Charities Act 2006
The Charities Act received Royal Assent in 2006.
Below you can see a short and longer guide to the Charities Act from Farrer and Co.
Long Guide
Short Guide
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE (PASC) INQUIRY INTO THE IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2006 CHARITIES ACT
CFG submitted a response to this inquiry, outlining our members' opinions of the Charities Act 2006, five years on from its initiation. This response can be found here.
CHARITIES ACT REVIEW
The Charities Act 2006 included a statutory provision that requires Government to undertake a review of the operation of the Act, addressing the legislation's effect on:
- excepted charities
- public confidence in charities
- the level of charitable donations
- the willingness of individuals to volunteer
- the status of the Charity Commission as a government department
- any other matters the minister considers appropriate.
In November 2011, it was announced that Conservative peer Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts has been chosen to lead the review, and will report findings to Parliament in summer 2012.
The Cabinet Office released the review's Terms of Reference.
NCVO set up a group of charity and legal experts to carry out an independent review of the Act, shadowing the Government's own review. For more information, please see NCVO's website.
CFG Charities Act review submission
CFG conducted a number of surveys in order to bring together member views on the effectiveness of the Charities Act 2006, and what issues, if any can be dealt with as part of the review.
Overall members felt that regulation for the sector is at the relative right level. However, some concerns about duplication of reporting and some reporting requirements were questioned.
CFG submission to Lord Hodgson on the Charities Act Review 2006 
GUIDANCE ON REGULATION FOR EXCEPTED AND EXEMPT CHARITES
The Charities Act 2006 changes the way that excepted and exempt charities are regulated. The Charity Commission is aiming to move towards a single registration requirement for all English and Welsh charities, except for:
- Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs)
- Exempt charities that have 'principal regulators'
- The Charity Commission has produced guidance explaining the changes expected to happen during 2009-2011 and what affected charities need to do.