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OSCR Role & Vision: Towards Targeted Regulation

This presentation outlines the role and vision of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) based on the 2016 survey results. It highlights the importance of trust in charities for the public and the need for effective charity regulation. The presentation also discusses OSCR's statutory functions and strategic objectives, as well as the challenges and changing environment of the charity sector. It concludes with OSCR's response in the form of targeted regulation, risk framework, annual return, getting accounts online, and promoting transparency through notifiable events. The presentation emphasizes the importance of public trust and provides tips for charities to maintain transparency and good governance.

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OSCR Role & Vision: Towards Targeted Regulation

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  1. ACIE Scottish Conference, 26 August 2016 David Robb Chief Executive, Scottish Charity Regulator

  2. Outline: OSCR role and vision 2016 survey results Towards targeted regulation

  3. The vision Charities you can trust and that provide public benefit

  4. Survey headlines 81% of the public* surveyed said trust was very important or fairly important when determining how much time, goods or money to donate to charity • 84% of the public* surveyed said charity regulationwas very important or fairly important • 93%of charities**surveyed said charitable status is very important or fairly important • 85%of charities** surveyed said charitable statushad a positive benefit on their organisation * General public. Base 1,010 Scottish adults, Feb-Mar ** Base 1,215 Scottish charities Feb-Mar 2016

  5. Statutory Functions of the Scottish Charity Regulator Keep a public register of charities Determine if bodies are charities Encourage, facilitate and monitor compliance Identify and investigate misconduct in charities Give information or advice to Scottish Ministers OSCR Help the public have more confidence in charities Help charity trustees to understand and comply with their legal duties Keep registration & reporting straight-forward and proportionate Continually improve the way we operate and deliver services Strategic Objectives 2014-17

  6. 10 years of regulation • Online comprehensive, searchable charity register – 100K searches every month • Introduction of Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2011 – now accounts for almost 50% of new applications • Introduction of Online Services • Plain English guidance: case studies, checklists • Over 35 ‘Meet the Regulator’ events around Scotland

  7. The proportionality challenge £100,000 income £25,000 income (7%) income not known (mainly new charities) 24,000charities on the Scottish Charity Register

  8. Changing environment • Economic downturn, relationships with funders, reliance on donations, diversification of activities, press and public scrutiny • In the eyes of the public, what is a charity? • What drives public trust & confidence? The modern charity can be quite different from ‘traditional’ model. This is a challenge for the regulator.

  9. Our response – Targeted Regulation • New Annual Return to reinforce the principles of good governance • Publication of charity annual reports and accounts • Notifiable Events to alert the Regulator to matters that may damage public trust and confidence • Targeted Regulation Unit: a risk management approach to inform and focus our activities in the right areas • Focus on non-submitting charities to ensure donations are transparently and publicly accounted for

  10. Risk Framework

  11. Annual Return • New questions – guidance to help included online • The same or fewer questions • Questions aimed at giving us information on the risk framework • Or aimed at encouraging trustees to think about governance

  12. Getting accounts online Why? • To promote trust and confidence in the sector Which charities? • All SCIOs and charities with an annual income of £25k or more • Personal information redacted from the accounts before publishing on our site Or, supply us with a link to your accounts

  13. Notifiable events Encouraging preventative action Supporting good governance Things to report on:

  14. What can you do to help • Keep up to date – Principal Contact, register info, annual report & accounts • Tell the public what you do & what difference you make – go digital! • Deal appropriately with complaints and queries from service users or the public/ donors • Safeguard your charitable assets Transparency is key to public trust

  15. Advertise your charitable status • Display your charity number – check out our guidance if you don’t know the requirements • Provide accounts on your website, and provide the link for your register entry • Shop - request one of our window shop stickers and proudly display your charity number • Website - use our ‘Registered by OSCR’ logo to link back to your entry on the Scottish Charity Register

  16. Things to note From us: • Newguidance – charity test, charity trustees, campaigning FAQs, social media guidelines, banking guidelines, good governance page • Fundraising – new arrangements • Consultations – reporting responsibilities of IEs and auditors

  17. Thank you David Robb, Chief Executive Scottish Charity Regulator

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