Charities and Coronavirus: An update from the regulator
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All charities should read OSCR's COVID-19 guidance for charities, which brings together the information you need to know during this time and highlights other organisations who may be able to offer support. The following topics are covered below:
The COVID-19 situation is fast moving and developing regularly. This web page will be updated to reflect any changes that occur so please revisit it regularly to be kept up-to-date. |
How to contact and send information to the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
In line with Scottish and UK Government guidelines the OSCR office is now closed, with staff working from home.
The best way to contact us is to complete our online contact form. This allows you to give us all of the information we need and we will respond back to you as soon as we can.
You can email any queries to info@oscr.org.uk.
Post
We are working our way through the backlog of mail. If you have posted anything in to us since mid-March this will be dealt with as quickly as possible. If you haven’t received any confirmation from OSCR please contact info@oscr.org.uk.
If you have posted your annual report and accounts to us please see the Reporting to OSCR section.
Phone
If you are unable to send an email and really need to get a general question answered, you can still call our office number and leave a message - 01382 220446. If you call us, please include your phone number and we will get back to you.
It may take longer than usual for us to answer queries.
Casework
If you need to contact us about an application, an ongoing concern or inquiry please use email, either by directly emailing the Case Officer or emailing info@oscr.org.uk.
What is coronavirus (COVID-19)?
There are many sources of information about COVID-19. All charities should read this guidance from the Scottish Government.
The guidance includes advice for non-healthcare settings, and has tips that apply to people working in hospitality settings, leisure facilities, entertainment venues and premises used by community groups. NHS inform will give you the latest public health advice.
One of the most important things is the basic hygiene measures that you can take to help prevent the spread of the infection. These include:
- routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects and surfaces such as telephones, keyboards, door handles, desks and tables
- basic hand washing is highlighted as the most effective way of preventing the spread of infection. Hand hygiene promoted by ensuring staff, contractors, service users and visitors have access to hand washing facilities and alcohol-based hand rub, where available
- crockery and cutlery in shared kitchen areas should be cleaned with warm water and detergent and dried thoroughly
- ensuring food such as crisps and sandwiches should not be left open for communal sharing unless individually wrapped.
COVID-19 guidance for charities
For charities, there are some specific concerns that we have become aware of, and we have covered these in our COVID-19 guidance for charities.
This guidance brings together information you need to know during this time and highlights other organisations who may be able to offer support.
It is split into the different parts below to help you find the information you need easily.
- Contacting OSCR
- Funding and finance
- Charity meetings and governance
- Reporting to OSCR: charity accounts and notifiable events
- Registering a charity and making changes to your charity
- Information for cross-border charities
- Fraud
- Safer giving and Fundraising
- Volunteering
- Sources of help and advice
We’ve based this structure on the most common queries we have received during the COVID-19 pandemic and the information will be regularly updated as the situation develops. If you feel something is missing from this guidance, please contact info@oscr.org.uk.
General frequently asked questions for charities can be found here.
OSCR, ACOSVO and SCVO working together
OSCR, the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations (ACOSVO) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) are committed to working together to support the sector through the COVID-19 pandemic:
- In addition to our COVID-19 guidance, our website contains general advice on governance and regulatory issues.
- SCVO has a hub of COVID-19 information and guidance, and has created an online COVID-19 resource that will be regularly updated.
- ACOSVO is leading on providing peer support for chief executives and senior leaders.
Gathering information for the sector
To help influence and shape support for the sector, SCVO is asking organisations to share information about the challenges they are facing as a result of COVID-19 and the potential impact. Please email a summary to experience@scvo.org.uk. Any information would be greatly appreciated.