Public schools need only 'consider' people who can't afford fees, argues ISC

18 May 2011

Greetings!

Two charity governance overhauls this week, one in Wales, the other in Scotland, but the focus is on the Independent Schools Council's challenge to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance. And the host of the 2011 Charity Awards has been announced as funny man Stephen Mangan.

Public schools need only 'consider' people who can't afford fees, argues ISC

The key difference between the Independent Schools Council and the Charity Commission over the Commission's guidance on public benefit, is the extent of the obligation that fee-charging charities owe to those that can't afford its fees, the ISC's lawyer said yesterday.

Shetland charity to make trustees independent of government, following OSCR pressure

Local councillors have conceded defeat in their long-running battle with OSCR over whether they are allowed to control the Shetland Charitable Trust.

Red Tape Task Force presents Nick Hurd with findings

The Red Tape Task Force has presented Nick Hurd, the minister for civil society, with its report calling for a more "common sense" approach and measures to encourage volunteering and social investment.

Public benefit guidance causes Commission to 'micro-manage' trustees, claims ISC

The Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit inevitably leads it to "second-guess and micro-manage trustees" about how to run their charity, in a way that is contrary to the law governing the regulator's role and remit, the charity tribunal judges have heard.

Corporate Social Responsibility is 'tokenistic' says Big Society report

The Commission on Big Society has emphasised the importance the business sector in implementing the agenda's aims, but claims that the current corporate social responsibility model is "more about marketing than making a difference", in its report.

Employee-owned public services should be asset-locked, says social enterprise chief

Social Enterprise Coalition chief executive Peter Holbrook has called on the government to ensure that social enterprises and mutuals that take over the running of public services introduce asset locks to prevent them being acquired by commercial organisations in the future.

Movers

New chief of St John Wales plans governance shake-up

The new chief of first aid charity St John Wales has slammed the "convoluted" governance of the organisation and plans to transform it into the "premier charity of Wales" over the next five to six years.

Peter Ainsworth announced as new chair of Big Lottery Fund

Francis Maude has announced that former Conservative MP Peter Ainsworth will be the new UK chair of the Big Lottery Fund, while venture philanthropy pioneer Nat Sloane is to take up the post of chair of England Committee.

Stephen Mangan confirmed as Charity Awards host

Acclaimed actor Stephen Mangan has been confirmed to host this year's Charity Awards presentation dinner on Thursday 9 June at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

Blog

The more things change, the more they remain the same

The Eurovision's surprise winner this Saturday leads Tesse Akpeki to reflect on how the charity sector faces an unpredictable future.

Case study

Forced retirement - what are the rules?

A financial director is approaching his 65th birthday and is told to retire but he doesn't want to. A concerned charity trustee asks The Chairman about the regulations on forced retirement.

Training

Training courses for trustees

Full list of 2011 course dates available now

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They said it...

"We have to be clearer about the resources we put into an investigation once we decide to look into a case. There has been a tendency for the investigation to take over and dictate the resources we put into it."

Sam Younger, chief executive, Charity Commission

@CSGovernance

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