The report, which includes 93 recommendations, states that the “top priority must be completion of the charity register” and recognises that some charities have been waiting years to be called forward to register.
It also recommends that a threshold for charity registration should not be introduced but that the reporting requirements for small charities should be lightened. It proposes removing the requirement for an independent examination of the accounts for smaller charities however they would still have to file their financial information annually with the Commission.
The report also includes recommendations for the Charity Commission covering its engagement with stakeholders and its compliance and investigation work as well as its enforcement and appeals processes. The report highlights the importance of the Commission using the appropriate tone when engaging with charities.
The introduction of the CIO legal structure is also recommended, which is something that the Department for Communities needs to progress as well as the introduction of appropriate legislation to commence the registration of Section 167 charities.
The full report can be downloaded from the following link:
Independent Reveiw of Charity Regulation Northern Ireland (communities-ni.gov.uk)
Please also find attached the slides from the Independent Review Panel’s presentation of its report at the stakeholder event on the 20 January 2022 which is a good summary of the report. The webinar recording of this event can be viewed below.
