Charities (Except Charitable Incorporated Organisations) with an income of less than £25,000 do not have to file annual report and accounts with the Charity Commission (although they are still required to complete an Annual Return), but should be prepared to make these available if requested.
The Fundraising Regulator has been established following the Etherington review of fundraising self-regulation in 2015, as the independent regulator of charitable fundraising.
Grants from the public sector now make up only 5.5% of charity sector income, declining from over 60% since 2004. At that rate, public sector grants could disappear entirely by 2020.
Voluntary sector activity is based upon trustworthiness, reliability, integrity and goodwill, and the value of a strong reputation should not be underestimated. Your public image influences partnership and contract prospects, campaigning, donation levels and the ability to attract volunteers. Charities need to be aware that almost every activity carries reputational risk, whether that’s responding to an increased demand for services or a changing operating environment.