# Charity commission appointed - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/06/01/charity-commission-appointed/ - Published: 2009-06-01T11:47:01+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake The makeup of Northern Ireland’s first Charities Commission has been announced by the Department of Social Development, the government body responsible for the community and voluntary sector.   The six-member body will be headed by Thomas McGrath, the former chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)   The commission will regulate, monitor and investigate charities in order to increase the public’s confidence in the charitable sector.   There are an estimated 12,000 charities in Northern Ireland, but only about 7,500 are registered.   Mrs Patricia Sloan, Director of BBC Children in Need, will be the deputy chief commissioner.   The other board members are:   –Paul Cavanagh, Chair of Derry Local Strategy Partnership   –Angela Chada. Executive Director of Springboard and board member of Intercomm   –Philip McDonagh, Senior Management Consultant and Chief Economist with PriceWaterhouseCoopers   –Walter Rader, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland   The chief commissioner said the new body would seek to fulfil its role as a regulatory body without hindering the work of the charities.   The commission will clearly define charities, maintain a register of NI charities, test what is and isn’t a charity and regulate the charitable sector.   “We should where possible seek to encourage and support that work within the context of our legal responsibilities,” Mr McGrath said.   www.dsdni.gov.uk   * **[New Minister for the Third Sector announced](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/06/09/new-minister-third-sector-announced/)**( 9 June 2009) * **[Charity spent 90% of income on fundraising and administration](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/06/16/charity-spent-90-income-fundraising-and-administration/)**( 16 June 2009) * **[Call made for air ambulance investigation](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/06/17/call-made-air-ambulance-investigation/)**( 17 June 2009)