The vast majority of charities encounter few problems and as we explain in our Risk Framework our starting point is that:
- charities are publicly accountable for the funds they receive and privileges they enjoy because of their charitable status
- responsibility for administration and management of charities rests with trustees
- most trustees are doing a good job in promoting and making effective the work of their charity, and in meeting the needs of their beneficiaries
- and that levels of abuse are relatively low
However there will be situations where we will need to engage with charities or the charitable sector if it is perceived that there are serious risks presented by trustee actions or risks affecting the sector or parts of the sector, or where it is appropriate for us to exercise our legal powers.
This section sets out our regulatory approach and when you should report concerns to us. It explains what action we will take if the issue is serious, including when and how we carry out investigations and reports on action we have taken in such cases.