Moving forward on charity public benefit test
25th July 2007, 11:06 am
The Scottish charity regulator OSCR has produced the results from its pilot assessments leading to the full Rolling Review of Scotland’s existing registered charities. All of the 16 volunteer charities assessed demonstrated that they provide public benefit, although 2 got directions on technical constitution matters. The process has enabled OSCR to develop its criteria and process, and updated guidance, which will be applied to all 23,500 charities over the next ten years. News item with more detail and link to the rather large report (pdf, 4.7MB).
OSCR has also published a policy statement on Unduly Restrictive Conditions around benefits provided by charities, as part of the test. In pdf format, 97kb.
Meanwhile in England and Wales, the chair of Charity Commission Dame Suzi Leather made clear to the parliamentary Public Administration Select Committee (12th July) that independent schools would be judged case by case, rather than by set quotas, when the public benefit test is applied. Further guidance is expected in the autumn. See Third Sector news item (registration required) at http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/671670/. You should also be able to listen to the committee discussions with Leather and senior Commission staff at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Player/?Meeting=7754 (available for 28 days).