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Legal compliance checklist

This document contains a list of legal aspects that need to be covered by most voluntary organisations.

Political campaigning

Guidance to help you campaign with confidence during an election

  • Government and politics
  • Campaigning

Financial management

Guidance, techniques and tools for managing your organisation's finances

  • Financial management

What's different about charity finance

Find out what makes charity finance different and how to plan appropriately

  • Financial management

Processes, procedures and controls

What controls you need to put in place to stop errors creeping into your accounting, and to reduce the risk of fraud

  • Financial management

Internal controls

Internal controls are the things you do to help manage the risk of an error or a fraud

  • Financial management

Fraud

How to be aware of the risk factors relating to fraud and take steps to protect your organisation.

  • Financial management

Audit and independent examination

The difference between audits and independent examinations and how to prepare for both

  • Financial management

Record keeping and accounting

The basic principles of bookkeeping are the same for charities as for other organisations, you just need to be aware of the slightly different emphasis and the need to keep restricted funds separate.

  • Financial management

Autumn Statement 2023: Impact on charities

Policy and insight manager Sam Mercadante considers the implications of the Autumn Statement for charities

Government policy and funding round-up: November 2023

Latest updates on our influencing work, government policy and funding announcements

  • Financial management
  • Government and politics
  • Funding and income

Time Well Spent 2023: Volunteering among the global majority

Research exploring the volunteering experiences and perspectives of people from the global majority

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Involving volunteers

Impact round-up: December 2023

The latest resources, events and training to help your organisation with its impact and evaluation

  • Impact and evaluation

Volunteering round-up: December 2023

The latest volunteering news, resources and dates for your diary

  • Involving volunteers

Governance round-up: December 2023

New inclusion and campaigning resources, a chance to help shape investment principles, and dates for your diary

  • Governance

Our tribute to Michelle

It is with much love and respect that we pay tribute to our colleague and friend, Michelle Curtis, who passed away unexpectedly in November.

Why your voice is important in 2024, and how NCVO can help

How charities can harness the power of our collective voice in 2024

Practical support bulletin: January 2024

Resources, events, support and information on the big issues affecting small charities

  • Cost of living
  • Digital and technology
  • Involving volunteers

Government policy and funding round-up: January 2024

Latest updates on our influencing work, government policy and funding announcements

  • Funding and income
  • Government and politics

Service Directory

Our Service Directory connect members with specialists who can save our members time and money. Each specialist has experience working with charities and voluntary organisations.

  • Finance
  • HR and recruitment
  • IT and data protection

What is divestment?

Learn about what divestment is and the aims and impacts of divesting from fossil fuels

  • Campaigning

Deciding to set up a new charitable organisation

Access our guidance to help you decide if you should set up a new charity, voluntary organisation or community group

  • Setting up

Choosing your legal structure

What you need to consider when choosing your legal structure and the main characteristics of different legal structures

  • Setting up

Understanding charity status and registration

Find out what charity status is and if you need to register as a charity

  • Setting up

Understanding social enterprise

Find out about social enterprises and their associated legal structures

  • Setting up

A charity's governing document: What it should include

Find out what information should be included in your charity's governing document

  • Setting up

Introduction to employment law

Understand your core legal responsibilities to your employees

  • Employing and managing staff

Understanding employment law

A short summary of your general legal obligations to paid members of staff

  • Employing and managing staff

Conditions of employment

A quick introduction to employment law on the conditions of employment

  • Employing and managing staff

Supporting good governance (4 x 0.5 days)

This course will help you implement structures and processes to support trustees, and ensure systems are aligned with your organisation’s purpose and objectives

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in charity governance (2 x 0.5 days)

This course has been created by The Social Justice Collective to help you understand, address and embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into your governance practice

NCVO member welcome and refresher session: July 2025

Being an NCVO member means being part of a community. Whether you've just joined us, or you're renewing your membership and need a refresher, join this session to meet and network with other members online

Charity trustee induction and refresher (2 x 0.5 days)

This course will give trustees an overview and understanding of charity governance, regulation and best practice

All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Charities and Volunteering

A chance to hear from regulators about their plans for the voluntary sector.

Managing conflict and ending volunteering well (0.5 day)

This course will help you to manage conflict and problem solve with your volunteers, and navigate the process of ending volunteering well.

Outcomes and impact measurement (1 day)

Learn how to create an evaluation plan to better understand and demonstrate the difference your work makes

NCVO/Zurich webinar: navigating financial risk with confidence (1 day)

Learn how to navigate today’s toughest financial challenges facing small voluntary organisations. Discover the tools, insights, and real-world examples you need to build resilience, manage risk and lead with financial confidence.

Managing people in the charity sector (2 days)

This course will equip managers in the voluntary sector with the skills and techniques they need to effectively manage paid members of staff

Strategic planning: tools for decision making (1 day)

This course will introduce processes and tools to help ensure that decision-making is responsive to your environment and focused on the most important issues affecting your organisation