Insights

Social media in one guise or another has been with us for more than two decades, but it wasn't until September 2023 that the Charity Commission published guidance on the topic. The guidance followed in the wake of reported regulatory casework, which featured the use, oversight, and control of social media accounts associated with charities.

In April 2026, the Commission updated the guidance to mention the Online Safety Act 2023. It is perhaps strange that the update came so late or that an update was needed at all. After all, the Online Safety Bill was going through Parliament while the Commission was working on the guidance. 

The First-tier Tribunal decision in Sharon Evans & Anor v The Charity Commission upheld the Charity Commission's disqualification orders against two individuals deemed to be de facto trustees of a charity, and whose personal and business interests interacted with the charity's in an "inappropriate" manner. 

In a recent decision, an Employment Tribunal has found that a charity trustee was not entitled to whistleblower protection under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA). 

The Government has announced plans to strengthen Charity Commission powers to tackle extremism, by giving the Commission greater powers over charity governance. Charity sector bodies have individually and collectively expressed concerns about the proposals. 

When charities think about protecting their assets, the focus is often on funding, property, and governance. However, many charities also own valuable intellectual property (IP), including their name, logo, campaigns, publications, and online content.

There is an ongoing difference of views surrounding the sale last year of the City & Guilds training and awards arm, with a Charity Commission inquiry, a City And Guilds Action Group, and a possible independent inquiry all in the mix.