Northern Ireland's New Charity Commission

"The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA, today announced the appointment of six Commissioners to the new Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. At a launch event in Belfast City Centre, hosted by Barnardo's, Ms Ritchie announced that Mr. Tom McGrath had been appointed as Chief Commissioner with Ms Patricia Sloan as Deputy Chief Commissioner. The other Charity Commissioners are Ms Angela Chada, Mr. Paul Cavanagh, Mr. Philip McDonagh and Mr. Walter Rader.

Full details of the appointments and the launch event are contained in Ritchie Announces First Ever Charity Commission for Northern Ireland press release

 

In September 2008 the Minister for Social Development approved proposals to make a series of Commencement Orders the first of which would commence provisions relating primarily to the establishment of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.  The proposals were subsequently endorsed by the Assembly Social Development Committee on 2 October 2008.

The First Commencement Order was made on Thursday 26 March 2009.

Most of the provisions being brought into operation by the Order relate to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, e.g. its establishment, functions, objectives, duties, powers, requirement to provide guidance and the exchange of information with other bodies. Additionally, the Order will commence general provisions governing the making of legislation under the Act as well as a power enabling the Department to amend the Act to reflect relevant changes in company law.

 

Before the introduction of the new charity legislation in Northern Ireland, there was no local registration of charities and only limited control of how charities were run. Usually charities had applied to HM Revenue & Customs for tax benefits and received a reference number.

The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 will create a new body the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland which will have Commissioners and staff.  It will establish a compulsory charity register of all charities operating in Northern Ireland. It will provide a charity test of who is and who isn’t a charity. It will also put in place new requirements for all public collections.  All of this will allow better supervision, control and support of charities.

It is important to note that although the Charities Act (NI) 2008 is now in place this is primary legislation, it provides the broad legislative framework.  It is the subordinate legislation which puts the actual powers and actions of the primary legislation into operation.  So the requirements under the new Act do not come into force until the subordinate legislation makes them happen.  Please see the outline timetable at the link below to see when things are planned to happen.

The new structures will help charities to show the great contribution they make to society.  It will also let people see how charities are spending their donations and allow government to help charities manage themselves better encouraging best practice.

For more information and detail on the key aspects of the new arrangements please click on the link below:

If you have any further questions please email vcu@dsdni.gov.uk or contact the Charities Implementation Team in the Voluntary and Community Unit

This site provides online access to extensive resources and guidance for voluntary management committees in Northern Ireland.