Providing reassurance

Charities ultimately depend upon public confidence.

The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 is Scotland's first piece of legislation specifically aimed at the governance of charities. This provides a framework where charities can flourish clear in the knowledge of their legal responsibilities; and the public can have confidence through charities reporting to a Regulator.

 

OSCR's work

OSCR has 45 staff at its office in Dundee, carrying out a number of key functions including:

• considering applications for charitable status
• publishing and maintaining the Scottish Charity Register
• granting consent to proposed changes to charities (i.e. change of name, amalgamation)
• monitoring charities' compliance with the legislation
• investigating complaints against charities.

 

Our objectives

Our objectives are to:

• increase public confidence in charities through effective regulation
• increase transparency and public accountability of charities
• increase charity trustees' awareness of their statutory responsibilities
• establish and maintain OSCR as a trusted and effective regulator
• reduce the burden of regulation on charities wherever possible, with particular emphasis on reducing multiple reporting.

 

For more information on OSCR's role read our Charity Regulation in Scotland leaflet.