The quality and governance news items detailed below are for the period January 2009 to March 2011.

From April 2011, topical issues and concerns in respect to quality and governance will be detailed in Funding Advice and Group support, forward planning news section. 

Report by Charity Commission shows shortage of young trustees
Few of them know what trusteeship is, says A Breath of Fresh Air
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Charity Commission's Faith and Social Cohesion Unit puts resources online
Soon-to-be-closed section makes guidelines available
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A third of charities have no reserves, according to NCVO
Research from umbrella body also finds that median reserves level for charities that get state funding is a month's expenditure
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Unison urges sector to push for equality tests
Trade union says local authorities should be pressed into completing equality impact assessments when they are cutting funding
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Charities will not lose music licensing exemption before September
NCVO claims its letter to the minister influenced the decision to delay
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Third Sector report on Acevo's call for radical change to charity rules
Acevo report claims that regulation of charities is too top-down and that much regulation is duplicated
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Charities break the rules on expenses, finds Commission survey reports Civil Society Finance
A random sample of charity accounts suggests there is "significant non-compliance" in relation to the disclosure of trustees' expenses
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Vetting and barring scheme put on hold reports Third Sector online
Government will review plans to register staff and volunteers with the Independent Safeguarding Authority
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Charities 'must get better at measuring social returns'
According to New Philanthropy Capital paper which says that SROI is being held back by poor quality of evidence
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Charity Commission to issue guidance on Equality Act
Regulator responds to fears that the act might make restrictions on beneficiary classes unlawful
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The Youth of Today announces further rounds of the ‘scaling up' grant
This initiative aims to increase the quantity, quality and diversity of opportunities for young people as leaders of change in their communities
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NCVO set up VAT reclamation helpline
Service set up to help small charities (NCVO members) reclaim VAT
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Charity Commission criticises Essex Islamic Trust
Inquiry discovers ‘multiple failings' including unmanaged conflicts of interest and provision of misleading information
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Chair of Charity Commission criticises charities over accounts
Late submission of annual accounts considered ‘not acceptable'
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Charity Commission rejects fewer would-be charities
Regulator attributes reduction to increased support to prospective applicants
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Checklist: Keeping on top of the mission
If you are a Trustee do you know your mission statement and strategy documents? Third sector report on what all trustees should know or at least ask about
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New governance guide for faith-based charities
A new Good Practice guide from The Charity Commission aimed at charities established for a religious purpose, it includes legal information, recommended good practice and practical case studies.
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Trustee recruitment and much more
A new Trustee recruitment service called Trusteeworks has been launched by Reach Volunteering and third sector specialist recruiter called Prospectus.
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