OSCR Launches Rolling Review

18 July 2007

OSCR, has announced the results of its sixteen pilot assessments that begin the full Rolling Review of Scotland’s 23,500 charities.

Read the Rolling Review Pilot Report.

The charities, which volunteered for the pilot, were the first existing charities to be assessed by OSCR under the new charity test specified in the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.  All new applicants for charitable status have been assessed against the test since April last year.

OSCR has confirmed that all of the pilots demonstrated that they provide public benefit.  Fourteen of the charities have been confirmed as meeting the charity test and two – John Wheatley College, Glasgow, and the Voluntary Action Fund – have been issued with directions on technical matters regarding their constitutions.

Chief Executive Jane Ryder said:

‘This is good news for the charities that took part in our pilot exercise.  All of them have demonstrated that they provide public benefit – one of the key criteria in the new charity test.  We are very grateful to them for taking part in this pilot exercise which has been valuable to us in developing the criteria against which we will now start to assess all of Scotland’s 23,500 charities.

‘This Rolling Review of the charity sector has been designed in light of extensive consultation with the sector and we are satisfied that our general approach will be welcomed by charities as transparent, consistent and fair,’ she added.

OSCR’s Board considered the findings of the consultation and pilot exercise and agreed the strategic framework for the Rolling Review at its July meeting. 

OSCR Chair John Naylor, said:

‘The Rolling Review is one of the most significant outcomes of the new legislation and it is a major achievement that we have been able to make this announcement only a year after taking up our regulatory powers.  It represents a real opportunity for charities to demonstrate to the public as well as to OSCR that they provide public benefit.  This is an expectation at the heart of the public’s understanding of charities.

‘The next ten years will see every one of Scotland’s 23,500 charities assessed in light of the new legislation,’ he added.  'The methods we will employ will ensure consistency across the wide range of charities in Scotland.  We have been able to streamline processes and reduce the burden on charities.  In addition, we will provide charities with updated guidance on how to meet the new charity test.

'Our thanks go to all those who contributed, particularly those charities who volunteered for our pilot process, allowing us to test our approach in a practical way, ultimately to the benefit of charities across Scotland,’ he said.

The Act, which became law in April last year, sets out the charity test that has been applied by OSCR to all new applicants for charitable status and which, from September 2007, will be applied by OSCR to all existing charities on a phased basis over the next 10 years.

OSCR has announced its framework for the Rolling Review with the publication of its Rolling Review Pilot Report, which outlines OSCR’s decisions on the pilots and the reasoning behind its conclusions.  The Regulator has also published its policy statement on undue restriction and has confirmed that the Rolling Review will commence in September with an initial 30 charities being assessed in the first nine months.

The sixteen charities taking part in OSCR’s pilot, with OSCR’s decisions, are listed below:

1. The High School of Dundee – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
2. The University of Dundee – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
3. Eastriggs and Dornock Childrens’ Gala Fund - has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
4. Pollokshaws Methodist Church - has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
5. Voluntary Action Fund – has been issued with a direction under section 30(1)(a) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
6. John Wheatley College – has been issued with a direction under section 30(1)(a) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
7. Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
8. East Cults Playgroup – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
9. Midstocket Playgroup – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
10. St. Devenick’s Playgroup – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
11. Kingswells Playgroup – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
12. Milltimber Community Association – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
13. Oldmachar Community Playgroup  – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
14. Kids Crew – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
15. Culter Community Playgroup – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.
16. Cloverfield Playgroup – has been confirmed as meeting the charity test.

ENDS

Editors Notes

1. The Rolling Review will begin on a phased basis from September 2007.  OSCR will select up to 30 charities for the first phase between September 2007 and May 2008.  From May 2008 OSCR will assess those charities identified as priorities over an 18 month period.

2. OSCR’s Policy Statement on public benefit and its Rolling Review Pilot Report are published online at www.oscr.org.uk

3. OSCR intends to publish a list of charities identified for assessment under the Rolling Review, on its website from September 2007.

Issued by The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Quadrant House, 9 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY.  Telephone: 01382 220446.  For further information, contact Mark Simpson at OSCR, telephone 01382 34 6890 or 07724 150 833 or email: mark.simpson@oscr.org.uk