The number of whistleblowing disclosures about charity wrongdoing has decreased by 35 per cent in one year, new figures show.
According to its annual whistleblowing report, the Charity Commission received 281 disclosures in the year 2021/2022, 150 fewer than in the previous year.
But the regulator warned that the figure still represented the second highest number of disclosures in the past six years.
The report shows that in 2020/2021, numbers increased by 75 per cent compared to the previous year, jumping to 431 from 247.
The commission attributed the increase to “uncertainties and financial challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as our improved approach to handling whistleblowing disclosures”.
It followed that “the decrease in the latest reporting period could be as a result of some of the challenges associated with Covid-19 being less pronounced”, the report said.
More than half of whistleblowing disclosures – about 52 per cent – came from current and former charity employees, the report shows.
The remaining proportion came predominantly from current and former trustees and volunteers.
The report indicated three main types of issues were raised: governance failures, safeguarding and financial harm.
Less common issues reported in 2021/2022 included disputes, conflicts of interest, reputational damage and GDPR breaches.
The commission said that out of the 281 disclosures it received last year, 243 led to a case being opened as a response, 196 of which warranted making enquiries of the relevant charity.
The remaining 38 related to cases already open.
The report said: “Supporting and encouraging disclosures to be made to us enables the commission to fulfil its statutory objectives.
“It also assists us in our key strategic objective of holding charities to account and dealing with wrongdoing and harm while delivering on our purpose to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.
“Our approach to whistleblowing continues to evolve and it is an important part of how the commission uncovers wrongdoing and harm in charities.”