Charity Commission launches new guidance

Last week, the Charity Commission published new guidance for individuals and for charities about changes to the ‘automatic disqualification’ rules which affect who can run a charity.

What is changing?

The existing rules disqualify people from being a trustee of a charity if they have unspent convictions for certain offences including dishonesty and deception. A disqualified person can apply for a waiver from the Charity Commission.

From 1 August 2018, people will be automatically disqualified from being a trustee and from holding certain senior management positions in charities if they have unspent convictions for other offences and also if they are on the sex offenders register.

The changes are being brought in as a result of the Charity Act 2016.

I am affected by these changes. What should I do?

If you will be automatically disqualified by the changes being brought in in August 2018, you will be able to apply for a waiver online from 1 February 2018.

Nacro has a number of concerns regarding the changes and we have highlighted these to the Charity Commission over the last couple of years. We will be publishing guidance for individuals and for organisations in the coming weeks, but in the meantime if you have any questions about whether the new rules will affect you and what you should do, please contact our Resettlement Advice Service on 0300 123 1999 or helpline@nacro.org.uk.

If you are a charity and wondering about how these changes will impact you and what you may need to do to prepare, please contact our Employer Advice Service on 0845 600 3194 or employeradvice@nacro.org.uk.