New Year Message from Northern Ireland’s Chief Charity Commissioner
"Building trust, driving impact, shaping the future”
The start of a new year is a pivotal moment for all organisations - a chance to reflect on the challenges faced, the achievements celebrated as well as to look to the year ahead with optimism.
For us here at the Commission, it’s also a time to embrace new opportunities: to look at how we can enhance our support and deepen our impact – developing our guidance and embedding new, innovative approaches that help charities achieve their very best.
As the charity regulator, our commitment remains clear: to support and enable charities to deliver their vital work with transparency and trust. Your dedication makes a real difference, and we are proud to stand alongside you.
We know that running a charity is rewarding, but it’s not always easy. Last year, charities across Northern Ireland showed incredible resilience and creativity, even in the face of uncertainty. Charities are a lifeline for so many in our communities and their work matters more than ever.
We also recognise the challenges they face – including changes to the rules they must abide by. For example, the first provisions of the new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 came into force in August, bringing significant changes to data protection laws for all organisations, including charities. In October, the new Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) was published, aiming to make financial reporting requirements more proportionate to a charity’s size.
Following our research into the sector in 2025, we noted that some charities reported a drop in income during 2024–25. We’re working to understand why this happened so we can shape the support and guidance we provide. Your input, of course, is crucial - if your charity has experienced this, please take part in our short survey and share your insights: Why have the incomes of charities fallen - survey
Despite the hurdles they face, the impact of Northern Ireland’s charities continues to be profound. During Trustees’ Week, we heard directly from trustees about their experiences. Each spoke passionately about the rewards of the role and encouraged others to get involved. Their enthusiasm says it all - being a trustee is one of the most fulfilling ways to give back. You can hear from them here: Celebrating Trustees’ Week 2025 - voices from Northern Ireland’s charity trustees.
Looking ahead to 2026, our priorities remain the same: building trust, driving impact and shaping the future by promoting good governance and encouraging transparency across the sector. We will also keep listening, learning and providing guidance to help you navigate challenges and seize new opportunities.
Our network of helper groups and our stakeholder forum, as always, will remain central to this work. Their commitment and honesty ensure we stay connected to the realities that charities face and help us improve our communications and guidance. We deeply value the time, expertise and passion they bring – their contributions make a real difference to the sector and to the Commission’s work.
Finally, a reminder: our annual public meeting takes place on Thursday, 22 January at Malone House, Belfast. It’s a chance to hear about our recent work and future plans, as well as gain insights from our keynote speaker, Matthew Smith, a leading barrister. His presentation will focus on managing internal conflicts - an important topic for every charity, from the smallest to the largest. There’s still time to sign up, and we’d love to see you there: Commission annual public meeting.
Together, let’s make 2026 a year of progress, collaboration and positive change. Thank you for your commitment to serving others. We look forward to working with you in the year ahead.
Gerard McCurdy
Chief Commissioner
Charity Commission for Northern Ireland