Convenors of SORP engagement discussions announced

8 Jul 2020 12:48 PM

SORP engagement process begins as convenors are appointed to take forward discussions on the next SORP.

The Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) sets out the framework for how larger charities prepare their annual report and accounts.

Following a governance review of the SORP development process in 2018-19, a new approach has been initiated which has greater engagement at its heart. To support the SORP-making body and the advisory SORP Committee in this work, volunteer engagement partners have been recruited through an open recruitment process. These partners each have a particular interest in one or more specific areas (known as engagement strands) which cover the key users of charity annual reports and accounts and the SORP itself.

To support the engagement work, each engagement strand has a convenor. These convenors have been drawn from SORP engagement partners following expressions of interest in the role. Details of each of the convenors and the strands they have been appointed to are provided on the dedicated SORP website.

The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) Board Chair Lindsay Montgomery CBE yesterday said:

Charity annual reports and accounts are a key mechanism for charities to be accountable and transparent. As regulator, we want to make sure that they are as useful, helpful and understandable as possible. Consequently OSCR takes its role as part of the SORP-making body very seriously. We would like to thank everyone who has volunteered as an engagement partner. To those who will act as convenors, you have a great opportunity to create a thoughtful debate around the development of a critical contributor to public trust in charities.

Sarah Finnegan, Head of Compliance and Enquiries at the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland yesterday said:

We are delighted to see the interest and enthusiasm from so many of our engagement partners in taking on the role of convenor and now look forward to working with our new convenors throughout the process of developing the SORP.

Nigel Davies, Assistant Director of Accountancy Services at the Charity Commission for England and Wales yesterday said:

It is heartening to see charities embracing leadership and responsibility for the wider sector by volunteering to act as convenors as part of our SORP engagement work. Enhancing the SORP will support charities deliver better financial reporting that meets the expectations of the public.

Helen Martin, Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator, Ireland yesterday said:

The Charities Regulator regards the Charity SORP as an important means for charities to achieve greater levels of accountability. Engagement with the charities sector is key to the development of the SORP. We therefore very much welcome The Wheel as the convenor of the larger charities engagement strand – the first organisation from the Republic of Ireland to play a critical role in this new engagement process.

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Notes to Editors

For more information about the SORP, the SORP-making body and advisory SORP Committee, please refer to this dedicated website.