Charity Regulation
The Charities Act (NI) 2008 (the Act) as amended by the Charities Act (NI) 2013, is the key legislative framework containing new regulations which charities operating in Northern Ireland must abide by.
The Act provides for the establishment of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland which, since coming into being in 2009, has been given various powers including those of investigation and enforcement. The Charity Commission established the Register of Charities in December 2013 and is calling on all charitable organisations to come forward and register with it.
Not all the provisions of the Act have been introduced as further secondary legislation is required to bring all of the provisions into being, for example, the CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) legal structure is not available yet and is unlikely to be for some time. Likewise the new rules for public collections and control of fundraising are not likely to be included in the Commission's strategic agenda for the next three years.
For more detailed information on the passage of the Act, including various briefing papers, please see the Charity Law Reform Timeline below.
We keep the sector informed of all key charity law updates and developments. If you need further advice on any aspect of charity regulation, please contact our Governance and Charity Advice team.
News & Articles
Charities Bill introduced
The Minister for Communities introduced the Charities Bill to the Assembly on 21 June 2021.
NICVA response to the independent review of charity regulation
NICVA has prepared its response to the independent review of charity regulation. Closing date for receipt of responses is Wednesday 12 May 2021.
Have your say in the future of charity regulation
The closing date for responses to the independent review of charity regulation is 12 May 2021. Please take this opportunity to comment on changes that are needed to help voluntary and community organisations.
Independent review of charity regulation – please complete this questionnaire
The Independent Review Panel of Charity Regulation (the Panel) seeks your views on how well the charities regulatory framework, which is administered by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, is working and what could work better.
Independent review of charity regulation engagement meetings
The Independent Review Panel of Charity Regulation seeks your views on how well the charities regulatory framework, which is administered by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, is working and what could work better.
Independent review of charity regulation has commenced
The Minister for Communities has commissioned an independent review of charity regulation in N.Ireland which commenced on 25 January 2021.
31 Oct - Charity annual reporting deadline
If your registered charity's financial year is 1 January - 31 December then you will have a deadline of 31 October in which to submit your annual monitoring return to the Charity Commission.
Consultation on changes to the application for registration and the Annual Return Regulations 2019
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is currently consulting on proposed changes that it would like to make to both the application for charity registration and the annual monitoring return.
Charity Commission delays charity registration for some
The Charity Commission is currently not registering all charitable organisations that have submitted an application due to a High Court ruling which was handed down on 16th May.
Double Check Your Annual Reporting Documents, Warns Charity Regulator
Charity bank statements, instructions on how to play Bridge and a grant application are just some of the unexpected information submitted to Northern Ireland’s charity regulator under the annual reporting programme, it has been revealed.
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Charity Law Reform Timeline
Charities Bill introduced
1 Jul 202131 Oct - Charity annual reporting deadline
21 Oct 2019Charities ‘in default’
20 Feb 2019Serious Incident Reporting draft guidance
7 Jul 2017Accounting and reporting guidance published
29 Jul 2016Promoting good financial governance
12 May 2016Alert for charity registration applicants
26 Feb 2016A consultation that you really should respond to
12 Oct 2015The Charity Commission values your opinion
27 Aug 2015New equality guidance for charities
26 Jun 2015Charity Commission verdict on sector
5 Jan 2015Interim Reporting Requirements
1 Apr 2014NICVA becomes one of first registered charities
16 Dec 2013Register of Charities Established
13 Dec 2013Register of Charities - one step closer
14 Feb 2013Charities Bill Passes Consideration Stage
17 Dec 2012NICVA responds to Charities Bill
20 Sep 2012Charities Bill Consideration
20 Sep 2012NICVA Responds to Charities Bill
20 Sep 2012Charities Bill Introduced
5 Jul 2012Charities (Amendment) Bill Rescheduled
22 Sep 2011Public Benefit Issue Soon to be Resolved
25 Jul 2011Accounting Regulations for all Charities
24 Jul 2011Not All Charities to be Treated Equally
11 Mar 2011Charities Act (NI) 2008 to be Amended
1 Nov 2010Establishment of Register of Charities Delayed
18 Jun 2010Register of Charities Timescale Announced
8 Jun 2010Latest news from the Charity Commission
10 Jan 2010DSD advertises Charity Commissioners' Positions
10 Jan 2009Royal Assent for Charities Act (NI) 2008
10 Sep 2008Final Stages for Charities Bill
1 Jul 2008Charities Bill: Extension of Committee Stage
12 Feb 2008Charities Bill for Northern Ireland Introduced
12 Dec 2007
Contact
Team
| Denise Copeland | Governance and Charity Advice Manager |
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