News (Page 2)

In a welcome move, the new Energy Bill Relief Scheme cutting energy prices for businesses, and public-sector organisations such as schools and hospitals will include charities. The scheme will run for six months covering energy used from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.There will be a review in 3 months’ time to consider extending support to ‘the most vulnerable non-domestic customers’. More details on the scheme are available here

With the cost of living crisis a growing concern to individuals, families, communities and charities, a number of charities are seeking to collect evidence and insight into the problems people are facing. The Cost of Living Alliance is a coalition of over 70 organisations working together to demonstrate the impacts of rising costs of living for people in the UK. It is collecting stories from organisations that hear first-hand how much people are struggling because of the crisis. 

The Charity Commission highlights the first set of changes introduced by the new Charities Act 2022 will come into force this autumn.  These include:

• a new power that trustees can use to be paid for providing goods to the charity

• a new power to enable trustees to process certain ‘ex gratia’ payments – where they reasonably feel a moral obligation – without coming to the Commission (financial thresholds will apply).

• where fundraising appeals do not raise enough money, or too much, simpler and more proportionate rules will apply. 

Other provisions included in the Act will make it more straightforward for charities to change their governing documents, grant more flexibility in using ‘permanent endowment funds’ and allow greater flexibility around the advice needed when selling land. These will come into force next year. See Charities Act 2022: information about the changes being introduced.