Denise Copeland

Denise's Latest content

Title	Type	Summary
NICVA response to DFC's consultation on Charities (Amendment) Bill	Article	The 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. Consultation on a Bill to amend the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 | Department for Communities	Published
NICVA seminar on DFC consultation on Charities (Amendment) Bill 2026	Event	The 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	Published
Charities (Amendment) Bill consultation	Article	The 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 2026Consultation on a Bill to amend the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 | Department for Communities	Published
Banking for Charities – Key considerations	Event	Unity Trust Bank will present this free webinar on everything you need to know about banking and building strong communications.  The session comprises practical insights and expert guidance on transactional banking. It's delivered by knowledgeable professionals from Unity Trust Bank who can answer your questions and concerns, relating to all your banking requirements.	Published
Section 167 charity legislation to be repealed	Article	The Department for Communities has published its response to the consultation on Section 167 of the Charities Act (NI) 2008 in Autumn of last year.  The consultation report has concluded that Section 167 should be repealed rather than commenced Department for Communities Section 167 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008	Published
Charity Banking Survey 2026	Article	NICVA is asking all charities and other voluntary led organisations in N.Ireland to take part in the latest UK-wide Banking Survey which is designed to hear about organisations' experiences with their bank accounts.	Published
Changes affecting all companies	Article	The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (the Act) has introduced new changes for all companies in the UK.  Some of the changes such as ID verification have recently been introduced and others will come in over the next few years.	Published
Charity bank account challenges update 2026	Article	Some charities and other voluntary organisations are continuing to have issues with their bank accounts. Over the last four years NICVA has continued to raise these issues on behalf of the sector to the banks, regulators, politicians and other stakeholders.	Published
Being an effective Chair	Event	Governance in an organisation can ultimately be improved by having a good Chair so it is worthwhile investing time in helping your current Chair or prospective Chair to fulfil their role.	Published
Risk assessment made easy	Event	Risk assessment is an important task that all organisations should be carrying out, regardless of size or nature. Having a process in place to record this work will help organisations to better manage both current and future risks.	Published
Governance for new, or nearly new, trustees	Event	Good governance is essential for an organisation to have direction, plan ahead, be effective and meet legal requirements. This online training will develop and improve your governance knowledge to ensure your organisation is governed and led effectively.	Published
Charity Finance for Charity Finance Workers - FULLY BOOKED	Event	An online training session specifically designed for staff or volunteers who work in the administration of finance within a charity.	Published
Finance for non-finance managers (online)	Event	Finance can be a daunting subject for some. You may not be responsible for the finance of your organisation but have a role in reports or understanding the finance function of your group. If this sounds like you this is the session you should attend.	Published
Financial reporting to the board (online)	Event	The board has an important role in the financial governance of its charity, so it needs to ensure that it has good financial reporting to it.	Published
SORP 2026 has been published	Article	The new Charities Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (‘the Charities SORP’) was published on Friday 31 October 2025.   The Charities SORP and SORP 2026 will apply to accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 2026.	Published
New ID verification requirements for company directors	Resource	The new legal requirement that all company directors must complete ID verification with Companies House will take effect from 18 November 2025.  This includes directors of charitable companies.	Published
NICVA's response to Section 167 consultation	Article	The 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	Published
NI Assembly Finance Committee launches report on banking services	Article	The Northern Ireland Assembly Finance Committee has launched its report on the provision of banking services in Northern Ireland, following a detailed inquiry and call for evidence. The report was formally launched this week at an event in Parliament Buildings, Stormont.	Published
NICVA response to Charity Commission's new strategic agenda	Article	The 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.	Published
NICVA response to The Lotteries for Communities Bill consultation	Article	Sian Mulholland MLA’s private member’s bill, The Lotteries for Communities Bill was launched for consultation on 9 May 2025.  NICVA submitted it's response on the initial closing date of 31 July.  The closing date has been extended to Fri 5 September 2025.	Published
Financial reporting to the board	Event	The board has an important role in the financial governance of its charity, so it needs to ensure that it has good financial reporting to it.	Draft
Being an effective Chair	Event	Governance in an organisation can ultimately be improved by having a good Chair so it is worthwhile investing time in helping your current Chair or prospective Chair to fulfil their role.	Draft
Risk assessment made easy	Event	Risk assessment is an important task that all organisations should be carrying out, regardless of size or nature. Having a process in place to record this work will help organisations to better manage both current and future risks.	Draft
Risk assessment made easy - in person	Event	Risk assessment is an important task that all organisations should be carrying out, regardless of size or nature. Having a process in place to record this work will help organisations to better manage both current and future risks.	Draft
The Department for Communities prepares regulations for charity registration threshold	Article	The Department for Communities has published its response to the registration threshold consultation which closed for responses in August 2024.	Published
NICVA response to the new draft SORP	Article	NICVA has submitted its response to the Charities SORP-making body on The Exposure Draft Statement of Recommended Practice 2026: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (the Exposure Draft SORP).	Published
NICVA briefing paper on The Lotteries for Communities Bill consultation	Article	Sian Mulholland MLA’s private member’s bill, The Lotteries for Communities Bill was launched for consultation on 9 May 2025 and will clos	Published
NICVA on the run for Sunshine!	Article	This Sunday, staff from NICVA along with old staff members will be pounding the streets of Belfast along with thousands of others in the City Marathon.	Published
SORP 2026 consultation seminar	Event	NICVA is hosting an in-person seminar to examine the key changes in the draft SORP and to hear from charities, and professionals who work with them,  on any issues/concerns with the proposed new SORP.	Draft
New Charities SORP consultation launched	Article	The joint SORP-making body has launched a public consultation on the next version of the charities SORP,  the accounting and reporting framework for charities that prepare accrual accounts, running for 12 weeks from 28 March – 20 June 2025.	Published
Making time for governance in 2025	Article	As we embark on a new year it is an opportune time to plan for governance.	Published
Governance Health Check Workshop 5, Principle 5	Event	"Being open and accountable"The fifth in a series of five online workshops to explain how the Code of Good Governance Health Check can be used as a mechanism to review governance practice.	Draft
Governance Health Check Workshop 4, Principle 4	Event	"Acting with integrity"The fourth in a series of five online workshops to explain how the Code of Good Governance Health Check can be used as a mechanism to review governance practice.	Draft
Governance Health Check Workshop 3, Principle 3	Event	"Maintaining control, making effective decisions and managing risk" The third in a series of five online workshops to explain how the Code of Good Governance Health Check can be used as a mechanism to review governance practice.	Draft
Governance Health Check Workshop 2, Principle 2	Event	"Working as an effective team."The second in a series of five online workshops to explain how the Code of Good Governance Health Check can be used as a mechanism to review governance practice.	Draft
Governance Health Check Workshop 1, Principle 1	Event	"Understanding the function of the board/committee in delivering organisational purpose."    The first in a series of five online workshops to explain how the Code of Good Governance Health Check can be used as a mechanism to review governance practice.	Draft
Governance Health Check Wednesdays	Article	The Code of Good Governance (the Code) sets out the principles and key elements of good governance for the boards/committees of not-for-profit organisations including charities, voluntary, community, sporting, faith and social enterprises.	Published
Gambling Code of Practice consultation - NICVA response	Article	NICVA has submitted its response to the Department for Communities' consultation on a Gambling Code of Practice.  This initial Code of Practice will affect anyone providing gambling facilities and includes voluntary-led organisations that run societies’ lotteries.	Published
Charity finance for charity finance workers	Event	An online training session specifically designed for staff or volunteers who work in the administration of finance within a charity.	Draft
Finance for non-finance managers	Event	Finance can be a daunting subject for some. You may not be responsible for the finance of your organisation but have a role in reports or understanding the finance function of your group. If this sounds like you this is the session you should attend.	Draft
Trustee training series, Winter/Spring 2025	Article	This series of online training is designed specifically for charity trustees and those staff whose work contributes to the good governance of the organisation.	Published
Financial reporting to the board	Event	The board has an important role in the financial governance of its charity, so it needs to ensure that it has good financial reporting to it.	Draft
Risk assessment made easy - in person	Event	Risk assessment is an important task that all organisations should be carrying out, regardless of size or nature. Having a process in place to record this work will help organisations to better manage both current and future risks.	Draft
Being an effective chair	Event	Governance in an organisation can ultimately be improved by having a good Chair so it is worthwhile investing time in helping your current Chair or prospective Chair to fulfil their role.	Draft
Being an effective Chairperson	Event	Governance in an organisation can ultimately be improved by having a good Chair so it is worthwhile investing time in helping your current Chair or prospective Chair to fulfil their role.	Draft
Trustees' Week 4-8 November 2024	Article	Trustees' Week is a time for us to celebrate the great effort and achievements of Trustees. Our month long calendar of events is in recognition that sometimes Trustees need support and guidance in carrying out their role.	Published
Charity Trustee Finance Conference	Event	A special conference for charity trustees, and those that support or advise the board, covering various aspects of financial reserves, from management to investment as well as protecting the finances of the charity as part of our extended Trustees' Week events.	Draft
NICVA response to £20K charity registration threshold consultation	Article	NICVA 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	Published
Society lottery prize and ticket sale limits to change	Article	The Department for Communities will be introducing proposals to increase the maximum prize limit for a society’s lottery as well as the limits on ticket sales.	Published
Bank account availability for voluntary organisations	Resource	NICVA has produced an updated comparison table of some of the main current accounts available to voluntary organisations in N.Ireland in response to issues that some organisations have experienced with opening or maintaining a bank account.  Updated 27 November 2025 with new information regarding Ulster Bank, Santander, Bank of Ireland and AIB.	Published