A SERIES of new and updated questions are to be added to the charity registration application and the Annual Return Regulations 2019, under the latest proposals from the north's charity regulator the Charity Commission.
It has opened a fresh public consultation on the questions, which are intended to gather a range of information on the charity sector.
The questions cover areas which are of particular significance to the sector, the wider public and the regulator itself, such as safeguarding, data protection and fundraising.
“We have carefully drafted a series of questions which will help us gather important data on both individual charities and the charity sector as a whole,” the Commission’s head of monitoring & enquiries Myles McKeown said.
“These questions will be asked when a charity registers with the Commission and each time a charity provides its accounts and reports.
“For example, the issue of safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk of harm in Northern Ireland charities is a prominent one. To support our role as charity regulator and help us have a better oversight of this issue, we have added new questions on safeguarding in the registration application.”
All of the new and amended questions to be included in the registration application and the Annual Return Regulations 2019 are available to view in the consultation document
However, the public consultation will focus on the most significant questions only, offering interested parties an opportunity to share their views on the proposed changes.
Mr McKeown added: “We hope that as many people as possible will take the time to share their thoughts and views on the changes proposed.
“The new questions may mean completing the registration application and annual return takes a little more time but we hope that gathering this additional information will provide wider benefits, from supporting registration applicants in completing the form to providing new data on the sector.”
The consultation opened this week and will run until 5pm on Tuesday October 22. For more information, including how to take part, visit the current consultations section of www.charitycommissionni.org.uk
