Articles in "Charities"

The ESFA has now published the 2024 edition of the Academy Trust Handbook, which covers the requirements academy trusts must comply with from 1 September 2024.

The new Charitable Incorporated Organisation has given charities another choice of structure – but is this the right route for your organisation, asks Rebecca Frost of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team

Most charities spend a lot of effort seeking donations – but sometimes they may need to consider refusing a donation, or returning one which has already been made, says Kyle Smith of Lovewell Blake’s Charities team.

East Anglian chartered accountants Lovewell Blake has been named the best in the UK for its charity expertise by Charity Finance magazine, in its annual survey of accountancy firms offering specialist services to the charity sector.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has issued updated guidance for academy trusts on the subject of reserves policy – and trustees should be familiarising themselves with the new advice before taking decisions about the levels of reserves held within their trust.

The Charity Commission’s document aimed at charity trustees which gives guidance on investing charity money has been significantly updated.

A recent Supreme Court case could prove to be a game-changer for some charities – as it has clarified the position on Mandatory Rates Relief (MRR) for charities, and will make it much easier for them to challenge local authorities which reject their MRR applications.

Small charities with employees are often unaware that they are eligible for the Employment Allowance. This enables them to reduce their annual National Insurance liability by up to £5,000, so long as their total NI liabilities were less than £100,000 in the previous tax year. Unincorporated charities and Community Action Sports Clubs are also eligible.