Knowledge Hub

Here, CFG's Policy Officer, Isaac Bristol, looks at some policy wins, important conversations between the sector and Government, and further ahead to the potentially paradigmatic May elections.

Following the new VAT rules which have recently come into effect regarding donated goods, another positive policy exemption for charities has now been introduced.

In this piece, the Charity Team at Sarasin & Partners, explain how recent events in the Middle East could impact charity investors.

The US-Iran War is about to enter its sixth week. Although a temporary ceasefire is in place at the time of writing, concerns as to how it will impact the lives of the people and communities we serve and love have not gone away. The only ‘known’ is that the global socioeconomic picture will remain uncertain for some time.

The Department for Communities in Northern Ireland has confirmed that Section 167 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 will be repealed following its 2025 consultation. The provision, which was never commenced, was intended to create a registration route for charities established outside Northern Ireland but operating there. 

The UK Supreme Court's April 2025 ruling in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers has prompted questions across the voluntary sector about what, if anything, organisations need to do in response. This short briefing helps charities to navigate the implications pf the ruling relating to premises and facilities.

In the last policy update I remarked how the start of 2026 would likely be defined by uncertainty. Not a unique hypothesis, though one that has been proven intimidatingly correct so far.

As expected, the Chancellor’s Spring Statement did not introduce any new policy measures, sticking to her promise to only hold one fiscal event per year. The announcement, therefore, does not substantively change the financial situation for charities.

What can we expect from policy-makers in the coming months? CFG's Policy Officer, Isaac Bristol, looks ahead to what could be a blustery season for the Government.

Welcome to 2026! There’s much to look forward to, but there’s no denying the pressures we all face. To kick off the year, CFG’s co-CEO's Clare Mills and Sarah Lomax share some thoughts on the charity sector landscape, and how CFG will be supporting charities in the year ahead.

CFG's policy experts, Richard Sagar and Isaac Bristol, pore over all the relevant announcements and changes so you don't have to.

CFG's Policy Officer, Isaac Bristol, provides an update on all the various happenings in the policy world, with a new SORP, changes to audit thresholds and an autumn budget on the horizon.