Decision review
We make every effort to reach the right decision in every case, ensuring it is in the best interests of the organisation involved. However, we recognise there may be times when charities or individuals affected by our decisions feel that we have not reached the correct outcome.
Some decisions can be appealed through the Charity Tribunal. In certain cases, decisions may also be challenged by a person or organisation whose legal rights are, or may be, affected by the decision we have made.
The Commission also provides an internal decision review process that organisations may use to challenge a decision (see Challenging a decision of the Commission guidance and the application form in the sidebar). This review offers an opportunity for the Commission’s decisions to be reconsidered internally. It is a straightforward, quick and cost‑effective way to challenge a decision, and it also allows us to take account of any new information that may have emerged since the original decision was made.
You are not required to use the Commission’s internal review procedure. You may choose instead to appeal the decision directly to the Charity Tribunal. Please note that there is a strict time limit for appealing a Commission decision to the Tribunal, and this deadline continues to run even if you have submitted an application for an internal decision review.
Decision review is not a statutory right, however, we will consider an application for a review if the decision is also one which the organisation can take to the Charity Tribunal. The types of decisions which can be appealed to the Charity Tribunal are listed in Schedule 3 to the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (external link). Currently we do not review any matters which cannot be appealed to the Charity Tribunal. The Commission will, however, be reviewing this policy to broaden the scope of decisions where a decision review can be requested.