In this week's Briefing: The Government has published a “Code of Conduct for Recipients of Government General Grants”. The Fundraising Regulator has announced it will name all organisations it investigates, whether the complaint is upheld or not. A new report released by CAF shows the continued rise of donor advised funds in the UK.

In this week's Briefing: From 17 December, new regulations will give the Information Commissioner's Office power to fine officers of a body corporate up to £500,000 for breach of the rules on the use of automated calling systems and unsolicited direct marketing. The Department for Education has published updated statutory guidance on opening and closing local authority-maintained schools.

You can find bespoke Elections & Campaigning guidance on the newly-designed Get Legal website.

In this week's Briefing: The Charity Commission has updated and reformatted its Operational Guidance on students’ unions. A new Charity Digital Code has been published. The Information Commissioner’s Office is consulting on an updated direct marketing code of practice.

Charities involved in challenge events need to be aware of the changes to the Package Travel and ATOL Regulations.

Following the resignation of Tracey Crouch as Minister for Civil Society, Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) have issued a call to action asking the Prime Minister to create a dedicated Minister for Social Enterprise and Inclusive Economy in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

In this week's Briefing: The Budget included several welcome tax announcements for charities. Over 80 sector organisations have joined together to form the Brexit Civil Society Alliance. The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued the maximum possible fine of £500,000 to Facebook for failing to protect users’ personal information. Over 120 organisations have co-signed a letter to the Prime Minister about a crisis in children’s services. The Care Quality Commission has published a consultation on the fees that it proposes to charge providers in 2019/20.

BWB partner Lawrence Simanowitz reflects on the work of BWB client Samaritans.

At last night's WISE100 2018 event, attendees celebrated the 100 leading women in the fields of social enterprise and impact investment. Abbie Rumbold, partner in our Charities & Social Enterprise team, chaired this year's judging panel.

In this week's Briefing: The Charity Commission has published the final report of its safeguarding taskforce. The government has issued notices explaining the impact of a “no deal” Brexit on ownership, accounting and reporting of UK companies with an EU presence and EU companies with a presence in the UK. This week is charity fraud awareness week.

In this week's Briefing: The Local Government Association has issued a briefing covering the issues for local government associated with a Brexit "no deal" scenario. The Information Commissioner's Office has expanded its guidance on exemptions to the GDPR. The Prime Minister has launched the Government’s first loneliness strategy. 

In this week's Briefing: A Manchester firm has been fined £150,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office for making thousands of nuisance direct marketing phone calls. The government has announced a £240 million “social care investment” to ease NHS winter pressures. Five Youth Performance Partnerships are to be created in England to give young people greater access to the performing arts.

Two of the charity sector’s leading trade publications, Civil Society and Third Sector, have featured Bates Wells’ annual Charity and Social Enterprise Tea Party in their coverage.

In this week's Briefing: The Charity Commission has provided feedback to NCVO’s consultation on its Draft Code of Ethics. This Thursday 4th October is Gift Aid Awareness Day. The Information Commissioner’s Office has begun formal enforcement action against 34 organisations that have failed to pay the new data protection fee.

In this week's Briefing: The Information Commissioner’s Office has issued its first post-GDPR enforcement notice. The Education and Skills Funding Agency has published updated versions of its Schools forum guidance. British Asian Trust has announced the world’s largest impact bond. The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is consulting on its draft Strategic Plan 2019-2022.

In this week's Briefing: The Charity Commission has published a new piece of guidance about checking that setting up a new charity is the best option in the circumstances. The International Development Committee has published its Report into the Definition and administration of Official Development Assistance. DCMS has published a report on “Place-based giving schemes: funding, engaging and creating stronger communities”.

Our Charity & Social Enterprise department are delighted to present their Autumn Update 2018.

In this week's Briefing: Charity Finance Group has published a “Cost Benefit Analysis of Brexit for Charities”. The Fundraising Regulator has announced a consultation on a revised version of the Code. The government has announced 22 projects which will be funded through a Social Impact Bond, via the Life Chances Fund. The Electoral Commission is conducting a survey on its guidance for non-party campaigners.

In this week's Briefing: The Charity Commission has published two reports relating to charity accounts - the first on whether charity accounts and reports meet the reader’s needs and the second on public benefit reporting. Since 1st September a new framework is in place allowing a Community Interest Company (CIC) to convert into a CIO (charitable incorporated organisation).

In this week's Briefing: The Charity Commission has published its next steps in relation to guidance for charities “connected with” non-charities. The Investment Association has published an updated guide to charity authorised investment funds (CAIFs). The House of Commons International Development Committee has published its “Report into Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in the Aid Sector.