The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has now commenced compulsory registration of charities. We provide the sector with the most up to date information on the key changes in charity regulation. For the latest on new charity regulations and a history of recent charity law reform in NI, please see our dedicated charity regulation webpage.
NICVA response to DFC's consultation on Charities (Amendment) Bill
23 April, 2026Last updated9 June, 2026The Department for Communities launched a public consultation on 27 March 2026 to seek comments on its proposed amendments to the Charities Act. Please see the following link to the full consultation which closes on 24 April 2026.
Charities (Amendment) Bill consultation
2 April, 2026Last updated3 April, 2026The Department for Communities has opened a public consultation on a draft Bill to amend certain sections of the 2008 Charities Act. Consultation period 27 March to 24 April 2026
Section 167 charity legislation to be repealed
16 February, 2026Last updated16 February, 2026The Department for Communities has published its response to the consultation on Section 167 of the Charities Act (NI) 2008 in Autumn of last year. The consultation report has concluded that Section 167 should be repealed rather than commenced Department for Communities Section 167 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008
NICVA's response to Section 167 consultation
1 October, 2025Last updated2 October, 2025The Department for Communities held a public consultation seeking views on proposed changes to section 167 of the Charities Act (NI) 2008. The Closing date for responses was 1 October. Public consultation on section 167 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 | Department for Communities
NICVA response to Charity Commission's new strategic agenda
26 September, 2025Last updated26 September, 2025The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is consulting on its new strategic agenda for 2026-2029. NICVA has submitted it's response which you can see attached. The deadline for submitting responses is 26 September 2025.
The Department for Communities prepares regulations for charity registration threshold
9 July, 2025Last updated21 July, 2025The Department for Communities has published its response to the registration threshold consultation which closed for responses in August 2024.
NICVA response to £20K charity registration threshold consultation
2 August, 2024Last updated10 December, 2024NICVA has submitted a response to the Department for Communities consultation on the introduction of a £20,000 charity registration threshold and would encourage others to submit a response before the 11 August deadline
Registration threshold for charities in NI consultation
20 May, 2024Last updated10 December, 2024Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, has launched a public consultation on the introduction of a £20,000 registration threshold below which charities would not be required to register with the Charity Commission.Consultation on Charity registration threshold one step closer
25 April, 2024Last updated10 December, 2024The Minister for Communities has given the green light to the Department for Communities to carry out a consultation on the introduction of a charity registration threshold for small charities in NI.Charity Commission for NI Scheme of Delegation Consultation
4 May, 2023Last updated2 August, 2024The 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.