The Charities Act 2006 became law for England and Wales on 8th November 2006. The aim of the new Charities Act is to reform charity law and regulation to:
- enable charities to administer themselves more efficiently and be more effective
- improve the regulation of charity fundraising, and reduce regulation of the sector, especially for smaller charities
- provide a clear definition of charity with an emphasis on public benefit
- modernise the Charity Commission's functions and powers as regulator, increase its accountability, and preserve its independence from Ministers.
The Charities Act also makes provisions for self-regulation of fundraising. Self-regulation is governed, in parts, by adherence to the Institute’s Codes of Fundraising Practice and complaints about fundraising are investigated by the Fundraising Standards Board.
You can download The Charities Act 2006 along with the explanatory notes that accompany it on the web site of the Office of Public Sector Information. Hard copies, can be purchased from The Stationery Office.
In addition, the Office of the Third Sector and Charity Commission have jointly produced a plain English guide to the Charities Act 2006.
The new law will be implemented gradually, beginning in 2007. An implementation plan sets out the process and indicates when the various provisions of the Act will come into force.
Regulations that relate to fundraising are not expected to be implemented before 2008-09 however there is likely to be a consultation in respect of the regulations that relate to Profesional Fundraising Statements in the second half of 2007.
The Institute of Fundraising will be consulting with members throughout this process and ensuring that the interests of its members are represented.
Find out more about becoming a member of the Institute of Fundraising.
