on your leadership to help it fulfil its purpose and its legal responsibilities. But could there be better ways of doing things? In these challenging and uncertain times, charities need to feel confident they’re getting things right. That’s why the Charity Commission has launched a set of simple, 5-minute guides, designed to help trustees provide the best possible oversight to
Digital Boost – free support to boost your digital skills
Digital Boost, a non-profit online platform that brings together those who work in small businesses and charities with a community of digital expert volunteers, is offering to help charities and small businesses get the essential digital skills they need by matching them with digital experts to offer one to one conversations and practical webinars for free. There are three Digital Boost services to help equip your organisation with essential skills: Mentoring
