In a rapidly changing political environment, staying informed about emerging trends, policies and sector developments is more important than ever. ACEVO’s policy updates explore the latest developments affecting the civil society sector, from governance and regulation to legislative changes that might impact charity leaders.
Political environment
Sir Keir Starmer resigns as Prime Minister
Sir Keir Starmer resigned as Prime Minister on 22 June. You can read a comment from ACEVO CEO, Jane Ide, who hopes our next Prime Minister continues to recognise the immense value of civil society in fostering social cohesion and wellbeing.
The only candidate who has so far declared they are standing in the Labour leadership context is the newly elected Andy Burnham MP, who could become the new Prime Minister as soon 17 July if no other candidates put themselves forward by the deadline. Much speculation over who he might appoint to his Cabinet is ongoing, but it’s safe to assume that there will be substantial change in Ministerial appointments whoever assumes the leadership role.
Forthcoming Greater Manchester mayoral by-election
Political parties have begun to announce their candidates for the forthcoming Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, following the resignation of Andy Burnham after he won the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. People living in all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester will elect his successor on 30 July. Currently, the list of candidates who have confirmed they are standing in the election is Geraldine Coggins (Green Party) and Marlon West (Restore Britain). The list will be updated as and when further candidates are announced.
Local and devolved elections
Local and devolved election results have altered the UK’s political balance, with parties such as Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens making advances, whilst both Labour and the Conservatives experienced setbacks. Our colleagues at the Directory of Social Change have written a great piece summarising what local and devolved election results could mean for charities.
For charity leaders, this means navigating a landscape where influence is increasingly dispersed across a wider range of political parties, local authorities and devolved governments. The arrival of many newly elected councillors, mayors and representatives presents an opportunity for charities to establish themselves as trusted partners from the outset. Leaders who engage early can help shape emerging priorities, demonstrate the value of civil sector expertise and position their organisations as part of the solution to local and national challenges.
Regulatory environment
Charity Commission launches new guidance on grant-making
The Charity Commission has published new guidance to support trustees in making effective grant-making decisions amid ongoing financial pressures across the sector. The guidance clarifies that grant-making charities have the flexibility to provide unrestricted grants to charities with the same, or narrower, purposes than their own. The guidance also says that charities can fund organisations that are not charities, which can help reach new beneficiaries or grow grant-making charities’ impact.
For charity leaders, the guidance highlights the growing importance of flexible funding alongside strong governance and risk management. In all cases, grant-making charities must have a written agreement in place and should monitor it to make sure the recipient organisation is meeting the agreed terms. The Commission expects charities to complete appropriate checks on potential recipients of funds, including ensuring they understand how the organisation operates, checking if it is genuine, and that the grant can be effectively monitored.
Governance
ACEVO’s Pay and Equalities Survey
The ACEVO Pay and Equalities Survey data collection has now closed and thank you to those who took part. The resulting report is due to be launched in November. You can read the short briefings we have provided over the course of the year, where we focus on a snapshot of just one aspect of the findings from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 surveys. These include:
- CEO satisfaction with board diversity.
- Median income in different age groups.
- Gender pay gap and representation by charity size.
- Socioeconomic background.
- Working benefits and wellbeing.
Visit acevo.org.uk to purchase the full and detailed 2025 Pay and Equalities Survey report.
DCMS UK Data Spine
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has published the ‘Data Spine’, which contains records for over 770,000 civil society organisations drawn from across the UK. These include charities registered with the Charity Commission, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, and the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, as well as Community Interest Companies, co-operatives and mutuals, and other nonprofit companies registered at Companies House. It represents a step-change in how the civil society sector can be analysed.
Board Behaviours research with CEOs and chairs of trustees
Drawing on insights from CEOs, chairs and trustees (members of ACEVO or AoC), together with nfpResearch, we published research that explores the behaviours, relationships and governance practices shaping charity boards across the UK. The research highlights that while most CEO–chair relationships are strong, this does not always translate into highly effective boards. Trust, open communication and constructive challenge are critical, but many organisations still face governance challenges, including unclear roles, difficult board behaviours, inconsistent appraisal processes and skills gaps. Download the full findings.
Legislation
Equality and Human Rights Commission’s ‘Code of Practice’
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) has published its long-awaited draft Code of Practice for services, public functions and associations, which has now been laid before Parliament.
The code provides guidance across all nine protected characteristics and up-to-date examples of how the Equality Act 2010 applies to everyday situations. It reflects over a decade of legal developments, including the Supreme Court (SC) ruling in April 2025, which said sex means biological sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010.
Read the full guidance and a note from the chair of the EHRC on what the Code says in relation to sex and gender reassignment, and how it applies to organisations providing services, exercising public functions and running associations.
Crime and Policing Act 2026
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April and introduces a range of new measures aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour, strengthening community safety and addressing issues such as violence against women and girls, knife crime and exploitation. The Act also includes changes to the policing of protests and wider public-order powers.
Charity leaders and their staff working in areas such as campaigning, advocacy, civil liberties, community safety and youth services should familiarise themselves with the Act’s provisions, particularly those relating to protests and public assemblies.
Representation of the People Bill
The Representation of the People Bill is at the House of Commons Committee Stage. It proposes a series of reforms to the UK’s electoral system. Key measures include extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, broadening the range of accepted voter identification, introducing more automated voter registration processes, strengthening political finance rules and enhancing the Electoral Commission’s enforcement powers. The wider debate around the Bill has also included issues such as political donations, foreign influence, AI-generated election content and online misinformation.
The Bill could have important implications for charities involved in campaigning, advocacy and public affairs. Leaders and trustees should monitor developments closely, particularly any changes to non-party campaigning rules, political finance regulations and the powers of the Electoral Commission. Organisations may also wish to consider how any reforms could impact their engagement during election periods and their wider influencing activity.
New ‘The Roadmap’ tool launched by ProtectUK
A new tool called “The Roadmap” has been launched by ProtectUK to help organisations improve their counter-terrorism security and preparedness. It is designed for organisations at any stage of their security journey, from those just starting out to those looking to enhance existing measures.
It is a structured tool that signposts users to relevant existing guidance so they can better protect people and places from acts of terrorism as well as wider criminal threats.
It is intended for any organisation, venue and premise. It brings together key principles, guidance, and links to trusted resources, enabling users to take a step-by-step approach to improving their security posture.
It is designed to support all settings, regardless of whether they are in scope for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law. If your setting is subject to The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, you should refer to the Section 27 statutory guidance to understand compliance with the legislation.
As these updates show, the external environment for leaders and their organisations is shifting quickly. We will continue to share insights, resources and reflections to help leaders navigate changes with confidence. And we also want to hear from you! How are these changes affecting your organisation? Share your experiences with us at policy@acevo.org.uk.