News In Focus
19 July 2007
Organisations have charitable status confirmed
A number of organisations have been confirmed as charities, following a pilot review by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
The charities, which all volunteered for the pilot, were the first of Scotland’s 23,000 plus existing charities to be assessed by OSCR under the new charity test specified in the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. All new applicants have been assessed against the test since April last year.
OSCR has confirmed that all of the pilots demonstrated that they provide public benefit. Fourteen of the charities have been confirmed as meeting the charity test and two – John Wheatley College, Glasgow, and the Voluntary Action Fund – have been issued with directions on technical matters regarding their constitutions.
The organisations that have been confirmed as charities are: the High School of Dundee; the University of Dundee; Eastriggs and Dornock Children’s Gala Fund; Pollokshaws Methodist Church; Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society; East Cults Playgroup; Midstocket Playgroup; St. Devenick’s Playgroup; Kingswells Playgroup; Milltimber Community Association; Oldmachar Community Playgroup; Kids Crew; Culter Community Playgroup; and Cloverfield Playgroup.
OSCR chief executive Jane Ryder said: “This is good news for the charities that took part in our pilot exercise. All of them have demonstrated that they provide public benefit – one of the key criteria in the new charity test. We are very grateful to them for taking part in this pilot exercise which has been valuable to us in developing the criteria against which we will now start to assess all of Scotland’s 23,500 charities.
“This rolling review of the charity sector has been designed in light of extensive consultation with the sector and we are satisfied that our general approach will be welcomed by charities as transparent, consistent and fair.”
OSCR chair John Naylor said: “The next 10 years will see every one of Scotland’s 23,500 charities assessed in light of the new legislation. The methods we will employ will ensure consistency across the wide range of charities in Scotland. We have been able to streamline processes and reduce the burden on charities and we will provide [them] with updated guidance on how to meet the new charity test.”