Knowledge Hub

  • Legal advice on terrorism law and sanctions: when, where and how to get it

    Topics: Risk / Governance, legal and compliance
    Posted by: Dr Teresa Dumasy
    On: 24.08.2026

    This article from Dr Teresa Dumasy, Research, Advisory and Policy Department Director at Conciliation Resources, outlines the complex area of law that is counter-terrorism, and introduces a new guide to help charities understand when they need to seek legal advice, and what questions to ask if they do.

    Time to read: 3 minutes
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  • The Verity Trustees v Wood court case – what charities can do to prepare

    Topics: Pensions / Governance, legal and compliance
    Posted by: Damian Bailey
    On: 21.08.2026

    Damian Bailey from LCP explains what practical steps organisations participating in Verity defined benefit pension schemes should take in advance of the High Court's ruling later this year.

    Time to read: 3 minutes
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  • Research

    Board decision making and the risk of bias

    Topics: People and culture / Leadership and career development / Governance, legal and compliance
    Written by: Nigel Kippax
    On: 20.08.2026

    New research from University of Bath on board composition and effective decision-making should give us all pause for thought, says CFG associate Nigel Kippax. In part one of his series on effective boards, Nigel takes a look at the report's findings on bias and the implications for trustee recruitment.

    Time to read: 3 minutes
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  • Keeping up to date with legal, regulatory and governance developments affecting charities

    Topics: Accounting and reporting / Charity finance policy / Economy and policy / Governance, legal and compliance / IT, technology and digital
    Posted by: CFG
    On: 17.08.2026

    Robert Nieri and Michele Price, Partners in gunnercooke's charities team provide an overview of some of the recent developments in the world of governance, legal and regulation, and outline how these may affect charities. 

    Time to read: 6 minutes
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  • Turning compliance into confidence: what the failure to prevent fraud offence means for charities

    Topics: Governance, legal and compliance / Fraud
    Posted by: Katie Archer
    On: 29.06.2026

    The Failure to Prevent Fraud Offence (introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023) introduces new regulatory expectations around fraud and the “failure to prevent fraud” offence offers charities an opportunity to strengthen governance, build confidence at board level, and protect the organisation’s mission.

    Time to read: 4 minutes
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  • The calm before the storm?

    Topics: Banking and financial services / Charity finance policy / Economy and policy / Funding / Governance, legal and compliance
    Posted by: Isaac Bristol
    On: 16.06.2026

    We appear to be at yet another political inflection point and it remains unclear what direction the country is heading in. Even so, there are a few specific updates worth recapping.

    Time to read: 2 minutes
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  • Related party disclosures under SORP 2026: why charities need to pay attention

    Topics: Governance, legal and compliance / Charity finance policy
    Posted by: Zaynab Aswat
    On: 15.06.2026

    Related party transactions are not new, but under SORP 2026, they have become a litmus test of governance and trust. Recent Charity Commission investigations show what is at stake when relationships go undisclosed and conflicts go unmanaged.

    Time to read: 4 minutes
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  • Asset to society: Finance Trustees Special Interest Group

    Topics: Governance, legal and compliance
    Posted by: Owen Day
    On: 12.06.2026

    Chief Finance Officer at the For Baby's Sake Trust, trustee for The Children's University Trust and CFG member, Owen Day, is looking to launch a new Special Interest Group for finance trustees. Here, Owen outlines his vision for other members.

    Time to read: 2 minutes
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  • Long read

    Part two: SORP FAQs - What you need to know

    Topics: Procurement and resources / Governance, legal and compliance / Accounting and reporting
    Posted by: CFG
    On: 11.05.2026

    This is the second of two articles featuring responses from RSM to questions posed in a recent webinar on the new SORP which also featured CFG's Head of Policy, Richard Sagar. Here you'll find answers to questions on the tiered reporting framework, lease accounting and more.

    Time to read: 15 minutes
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  • Long read

    Part one: SORP FAQs - What you need to know

    Topics: Procurement and resources / Governance, legal and compliance / Accounting and reporting
    Posted by: CFG
    On: 11.05.2026

    RSM recently held a webinar, alongside CFG’s Head of Policy, Richard Sagar, covering changes in the new SORP. As you might imagine, there were lots of questions from attendees about what the new SORP means in practice, from income recognition and tiered reporting to new requirements about leases. This two-part article includes RSM’s detailed responses to those questions, and offers practical insight to help your organisation get ready for the changes.

    Time to read: 11 minutes
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  • Why charity reserves are still being misunderstood - and why that matters

    Topics: Financial sustainability / Governance, legal and compliance / People and culture / Procurement and resources
    Posted by: Janice Matthews
    On: 01.05.2026

    In this article from Janice Matthews at Menzies, she outlines how, despite repeated regulatory focus, reserves remain one of the most misunderstood areas of charity finance. Treating them as a compliance exercise rather than a strategic tool continues to expose organisations to unnecessary risk. 

    Time to read: 2 minutes
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  • Policy roundup: from the impact of conflict to policy wins

    Topics: Funding / Economy and policy / Charity finance policy / Governance, legal and compliance / Tax and VAT
    Written by: Isaac Bristol
    On: 20.04.2026

    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.

    Time to read: 3 minutes
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