Apply for an exemption from publication under Section 3(4) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005
All Scottish charities must provide trustee details and submit an annual return with accounts.
From early 2026, the Scottish Charity Register will show:
- Trustees’ first and last names, unless an exemption has been granted.
- A copy of the charity’s accounts once they are received, for up to five years.
What’s not published
The addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, or email addresses of trustees will not be available on the charity’s Register page, this information is retained for OSCR’s internal use only.
If a charity trustee’s address is also the charity’s contact address, it will only show as the charity’s contact address.
Please note: OSCR is not responsible for personal details included in the published accounts. Ensure that you have permission for any names or images of volunteers or beneficiaries in these documents, as they will be made public. Where a charity trustee is granted an exemption, you must exclude their name from the submitted accounts.
What this form is for
Use this form to apply for an exemption from publishing:
- A charity trustee’s name on the Register and in the charity’s accounts
- The charity’s principal office address on the Register
You should only apply for a trustee name exemption if publishing this information would put someone’s safety or security at risk. Privacy concerns alone do not qualify.
Please read our exemption guidance for more information.
How OSCR will assess the exemption request
OSCR will:
- Look for evidence showing a clear link between publishing the information and a real safety or security risk
- Check if the information is already publicly available (e.g., on your website or Companies House)
For trustee name exemptions, you must show that publishing the name would jeopardise safety or security, not simply that the trustee prefers not to be listed.
For principal address exemptions, consider whether you can provide an alternative address.
