Regulatory Compliance

Charity Serious Incident Reporting & Duties

Guide to serious incident reporting and regulatory reporting duties for UK charities. Understand when and how to report to the Charity Commission.

Understanding Serious Incident Reporting

Charities must report serious incidents to the Charity Commission. Serious incidents are events that result in significant loss, harm, or damage to the charity or its beneficiaries.

Reporting serious incidents promptly is a legal duty. The Charity Commission needs to know about incidents that affect charity beneficiaries, finances, reputation, or operations.

Failure to report can result in regulatory action. Trustees should have procedures for identifying, assessing, and reporting serious incidents.

What to Report

Report incidents including significant financial loss, safeguarding issues, fraud, serious injuries, and events that seriously affect charity operations.

Timing

Report serious incidents promptly - ideally within a few days of the trustees becoming aware. Do not delay reporting until investigations are complete.

How to Report

Report through the Charity Commission online portal. Provide clear details of what happened, impact, actions taken, and any lessons learned.

Prevention

Have procedures to prevent and detect incidents. This includes financial controls, safeguarding policies, and risk management.

Reporting Support

We can help you understand serious incident reporting requirements. Contact us today.