Why you should use the Commission’s smart form for serious incident reporting

Blog by James Walsh

Commission Enquiries Manager

Did you know that if you're submitting a serious incident report for your charity, you can – and should – use the Commission’s online smartform?

This form, available here, is designed to guide you through the process, helping you provide the right information and evidence from the outset. Yet, surprisingly, just 31% of serious incident reports submitted in the past year used the online form - compared to over 80% of general concerns about charities*.

What is a serious incident?

A serious incident is an adverse event - actual or alleged - that results in or risks significant:

• harm to beneficiaries, staff, volunteer, or others connected to the charity.
• loss of charity funds or assets.
• damage to property.
• harm to the charity’s work or reputation

Common examples include safeguarding concerns, fraud, theft, cybercrime or data breaches involving personal information. Reputational damage due to media scrutiny or public complaints may also qualify.

The word significant is key. Its meaning depends on the size and nature of your charity and the scale of the incident. For example, a £5,000 loss could be devastating for a small local group, but less impactful for a large, national organisation.

When and how to report

If something serious happens, act quickly to resolve the issue and limit the damage. You should also report it to the Commission as soon as reasonably possible. This means either when the incident occurs or when trustees become aware of it. See our Serious incident reporting: a guide for charity trustees.

To report, use the Commission’s online concern form. It’s quick, secure and helps the Commission assess risks quickly and efficiently.

Why it matters

Serious incident reporting isn’t just a regulatory requirement. It’s about protecting what matters most: the people, the purpose and the trust at the heart of every charity.  We’re here to work with charities to ensure that if things go wrong, they are put right again.

And, if you are submitting a report, don’t forget to use our smartform. It saves time and ensures your report is complete.

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*Between October 2024 and November 2025, the Commission received 94 serious incident reports. Just 29 (31%) were submitted via the online smartform. In contrast, of the 183 concerns about charities received during the same period, 84% (153) came through the online form.