Whistleblowing disclosures made to the charity commission

The Charity Commission has published a report on whistleblowing from disclosures made between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, the report outlines the trends and actions taken based on whistleblower complaints. The Commission received 561 disclosures, marking a significant 72% increase compared to the previous year. This rise is attributed to the increasing financial pressures on the charity sector, among other challenges.

The disclosures were primarily made by individuals either working for, or formerly employed by charities, with key concerns focusing on governance issues, safeguarding failures, financial mismanagement and charity leadership. Governance concerns, such as trustees not fulfilling their roles properly, accounted for 56% of all disclosures. Financial mismanagement and safeguarding were also prevalent, with each making up 13% and 10% of the total respectively.

The Commission took regulatory action in 84% of cases, which could include opening compliance cases, issuing advice, or working with charities to ensure compliance with charity law. In some instances, further investigations were conducted, or more stringent enforcement measures were adopted.

The report also highlights the importance of these disclosures in identifying issues early on and addressing systemic risks in the charity sector. As part of its strategic objectives, the Charity Commission emphasises the need for effective whistleblowing frameworks within charities themselves, encouraging workers to raise concerns internally before escalating them to the Commission. The data gathered in the report helps inform the Commission’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the public interest, maintain trust in charities and ensure that charities fulfil their legal duties.

Guidance: https://bit.ly/3YiRGPc