Campaigning and elections as well as legislation and regulation was the main topic of discussion. Preparing for election 2015 was the general theme. Find out more about NCVO's upcoming events: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/training-and-events/events-listing

1. Campaigning &
Elections
Legislation and
Regulation

2. Charities Act – list of charitable purposes
•A political purpose cannot be charitable
•The guiding principle of charity law is that charities
should be, and be seen to be, independent from party
politics

3. Charity Commission guidance CC9 ‘Speaking Out:
guidance on campaigning and political activities by
charities’
•political activity and campaigning are permissible if
undertaken in furtherance of a charitable purpose

4. Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000
(PPERA)
•registration with the Electoral Commission as a
‘recognised third party’

5. Charity Commission Guidance on Charities, Elections
and Referendums
Key principles:
•independence and impartiality
•political neutrality
•no political partisanship or party political activity

6. Anything else?
•Representation of the People Act 1983
•Communications Act 2003
•Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005
•Local Government Act 1986
Useful websites:
•Advertising Standards Authority www.asa.org.uk
•Local Government Association www.lga.gov.uk

7. Some questions you should always ask yourself:
•Is what you’re doing outside your organisation’s
charitable purposes?
•Would your behaviour or statement compromise the
charity’s independence?
•Are the campaign or the activities involved party
political?
•Is the use of charitable resources a proper use of
charitable funds (as opposed to Party political
purposes)?