The Charity Commission has produced revised guidance on how
charities should deal with serious incidents. This guidance clearly
sets out when and how a serious incident should be reported and
provides examples of the types of events that should be considered
a serious incident.
The updated guidance followed consultation with the sector and
seeks to address the Commission's own concern that there is
significant underreporting of serious incidents by trustees unclear
of their duties or the process.
The guidance begins by summarising that a serious incident is
"an adverse event, whether actual or alleged", which
results in or poses a risk of significant loss of money or assets,
damage to property or harm to a charity's beneficiaries, work
or reputation. It goes on to list some of the instances that may
give rise to a serious incident including financial crimes.
