Rotherham charities accounts warning

The Charity Commission watchdog revealed this week that 34 out of the town’s 171 charities have yet to send in their documents.

With the deadline of January 31 looming, the regulator is warning charities that if they do not get their accounts in on time they face being removed from the Register of Charities.

Dame Suzi Leather, chairman of the Charity Commission said: “There is no excuse for charities sending these basic documents in late, but by doing so they are not providing the public with up to date and accurate information.

“This is not acceptable as charities are accountable to their donors, to the people they help as well as to us as their regulator, and they must be open and transparent.

“Donors will see on our Register of Charities if a charity has overdue documents and may be put off donating by this.

“It’s vital that local charity trustees make sure their charities send their information to us on time this year.”

The documents in question are used to update the online public Register of Charities.

All charities must submit an annual return document which updates their entry on the register.

Charities with more than £25,000 income also have to send their annual accounts to show how they have used their money. Charities have ten months from the end of their financial year to send these documents in.

The aim is to give donors the opportunity to see how a charity has used its money.

If accounts are not current, charities risk damaging the high levels of public trust and confidence in charity and in their charity in particular.

Charities face the ultimate sanction of being removed altogether from the register if they fail to send the required documents as proof that they are active.  

Any charity with overdue documents will be marked in red on the register.

To find out if the charity you support has sent its documents to the Charity Commission on time visit www.charitycommission.gov.uk.