# Whistleblowing disclosures to Charity Commission rise 72% in a year

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/09/30/whistleblowing-disclosures-to-charity-commission-rise-72-in-a-year/
- Published: 2024-09-30T09:00:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Charity Commission received 561 whistleblowing disclosures between 1 April
2023 and 31 March 2024 – an increase of 72%, and the highest number of disclosures
received within the last 9 years.**

[The Commission reports](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/whistleblowing-disclosures-made-to-the-charity-commission-for-england-and-wales-2023-to-2024/whistleblowing-disclosures-made-to-the-charity-commission-for-england-and-wales-2023-to-2024)
that 54% came from employees and ex-employees, with the primary issues raised being
governance, safeguarding or financial management concerns, which are the same as
in previous reporting periods. Reports regarding financial harms increased significantly
to 128 compared to 62 last year, while those regarding safeguarding rose to 104,
from 81.

The other types of issue raised in 2023 to 2024 include: conflicts of interest, 
disputes, reputational damage, GDPR breach, and public benefit.

## 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/)

Education and training charities featured most, with 258 disclosures, followed by
those focusing on the advancement of health / saving lives (131), and on general
charitable purposes (127).

#### Other complaints rise

The Commission also notes that complaints received from members of the public about
charities rose by 50% in the same period, from 2,086 in 2022/2023, to 3,131 in 2023/
2024.

Matters of Material Significance reports by auditors and independent examiners rose
by 10% (from 431 reports to 475 reports) and Reports of Serious Incidents (RSIs)
from charity trustees rose by 5% in the same period (from 2,969 reports to 3,106).

#### Commission response

The Commission says that while the exact reasons for the uplift in complaints are
unclear, the extra demand on charities caused by the challenging financial environment
post-Covid and the impact of inflation and cost of living pressures on the sector,
may be a contributing factor.

The Commission opened a case in response to 471 (84%) of the disclosures. The other
90 (16%) disclosures related to a charity which was already subject to an open case
in the same period. At the end of the reporting period, 378 (80%) of the 471 cases
were closed.

In 264 cases, following enquiries the Commission decided that it was not proportionate
to take further action. Regulatory advice and guidance or an action plan was provided
under section 15(2) of the Act to 115 charities, while information gathering powers
were exercised in 35 cases, 16 were signposted to other regulators, and in 14 cases
it was verified that trustees were dealing with the issue.

 * **[Why the donor, supporter or customer isn't always right](https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/07/20/why-donor-supporter-or-customer-isn039t-always-right/)**(
   20 July 2010)
 * **[Why an advertising complaint is no bad thing for charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/05/31/why-advertising-complaint-no-bad-thing-charities/)**(
   31 May 2012)
 * **[‘Encourage complaints’ to boost donors’ trust, charities told](https://fundraising.co.uk/2015/02/25/encourage-complaints-boost-donors-trust-charities-told/)**(
   25 February 2015)