
A message from Northern Ireland’s Chief Charity Commissioner
Happy New Year!
As we step into 2025, it’s a time to reflect on the challenges we have faced, and the progress we have made. This past year has shown the resilience, dedication and commitment of the charity sector in the face of unprecedented challenges. From navigating banking service issues through to responding to risks around fraud and cyber-crime, charities have remained a vital force for good.
For the first time in a few years all registered charities will be required to file their accounts and reports with the Commission at some point in 2024-25*. At the end of October, we saw a positive outcome with over 80% of the charities due to submit their accounts and reports by 31 October, doing so on time. This strong level of compliance is encouraging and we hope it continues as we approach the next reporting peak, around 2,400 registered charities must file by the end of January. As always, these accounts and reports will be published on the register of charities, further enhancing transparency and accountability within the sector.
The register of charities is a dynamic, living database, regularly updated with newly registered charities as well as mergers, closures and name changes. Ensuring your charity’s entry, and annual reports, are kept up to date is an essential part of showing your charity’s commitment to transparency while fostering trust with the public. Maintaining an up-to-date entry is also vital to supporting informed decision making, whether it is someone deciding which charity to volunteer for, a funder assessing a grant application or a policymaker seeking to understand the landscape of the sector.
As we look ahead to 2025, the importance of the charity sector has never been clearer. Amid local service cuts, funding deficits and the devastating humanitarian crises unfolding across the world, charities continue to play a critical role in providing much-needed support.
There are some 7,200 charities listed on the register, charities which are making a real difference both here, in Northern Ireland, and globally. From supporting communities at home and addressing urgent need in countries suffering from natural disasters, civil unrest and war, charity work makes a real impact, often touching lives in the most challenging of environments.
Our role is to regulate the charity sector proportionately, robustly and transparently. However, our relationship with charities goes beyond regulation. We aim to support, enable and engage – providing the framework and the guidance needed for charities to flourish.
We may be a small team here at the Commission, but we are driven by big ambitions. Your support is crucial, and I thank you wholeheartedly for your engagement and contributions over the past year. As we look ahead to 2025, I also invite you to deepen your understanding of our work by joining us at our annual public meeting on 22 January at Riddel Hall in Belfast.
And finally, may I take this opportunity to thank all who contribute to making a difference, whether through volunteering, donating, or the essential work you do every day. As we move forward, let’s continue to champion the values of transparency, trust and impact, ensuring that charities remain at the heart of communities, both locally and globally.
Gerard McCurdy, Chief Commissioner, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
*The only exception will be recently registered charities, which will begin annual reporting following their first full financial year after their registration.