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

Charity Commission for NI Scheme of Delegation Consultation

The Department for Communities is consulting on a draft Scheme of Delegation for the Charity Commission which details decisions to be made by staff, senior management and those which are reserved for a committee of the Commissioners.

New working group to examine impact of a charity registration threshold

The Department for Communities has set up a Registration Threshold, Registration and Proportionality of Annual Reporting Working Group to commence the work on introducing a threshold for charity registration. 

NICVA draft response to Charity Commission's draft strategic plan consultation

The Charity Commission’s consultation on its draft strategic plan for 2023-2026 and its engagement strategy will close for responses on 6 March at 5.00 PM (extended from the 6 February).  

Department plans for a de-minimis threshold for charity registration

NICVA warmly welcomes the Minister for Communities’s decision that a de-minimis threshold for charity registration should be introduced in Northern Ireland.  

Trustees Week 2022

Trustees' Week takes place in the second week of November this year.  It is a time to recognise and value the work that thousands of trustees contribute to charities large and small. 

Good governance and charity regulation update seminars

The Developing Governance Group in association with the Charity Commission would like to invite you to free seminars focusing on governance and an update on charity regulation. 

Unhappy with a Charity Commission decision made prior to May 2019?

The Charities Act (NI) 2022 will reinstate the vast majority of decisions made by Charity Commission staff prior to the end of May 2019.     

Annual reporting requirements for registered charities update

Annual reporting for all registered charities is reinstated now that the Charities Act (NI) 2022 has received royal assent. 

Charities Act (NI) 2022

The Charities Act (NI) 2022 has now come into effect after receiving Royal Assent on the 30 March 2022.

Independent Review of NI Charity Regulation Report launched

The Independent Review Panel of Charity Regulation in NI has launched its report at a special stakeholder on 20 January 2022. 

Charity Law Reform Timeline

Contact

denise.copeland@nicva.org's picture

Denise Copeland

Governance and Charity Advice Manager

Team

Denise Copeland Governance and Charity Advice Manager denise.copeland@nicva.org's picture