We want to assure charities that our approach to
regulation during this uncertain period will be as
flexible and pragmatic as possible in the public
interest, whilst helping trustees to be aware of and
think about the wider or longer impact of their
decisions on their charity.
We will update this page with responses to further
questions on an ongoing basis.
Can I cancel or postpone my charity’s AGM or other key
meetings?
Coronavirus is having a major impact on charity events
and the government’s health advice may lead to some
charities having no choice but to decide to cancel or
postpone their AGMs and other critical meetings.
If as trustees, you decide it is necessary to do so,
you should record this decision to demonstrate good
governance of your charity. This is particularly
important if it is not possible to hold your AGM which
may make it difficult for you to finalise your annual
reports and accounts.
Wherever possible, we would ask you to try to get your
annual reports to us on time. However, where the
situation impacts on the completion of annual returns
and accounts, charities with an imminent filing date
can call us.
Can I use video, teleconferencing and the internet in
place of face-to-face meetings?
In the current situation, it is becoming increasingly
difficult to hold face-to-face meetings. Some charities
have clauses in their governing documents that allow
them to meet virtually or to use telephone facilities,
so we advise trustees to check their governing document
and see if they can make amendments themselves to
facilitate changes as to how or when meetings are held.
Where there is no such clause in your governing
document and you decide to hold meetings over the phone
or using digital solutions, we will understand but you
should record this decision and that you have done this
to demonstrate good governance of your charity.
What do I need to report to the Charity Commission?
We appreciate that during the coronavirus pandemic the
charity sector will face extremely demanding and
ever-changing challenges. Charities’ primary interest,
and ours, must be looking after the public and the
communities that we serve.
It is ultimately the responsibility of the charity
trustees to continue to report serious incidents using
our current guidelines, and we will continue to ask
trustees to use their judgement in deciding whether an
incident is significant in the context of their charity
and should be reported to us.
We will continue to prioritise those incidents that
place individuals at risk, or incidents that have had a
significant impact on a charity’s operations and
therefore serious harm to the charity’s work.
