Charity Commission clarifies bullying and harassment roles and responsibilities

Following collaborative project, Commission clarifies bullying and harassment roles and responsibilities

The Charity Commission has clarified respective responsibilities of charity trustees and of the Commission in preventing and responding to incidents of bullying and harassment in charities, and in particular, the roles and responsibilities of trustees. Trustees must recognise that there is no place for bullying and harassment within, or by, charities.

This follows a working group co-chaired by the regulator involving a range of charity sector and other representatives.

The announcement from the Charity Commission refers to the Commission’s safeguarding guidance which sets out that charities with employees should have welfare, discipline and whistleblowing policies for staff, including clear policies and procedures on bullying and harassment. It also reminds trustees that serious incidents of bullying or harrassment would have to be reported via the Commission’s Serious Incident reporting regime.

Read the statement on the Charity Commission’s website.