OSCR embarks on full charity status review
21 Sep 07
Thirty charities named in first stage following pilot project
Scotland’s charity regulator OSCR has named the first 30 charities to be reviewed in its rolling review of charitable status.
The review, which will cover all of Scotland's 23,500 charities over the next seven to 10 years, will see each charity assessed against the new charity test specified in the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
The National Trust for Scotland, the Scottish Youth Hostel Association and 11 independent schools among those included in the "first priority phase", to be completed by next May.
Risk-based approach
In July, OSCR announced the outcome of its pilot process which assessed 16 volunteer charities and passed them as meeting the charity test. Head of Charities, Marieke Dwarshuis, said that the selection of charities announced today demonstrated the risk-based approach of the rolling review.
"OSCR has consulted widely on its proposals for the rolling review. The feedback received from charities, professional advisers, charity trustees and members of the public is that our risk-based approach is appropriate.
"On that basis, we have identified several types of charities that may present risk or uncertainty in the context of the charity test. The review of charitable status will enable us to determine whether they meet the charity test and can remain on the Scottish Charity Register."
The other charities comprising the 30 include four residential care providers, three museums, three others with a membership structure (the Scottish Rock Garden Club, the Kilwinning Community Sports Club and the Biggar Music Club), and seven randomly selected from the register, among them an animal sanctuary, an interfaith association and the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust.