Not for profit enews - April 2011
Welcome to our monthly e-newsletter - designed to keep you informed of the latest news for charities, voluntary organisations, small businesses and individuals. We hope you will find it useful - suggestions are always welcomed. Do let us know if your email contact details are incorrect, and please contact us if you have any questions. Remember, we're here to help.
Contents
- Voluntary Sector Finance
- Voluntary Sector Governance
- Other News
Voluntary Sector Finance
More on Budget 2011
The Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) has produced a response to the Budget, which provides a concise overview, whilst highlighting its effects on the charity sector.
Briefing on proposals for new tiered financial reporting
The CFDG has also released a briefing paper for members and the wider sector on the key issues arising from the Accounting Standards Board consultation on a new three-tiered system of financial reporting. This will bring the UK further in line with International Financial Reporting Standards. The paper also refers to the proposed Financial Reporting Standard for Public Benefit Entities which we featured in our March issue.
Online donation facilities from BT
The major telecom (and IT) company BT has set up an online giving facility as part of its contribution to the community. The new facility will not charge for online donations, except for credit/debit card charges. This is in contrast to the operations of established provider JustGiving and newer entrant Virgin Money Giving, both of whom do charge for making online donations.
Voluntary Sector Governance
Guidance on bribery legislation
The long-awaited official guidance on the Bribery Act 2010 has now been published. As highlighted by out-law.com, the new legislation does not prohibit corporate hospitality, and small companies can meet requirements by communicating their anti-bribery policies orally. Further information on the Act can be found here.
Clearer guidance for charities working internationally
The Charity Commission has updated its guidance round-up for charities working internationally. The new guidance is supposed to be clearer, easier to navigate, and has new links.
Is the Charitable Incorporated Organisation status right for you?
Sandy Adirondack discusses whether taking on the Charitable Incorporated Organisation status is an option worth considering when it eventually becomes a possibility. Scotland’s version is already available and according to Charity Commission News, the new structure should be available in England and Wales by late Spring 2011. For further details on the advantages and disadvantages, visit Sandy Adirondack’s Legal Updates. Alternatively, the Charity Commission has published further guidance and information on the status here.
Other News
April employment regulation changes
The start of April (generally 6 April) has seen a number of changes to employment regulations and allowances/rates. The removal of the Default Retirement Age has dominated headlines, but additional paternity leave has also been an important change. The new regulation allows eligible employees to take up to 26 weeks leave to care for their new baby, if the child's mother or adopter has returned to work. A brief summary of these changes can be viewed here.
An overview of changes to PAYE regulation can be found here.
Getting IT to help with monitoring and evaluation
The Charities Evaluation Services has produced a guide to help organisations select a suitable IT system or database to support their monitoring work, as a response to evidence that this was a key barrier to such work. The guide looks to help organisations establish what they require from a system and focuses on cost-effective, off-the-shelf database systems, comparing key features of the different packages.
Helping social enterprises branch out
Our client, the Social Enterprise Coalition, has published a how-to guide on social franchising - 'The Social Franchising Manual'. It is aimed at social enterprises wanting to replicate their business model. It outlines a ten step process and offers practical tools to help make it a reality.
Contact us
To discuss your charity accounting needs, please contact a member of our Not for Profit sector team, email charities@mhllp.co.uk or send us an enquiry online.
