The number of charity whistleblowing disclosures rose by 16 per cent last year, new figures show.
A report from the Charity Commission shows it received 327 whistleblowing disclosures in the year to the end of March, up from 281 in 2021/22.
The primary issues raised by the disclosures were concerns relating to governance, safeguarding or financial management, in line with the findings of last year’s whistleblowing report.
Governance was the most prominent issue raised, with 152 disclosures made. The report says 81 safeguarding disclosures were raised and 62 were made because of concerns about financial harm.
Other issues flagged included disputes, conflicts of interest, reputational damage and GDPR breaches.
The regulator said it had opened a case in response to 89 per cent of disclosures made, with the remainder of disclosures relating to charities that already had an active case open.
It added that 67 per cent of the new cases opened during 2022/23 were closed by the end of the reporting period.
In the majority of the closed cases it was concluded that further action was not proportionate, after the regulator’s enquiries with the relevant charity’s trustees.
In 82 cases, regulatory advice and guidance was provided to the charity and 34 cases saw the regulator exercise its information-gathering powers.
The majority of the charities involved in reported cases were organisations in the education and training sector, with 169 disclosures belonging to this group.
Of the disclosures made, 87 related to charities that served the advancement of health, 71 were from those working in poverty prevention or relief, and 70 worked in the disabilities sector.
According to the report, 55 per cent of these disclosures were from employees or ex-employees. The remainder were reported by non-employees, including volunteers and trustees.
The commission said the disclosures received from whistleblowers over the past year had helped it detect and prevent concerns in a number of charities.
“Whistleblowing disclosures are an important part of how the commission can uncover wrongdoing and harm in charities,” the report says.
“It also assists us in our key strategic objective of holding charities to account and dealing with wrongdoing and harm whilst delivering on our purpose to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.”