Consultation news
The Commission will publish its recent consultation news, events, updates and activities on this page.
Consultation now closed: Joint consultation on draft Strategic Plan 2023- 2026 and Engagement strategy
The Commission's joint public consultation on a new strategic plan 2023-26 and a new engagement strategy, both of which are being undertaken following the Independent Review of Charity Regulation commissioned by the Minister for Communities in January 2021, is now closed.
The draft strategic plan will set out the Commission’s priorities over the next three years as it responds to the review of charity regulation, the new Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and delivers charity regulation in Northern Ireland. The engagement strategy will set out how the Commission will become more outward facing and actively engage with stakeholders. This engagement is designed to support charities in complying with charity law while also educating and raising awareness of the Commission’s work amongst the public, including those who support, work for or avail of the services offered by charities.
This 16-week week consultation opened on 14 November 2022 and closed on Monday 6 March 2023. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to contribute to our consultation and share their views on these proposed changes.
The responses received are now being analysed and collated and a consultation report, providing an overview of the public consultation process and outlining how we considered the responses received, will be published once it has been finalised.
Consultation now closed: new and amended questions in the Annual Return Regulations 2019 and the online registration application
The Commission' public consultation on new and amended questions to be included in the Annual Return Regulations 2019 and the charity registration application form is now closed.
This eight week consultation opened on Tuesday 27 August 2019 and closed at 5pm on Tuesday 22 October 2019. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to contribute to our consultation and share their views on these proposed changes.
The responses received were analysed and collated and a consultation report, providing an overview of the public consultation process and outlining how we considered the responses received, is available here.
Draft accounting and reporting guidance for registered charities
With the introduction of new annual reporting regulations set to impact on every registered charity in Northern Ireland, the charity regulator recently called on the public to share their views on its draft accounting and reporting guidance.
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s new guidance is aimed at supporting charities in understanding their duties under new annual reporting regulations, which went live on 1 January 2016.
However, the guidance is currently at draft stage only with the Commission throwing the documentation open to public consultation between 18 December 2015 and 11 March 2016.
The Commission also sought views on new, draft Directions for Independent Examiners, which examiners must follow when reviewing charity accounts.
For more information in the consultation, which is now closed, please click here.
Regulator called for feedback on draft equality guidance for charities
Northern Ireland’s charity regulator recently called on interested parties and individuals to share their views on its new, draft equality guidance for charities.
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland ran a 12-week public consultation, from Tuesday 3 February 2015 to Tuesday 28 April 2015, on its draft guidance, which aims to support charities in understanding the complexities of equality legislation as it affects them.
For more information please visit the Closed consultations section of our website.
Receipts and payments accounts guidance - open for comment phase now closed
The Commission has published new guidance to support eligible, non-company charities in drafting receipts and payments accounts. The announcement follows the launch earlier this year of the first phase of the new annual reporting programme for all charities in Northern Ireland registered with the Commission.
The Commission’s Receipts and payments draft introductory notes were open for comment from interested parties between 4 July 2014 and 31 October 2014. Following this comment phase, the Commission will now analyse the feedback received and prepare the final version of the introductory notes.
For more information, or to read the Commission's Receipts and payments draft introductory notes, finalised Receipts and payments toolkit and Example receipts and payments accounts please visit the Accounting and reporting essentials section of our website.
Participation strategy public consultation closes
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's public consultation its Participation strategy has now closed.
Thank-you to everyone who took the time to contribute to our consultation and share their views on how we should engage with stakeholders.
All responses received during the consultation have now been analysed and collated. Our consultation report, including information about the consultation, our plans for the future and how we listened to the feedback we received, is available on the Closed consultations section of our website.