CFG partners Russell-Cooke share their recent webinar on legal and regulatory changes in the charity sector, from property to employment law through to the Charities Act 2022 and more.
The start of the year is often a good time for charities to take stock, particularly in the current climate of uncertainty. A panel from Russell-Cooke’s charity team recently gave their annual Getting in Shape webinar in which they provided an update on recent legal and regulatory developments affecting the sector, as well as looking at what lies ahead this year.
Recent years have seen unprecedented challenges for charities. The pandemic was followed up with the ongoing cost of living crisis, which has led to a higher demand for charities and their services at a time when charity incomes have been squeezed.
Despite these challenges many charities have managed to adapt and ensure that they continue to deliver their mission.
Watch the webinar!
Some of the general themes in the charity sector at the moment include ongoing culture wars, an ever-changing political context, increasing numbers of charity disputes, the continuing impacts of Brexit and a more interventionist Charity Commission.
The introduction of the Charities Act 2022 sees further changes coming in to force later this year. The panel explained the main changes that charities need to be aware of, including failed charity appeals, permanent endowments, amending charitable purposes and important changes to property law.
As well as looking at the changes introduced by the Charities Act 2022, the property section of the webinar discusses MEES Regulations and the Register of Overseas Entities. It also includes an encouraging general overview of the property market, which is anecdotally stable for charities.
In terms of data protection, key topics are explored such as the updated direct marketing guidance produced by the ICO, two recent consultations relating to employee data and international data transfers.
The panel also looks at updates in relation to holiday pay for casual workers and employees, retained EU law and the focus on policies, targets and progress in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and environmental, social and governance (ESG).