New online register of charities 'widens public’s window' into how charities are run

The charity regulator has launched an improved public register of charities with a new display designed to increase transparency for the public and others by displaying a wider range of information than before.

The new display has been designed to make it easier for trustees to access and update their charity’s information with the commission, with a new data download function aimed to help sector professionals better analyse information about the charity sector as a whole, including trends and developments in the size and make-up of the sector.

"Decisions about charitable donations are often very personal, influenced by our own life experiences, and those of our friends and family. But we know that most people share an expectation of openness and transparency from all charities. That’s why our new online register increases the range of information available at the click of a button," Helen Stephenson CBE, chief executive of the Charity Commission, said. 

The new display also highlights specific action taken against a charity that has been held to account by the commission. Moreover, it shows whether individual charities work with a professional fundraiser and whether they have specific policies in place, including on safeguarding.

"Recent months have demonstrated the volunteering spirit of the British public and its generous support for charities. The commission’s online register has an important role to play in ensuring that generosity supports good causes, and we continue to urge people to check the register before donating to be sure that their money is going to a genuine charity," said Ms Stephenson.

"By widening the public’s window into how individual charities are run, and how they spend their money, we hope people will also now feel able to make more informed choices about how and where they give."

The commission announced it is moving immediately into a second phase of work, which will include improvements to its register data sharing. This will allow web and app developers to access and analyse the data or display it on their own websites more easily in line with open data principles, and is part of the commission’s aim for the register to better maximise the benefit charity brings to society. 

"I also hope that the new register display will encourage charities to continue to respond to growing public expectations around transparency and accountability. We know the public expect the way charities go about their work to be consistent with the spirit of charity, and the new mirror we are holding up to the sector should help charities respond to those expectations," concluded Ms Stephenson.