| | | | | | | | How might the charity commission evolve? | | I recently had the opportunity to ask David Holdsworth, CEO of the charity commission for England & Wales, what he would like to see the commission do more of during his tenure.
The main element of the response was that he would like to see the commission become a proactive influencer on government policy and specifically using the data it holds to support and inform public policy to the extent that it involved the work of registered charities.
He cited an example of the sort of thing that he would like the commission to do more of. The autumn budget of 2024 announced significant changes to employers’ national insurance, with the main rate rising from 13.8% to 15%, and the threshold above which employer contributions are payable falling from £9,100 to £5,000. The broad impact of this was to increase the employers’ NI cost of a single worker on a salary of £20,000 per annum by almost 50% - a change that had a big impact on organisations with high numbers of relatively low paid staff, including many charities involved in health and social care. | | Hospice UK, a charitable organisation that represents the interests of the UK’s hospice sector, responded very quickly with a public appeal to the government. The appeal demonstrated that the NI change was expected to cost the sector approximately £30 million per year at a time when an increasing population and an ageing demographic meant that the number of people dying in the UK was increasing rapidly, leading to higher demand for hospice care. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Charities are preparing for the most significant update to the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) in years, with SORP 2026 introducing far-reaching changes to revenue recognition, lease accounting, and narrative reporting.
As these revisions come into effect for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026, it is vital that charity finance leaders, Trustees, and those responsible for statutory reporting understand what is changing, and what practical steps are required to get your charity ready.
To support you through this transition, we are pleased to invite you to our upcoming webinar, hosted by Mike Bath and Rebecca Foy, who will provide a clear and practical overview of what SORP 2026 means for your organisation. | | What the session will cover? - Revenue recognition under the revised framework, including updates to non-exchange transactions, grants, contracts, and legacy income
- Lease accounting changes aligned with updates to FRS 102 and what they mean for charity balance sheets and disclosures
- Key updates to the Trustees’ Annual Report, including tiering, sustainability, impact reporting, and volunteer related disclosures
- Practical steps for implementation, including transition in both management and statutory accounts
Who should attend?
This webinar is designed for charity finance directors and controllers, trustees with financial oversight responsibilities, charity CEOs and senior leadership teams.
Whether you’re already deep into transition planning or just beginning to assess the impact, this session will equip you with the clarity and confidence you need to prepare effectively. | |
Date: Thursday 26th March 2026
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm | |
Venue: Your desk (Zoom)
Cost: Free
| | | | | | | | | | | | James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers, with offices across the South of England. Many of our partners and senior staff are trustees for charitable organisations so have an in-depth understanding of your operations and how to maximise your charities potential.
If you would like to discuss this topic further, then please contact a member of our charities team at James Cowper Kreston.
Kind regards Mike Bath | Partner T: +44(0)7557 340691 E: MBath@jamescowper.co.uk | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
.jpg)
.png)
