Stef Smith

Don’t leave it until the end of the year to start work on complying with new Trustees’ Report requirements.

With risks to financial resilience identified by the Charity Commission as one of the pressing issues facing charities, robust budgeting and quality information are key.

With many charities planning Christmas fundraising events, it’s a good time to remember that such events can qualify for exemption from VAT and other taxes - but only if they fulfil some specific conditions.

Seeking DfE consent for ‘Novel, Contentious and Repercussive’ transactions is vital.

Two high-profile cases have shone the spotlight once again on charity fraud, says Stef Smith of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team

With many charities reporting problems when it comes to banking, a newly-published voluntary organisation banking guide is a step in the right direction, says Stef Smith of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has issued updated guidance for academy trusts on the subject of reserves policy – and trustees should be familiarising themselves with the new advice before taking decisions about the levels of reserves held within their trust.

A recent Supreme Court case could prove to be a game-changer for some charities – as it has clarified the position on Mandatory Rates Relief (MRR) for charities, and will make it much easier for them to challenge local authorities which reject their MRR applications.

A dozen key indicators are vital to ensure a charity is being well managed financially – that was the message taken away by representatives from more than 20 Norfolk charities at the latest in a series of Charity Masterclasses being presented by Lovewell Blake.