# Charity Commission might no longer provide copies of governing documents

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/02/27/charity-commission-might-no-longer-provide-copies-governing-documents/
- Published: 2013-02-27T09:44:58+00:00
- Author: Finbar Cullen

As part of my work as a prospect researcher, I frequently request copies of governing
documents from the Charity Commission. However, I have just been told by the Charity
Commission that as I "have requested multiple copies of governing documents", I 
can no longer expect to receive the documents within the normal 15 day turnaround.
They can still meet my request, but it may be some weeks before they do so. I have
no idea how long that might be. I have been told that the Charity Commission has
communicated this change in their practice to “several banks and another company
apparently undertaking similar work" to me. The Charity Commission advised me to
contact the charity rather than face the delays resulting from making such a request
to the Commission. Past experience tells me that this will not always prove successful.

Have any other researchers (or e.g. trust fundraisers) been told the same thing?
If money is tight, why doesn’t the Charity Commission run a practice similar to 
e.g. Companies House Direct, whereby we pay £1 per document?

It is very inconvenient that the Charity Commission has introduced this change of
practice with no warning whatsoever. Hopefully, it will only apply to nuisances 
like me who regularly research newly registered trusts, each month, but who knows?

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I wonder how this new practice sits with their responsibilities under the Freedom
of Information Act?

Finbar Cullen, [Research**Plus**](http://www.researchplus.co.uk)

 

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