The Charity Commission has reported a 9% increase in whistleblowing disclosures during 2025-26. At 594 disclosures, the highest number recorded in the past 10 years.
Whistleblowing disclosures help the Charity Commission identify serious problems within charities and play an important role in protecting the sector. Most disclosures come from current or former employees and relate to three key areas: safeguarding, financial management and governance. Governance remains the most common reason for disclosures.
How the Charity Commission Responds
When a whistleblowing disclosure is received, the Charity Commission assesses the information and decides what action, if any, is required. The level of action depends on the nature of the concern and the level of risk involved.
The Commission aims to identify risks early and prevent issues from becoming more serious. However, it cannot investigate every concern and must prioritise the highest-risk cases. Even when no immediate action is taken, the information is recorded and may be used as part of future regulatory assessments.
What Organisations Should Do
The increase in disclosures is a timely reminder for charities and community organisations to review their governance arrangements and internal policies.
A whistleblowing policy gives staff and volunteers a clear process for raising concerns and helps organisations address issues at an early stage. Organisations should ensure their policy is up to date and that everyone understands how to report a concern.
VODA can provide whistleblowing policy templates and governance support to voluntary and community organisations in North Tyneside.
If you would like to discuss whistleblowing or any other aspect of governance, please contact us on 0191 323 2040 or development@voda.org.uk.
The full Charity Commission report is available on the GOV.UK website.
