Charity Connection - good governance, better guidance and higher trust

We're taking off with a bumper trustee edition

We’re excited to share the launch of Charity Connection, our new LinkedIn newsletter for charity trustees, staff, volunteers and anyone else with a keen interest in the charity sector.

We don’t think there could be a better theme for our first edition than starting with the work we’re doing to support trustees in improving their knowledge, and in turn their charities’ governance.

Charities could not make the difference they do without the people behind them. This includes a charity’s trustees who are responsible for good governance – the essential foundation for running your charity effectively.

Also in this issue:

• Trustees' Week
• Why do we review our guidance?
• Public trust in charities is at a 10-year high

Subscribe to receive regular updates from the Charity Commission, connecting you with news, insights and guidance from our teams to help your charities thrive.

Latest support for charity trustees

All aboard!

Each year around 100,000 people take on a trustee role, and it’s important they feel supported and confident in the first steps of their journey from the get-go. Each new trustee will be sent our new welcome pack, containing clear and helpful advice on where to begin.

Get the foundations right

We’ve recently updated 3 of our core guides for charity trustees, prioritising important governance topics all trustees need to know, making them easier to understand and put into practice. Read our improved guidance for trustees.

Test your knowledge

Last year we launched our trustee quiz to great success, with over 75,000 of you testing your knowledge on trustee duties, as illustrated in our 5-minute guides.

We now invite you to try our new and updated quiz, with new questions covering more key topics on effective charity governance.

Take the quiz and see how you score!?

“We want to help support trustees to get things right. Our new quiz is an easy and engaging way for trustees to check their knowledge and improve their charity’s governance” – Jennifer, Campaign Manager

Take part in Trustees’ Week

Join us from 4-8 November in celebrating the achievements of nearly one million charity trustees across the UK.

Whether you’re an existing trustee, or want to learn more about becoming one, we invite you to explore the wide range of events, training and guidance on offer.?

You can also get involved on social media. Follow @TrusteesWeek on X and use the #TrusteesWeek hashtag.

Visit the Trustees' Week website

Why do we review our guidance?

When they’re not publishing guidance on new topics, our dedicated team are constantly reviewing the existing guidance we offer charities. One of the many guidance pieces updated this year is Decision-making for charity trustees.

The 7 decision-making principles that trustees must comply with haven’t changed, so why did the team decide to give it a refresh?

We want to support trustees to get it right, and the revised guidance is written and structured to make it more accessible and easier to understand and put into practice. Plus, it now only takes half as long to read (around 12 minutes).

This change is part of a wider programme to improve our guidance. Sam, our Assistant Director of Policy explains what motivated the approach:

“Unfortunately, not enough trustees currently use our guidance. When we researched why, we heard that the length and style can put some people off. This is despite the research showing that trustees who do use our guidance have a more accurate understanding of their responsibilities and how to go about them.”

Public trust in charities at ten-year high

Our research published this summer shows that public trust in charities is at the highest level since 2014. It places charities among the most trusted groups in society, second only to doctors.

However, charities are also operating in a challenging financial environment as cost-of-living pressures bite. The research illustrates a growing reliance on charities’ services, while the percentage of people donating declines.??

What contributes to public trust?

The research reveals that information about how money is spent by a charity is the single most important driver of trust. This is followed closely by knowing that a charity achieves its purpose, that it makes a difference, and that it operates to high ethical standards.

Much of this information can be found on our public register, which gives details of each charity’s purpose and spending.

Read the full public trust in charities report.

Recent news

• Annual whistleblowing report published – our whistleblowing report for 2023/24 outlines our approach to whistleblowing and the types of disclosures reported to us.
• My Charity Commission Account – Our Chief Operating Officer discusses our technological ambitions a year on from its launch. Read the blog.
• First ever Official Warning issued to a local authority – Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council was issued with an official warning after it failed to properly manage 13 charities. Local authorities acting as charity trustees should read our updated guidance to understand their responsibilities.

Coming up

• Annual return deadline – Is your charity’s annual return due by the 31 October? You must submit your annual return within 10 months of the end of your charity’s financial year.
• Trustees’ Week (4-8 November) – Is your charity ready to take part in Trustees Week? Find out how to get involved.
• Fraud Awareness Week (25-29 November) – Get involved and help prevent charity fraud.