Who we are

We are the Scottish Charity Regulator, the independent regulator and registrar for over 25,000 Scottish charities.

Our team works with charities, stakeholders and the public to regulate in a way which builds trust and confidence in the Scottish charity sector.

We are independent of Scottish Government and report directly to the Scottish Parliament every year.

Our People

Our work is directed by a strategic Board, whose members are appointed by Scottish Ministers through an open public appointment process. They are supported by approximately 50 staff working at our office in Dundee.

OSCR Board

Our Board is responsible for our strategy, future direction, oversight and governance. Our Board members act as ambassadors for OSCR, promoting our policies and values and bringing their specialist knowledge to the organisation.

OSCR Board

Senior Management Team

Corporate decision making that affects our daily operations is delegated to Katriona Carmichael, our Chief Executive and Accountable Officer. Our Senior Management Team is made up of our Chief Executive and two Heads of Service and they provide strategic and operational leadership to the wider staff group.

Senior management team

OSCR Staff

Our staff work across two teams – Corporate, and Regulation & Improvement. Find out more about the staff at OSCR below.

Staffing structure

Our Values

Our values provide a foundation for everything we do, from our interactions with charities to the way we work with colleagues. Our values are:

Independent

We maintain our operational independence, acting without fear or favour, in the public interest.

Proportionate

Our actions as a regulator are appropriate and necessary, taking into account the degree of risk, size of charity, the nature of the issues to be addressed and the potential impact on charity beneficiaries or assets, or the public interest.

Accountable

We are answerable, in different ways, to our stakeholders which includes involving others on a continuous and appropriate basis, demonstrating our impact, providing value for money and welcoming external scrutiny.

Transparent

We act in a way that is open, predictable and understandable. This includes making available the relevant criteria and facts underpinning our actions.

Consistent

We act consistently in our decision making on the basis of publicly stated principles and policies and act as an exemplar, observing best practice.

Fair

We exercise our powers and discretion in a way which is consistent, impartial and even-handed.

Targeted

Our regulatory activities are clearly focused on the basis of evidence and we act in such a way as to minimise any negative consequence.

Informed

We gather adequate information from the appropriate sources to ensure that our actions are properly informed.

What we do

Strategies