Charity Law & Regulation
Whether it’s the Charities Act, the Charity Commission, or regulation of lobbying and campaigning, the law is important because it affects tens of thousands of organisations and ultimately millions of beneficiaries. We believe in Responsible Regulation – that regulation should be proportionate, appropriate and enabling.
Fundraising & Investment
News Release - Charity fundraisers get a refreshed, plain English guide to great fundraising
Directory of Social Change responds to the Fundraising Regulator’s consultation on the Code of Fundraising Practice. The regulator has been...
DSC response to the Fundraising Preference Service
In August 2016 the Fundraising Regulator published proposals for the FPS. One of our biggest concerns is the lack of definition...
DSC consultation response: The Fundraising Regulator’s proposed registration fees and levy
In July 2016 the Fundraising Regulator began work and set about consulting charities on registration fees and fundraising levies. DSC...
DSC Policy Briefing: Fundraising in the Spotlight
Recent months have seen the methods charities use to fundraise brought into the spotlight and charities have been under fire...
Law Commission consultation on Social Investment: DSC Response
In June 2014 DSC responded to a consultation from the Law Commission on charities and social investment, a consultation which...
The Charities Act
The Commission's power to issue official warnings
The Charities Act 2016 gives power to the Charity Commission to issue official warnings to trustees. In September 2016 the...
Consultation on Charity Commission powers to disqualify trustees
The Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 gives the Charity Commission new powers to remove and disqualify people from...
DSC responds to the draft Protection of Charities Bill
DSC submitted written evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the draft Protection of Charities Bill, which gives more powers...
DSC Policy Briefing: Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill
In December 2015, DSC submitted written evidence and amendments to the Public Bill Committee considering the Charities (Protection and Social...
Expanding the Commission's powers to tackle abuse: consultation response
In February 2012 DSC responded to a consultation on a proposed expansion of the Charity Commission's powers to "tackle abuse...
Fifteen recommendations for the Charities Act of particular importance
In 2012 Lord Hodgson conducted a review of the Charities Act and made 113 separate recommendations. After sifting through all of...
The Hodgson review of the Charities Act
In 2012, Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts led a review of the Charities Act 2006. Part one: initial call for...
SORP Exposure Draft: DSC Response
In November 2013 DSC responded to a consultation on Statements of Recommended Practice, generally referred to as SORPs, which provide recommendations for...
What we've said
News Release: Charities Bill would make Charity Commission ‘judge, jury and executioner’
The new Charities Bill cedes too much power to the Charity Commission, warns DSC Policy Director
The Charities Act Review is like splitting hairs on a starving elephant
“Voluntary trusteeship is a cornerstone of the Voluntary Sector", says Jay Kennedy
The Charity Commission
New toolkit revealed to question charity regulator’s political independence
Following regular and widely-held concerns about the party-political bias of the previous Charity Commission Chair William Shawcross, and the subsequent...
This government is politicising the Charity Commission – be on your guard
You may have missed some unusual drama over recent weeks to do with the Charity Commission – namely the appointment...
Ensure that public info about your charity is up to date – catch up with the latest changes to the Annual Return 2018
In England and Wales, all charities above £10,000 income and all Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) must complete an Annual Return...
DSC consultation response on suggested changes to the Charity Commission’s Annual Return 2018
In England and Wales, all charities above £10,000 income and all Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) must complete an Annual Return...
DSC writes to Chancellor to oppose Charity Commission fees
In advance of the Spring Budget on 8 March, DSC’s Chief Executive Debra Allcock Tyler wrote to the Chancellor Phillip...
CHTYCOMM 4: the battle is on to decide who should fund the Charity Commission
Charging charities fees for regulation is not just impractical and unlikely to achieve the result intended, but, more importantly, it’s...
DSC study finds huge opposition to Commission's proposal to introduce fees
The Charity Commission is due to consult on plans to introduce fees in early 2017. Download this letter and send/email it...
DSC responds to consultation of the draft of The Essential Trustee
In February 2015, DSC responded to the Charity Commission’s consultation on the new draft of its guidance to charity trustees: “The Essential...
DSC response to SORP Consultation 2016
In December 2016, DSC responded to a consultation on proposals for a new charities SORP
Charity regulation in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Response to OSCR’s Consultation on Targeted Regulation of Scottish Charities
In October 2014, DSC responded to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator’s (OSCR) consultation on proposed changes to its Annual...
Setting the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s strategic agenda
In September 2015 DSC responded to a consultation on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's strategic agenda. In our response...
Campaigning and Lobbying
Keep calm and carry on campaigning – but government must reform the Lobbying Act!
New research adds further hard-nosed evidence to the widely held view across the sector that the Lobbying Act must be...
A very handy flow-chart for campaigners and trustees
One of the biggest problems with the Lobbying Act is that it is difficult to understand whether or not it...
DSC submits evidence to the review of the Lobbying Act
In May 2015, with the first regulated period under the Lobbying Act over and done with, Lord Hodgson of Astley...
DSC responds to Labour Party consultation on the Lobbying Act
In November 2014 DSC responded to the Labour Party consultation on Part Two of the Transparency of Lobbying, Third Party...
