part

below.

Explanation:

How to approach this question

- Your essay should mention at least one regulation and one governing body particular to the charity

section and I would recommend these be the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Commission.

- If you don’t know a lot about the sector you can bring up more generalised regulations and

governing bodies, such as financial conduct and the Equalities Act, but make sure it’s relevant to

Sarah. Her charity is a small, local one, so things like Modern Slavery Act will not be appropriate to

talk about.

Example Essay

When setting up a charity in the UK, particularly one focused on animal welfare, there are several

regulations and governing bodies that Sarah should be aware of. These ensure that the charity

operates legally, ethically, and effectively.

A charity’s purpose involves raising awareness and helping someone or something, in Sarah’s case

this will be local animals and potentially their owners. A charity has to satisfy two aspects: The

benefit aspect and The public aspect. In the UK, both aspects are regulated by the Charities Act 2011.

To satisfy a benefit aspect, a charity must: have a purpose that must be beneficial to the community

it works in – this must be in a way that is identifiable and capable of being proved by evidence. For

Sarah this would be showing that her charity helps animals, potentially by taking them in off the

street or removing them from dangerous homes and caring for them.

To satisfy a public aspect, a charity must benefit the public in general, or a sufficient section of the

public. In Sarah’s case the public benefit may be in removing stray dogs and cats from the streets

where they can transport diseases and potentially attack people. Most charities strive to satisfy both

aspects but in some cases this is not possible.

All charities are regulated. Because charities are funded by donations from the public, businesses

and sometimes from government, their conduct is regulated closely. Key regulatory bodies that

Sarah will have to engage with include:

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales:

· As the primary regulator for charities in England and Wales, the Charity Commission oversees the

registration and regulation of charities. Sarah's organization must meet the legal definition of a

charity and apply for registration if its income is over £5,000 per year.

· The Commission ensures compliance with the Charities Act, offering guidance on charity

governance, financial management, and reporting.

2. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC):

· Charities can apply to HMRC for recognition as a charity for tax purposes. This status allows for tax

reliefs and exemptions, including Gift Aid on donations.

· HMRC ensures compliance with tax obligations and scrutinizes the use of charity funds.

3. Data Protection:

· Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, any charity

handling personal data must ensure its protection and comply with data privacy laws.

4. Health and Safety Executive (HSE):

· The HSE provides guidelines for workplace safety, which are important if the charity has employees

or volunteers.

In conclusion there are many regulations and bodies that Sarah should be aware of when setting up

her charity. Sarah should consider seeking legal advice or consulting with charity advisory services to

ensure full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. Additionally, staying informed about

changes in charity law and animal welfare legislation would be beneficial to the smooth operation of

her charity.

Tutor Notes

- With case study questions you’re not expected to know anything about the specific topic, in this

case Animal Charities. If it happens to be something you know about, you can bring in some of your

own knowledge, but this isn’t a requirement to get a good score. You’re not expected to know, for

example about the Animal Welfare Act 2006, but if you happen to do so, it could be a nice little thing

to add in. Just don’t focus your essay on it. However you can make some sensible guesses on what

Sarah will be doing, for example I talked about removing stray animals from the street.

- Charities comes up in LO 4.4 p.232

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