Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill: Update

The Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill was passed by the House of Lords and will begin to make its way through the House of Commons later this year at its Third Reading on 14 September 2015. Following the Bill’s Report Stage in July, a number of amendments were agreed which include:

• Including persons on the sex offenders register to the list of those who are automatically disqualified from trusteeship;
• A new clause which states that independent charities should not have to dispose of their assets in a way that is inconsistent with their objects (designed to oppose the government’s plan to extend the Right to Buy scheme to housing association tenants); and
• Setting out new requirements for written agreements between charities and professional fundraisers and introducing new reporting requirements on how the charity is protecting vulnerable people. This follows recent scandals uncovered in the press, but may well be extended once Sir Stuart’s report on fundraising is announced.

For more information or to discuss your requirements contact one of our charity solicitors today on 01895 207809 or email charities@ibblaw.co.uk.