Policy update: September 2026

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

Vicky Foxcroft appointed as Charities Minister

We welcome Vicky Foxcroft in her new position as Charities Minister. It has taken the government some time to make this announcement. You can read our full statement here. We look forward to meeting with the Minister soon – a meeting is scheduled – and working together to ensure the experience and expertise of charity leaders informs government decision-making, including through the implementation of the Civil Society Covenant.  

Government priorities

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the government will be publishing a new White Paper on its devolution agenda, making this a much clearer government priority. This is part of his intention to move power away from Westminster and bring decision-making closer to communities. For charity leaders, this could mean a greater need to engage with mayors, combined authorities and local government, as well as central government. Organisations delivering services or working on local issues may have new opportunities to influence priorities and develop partnerships at a regional and local level.

The government has also announced more than £1.5bn for NHS hospitals. Over £200m will fund 10 major hospital projects, while over £1.3bn will go towards maintenance, safety and resilience improvements. Additionally, the Health Bill is progressing its proposals to abolish NHS England, reduce national bureaucracy and give NHS organisations and local health bodies greater flexibility to design and deliver services around local populations. For leaders working in health and care, these reforms could change how services are planned, commissioned and delivered, and may create opportunities for stronger partnerships between NHS bodies, local authorities and community organisations.

Three new cross-government taskforces have been created, focused on cost-of-living, public control and community renewal. The taskforces, based in the new Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet, will work across government and with local leaders and regional mayors. The public control taskforce will look at how greater public control of essential services including housing, water, energy and transport could improve affordability and accountability, whilst the community renewal taskforce will focus on revitalising high streets and supporting communities to develop local solutions.

The Chancellor, John Healey, has set out a stronger focus on growth and devolution. In his September Growth Speech, he announced plans for a roadmap to greater fiscal devolution, including greater retention of business rates by local councils and strategic authorities and changes to how Mayoral Strategic Authorities are funded. He also announced £150m of funding for scale-ups in the North and a new Northern 500 growth community. The announcements reinforce the government’s ambition to shift power and resources towards local leaders and support growth across different parts of the country.

For charity leaders, the direction of travel is towards greater devolution, more local decision-making and closer collaboration between government, public services and communities. This could create opportunities for charities to influence local priorities and contribute to service delivery, but also means leaders may need to build relationships with a wider range of decision-makers. At the same time, changes to employment law, procurement, regulation and public funding will continue to impact the operating environment for charities.

Legislation and regulatory developments

Autumn Budget 2026

The Civil Society Group (CSG) have published its budget submission. We have called on the government to strengthen funding, unlock philanthropy and invest in communities as part of its mission to deliver good growth in every postcode. The group is urging the Chancellor to use the Autumn Budget to put the principles of the Civil Society Covenant into practice by recognising charities as strategic partners in delivering the government’s ambitions for growth and stronger communities. Read the full Civil Society Group Autumn Budget 2026 submission.

Crime and Policing Act 2026

From 1 September, provisions in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removed the supervision exemption from the definition of regulated activity with children. Previously, some volunteers who taught, trained, instructed, cared for or supervised children were not considered to be undertaking regulated activity if they were sufficiently supervised by somebody who is themselves in regulated activity. This meant organisations could only request an Enhanced DBS check for these individuals (without Children’s Barred List checks). From 1 September, this exemption no longer applies. This means that volunteers carrying out qualifying activities with children may be in regulated activity regardless of whether they are supervised, and therefore, will be eligible for Enhanced DBS checks with Children’s Barred List checks. This change will increase children’s safety. Those who are on DBS’s Children’s Barred List will be committing an offence if they undertake a role or activities, supervised or unsupervised, which bring them into regulated activity with children. It is also an offence for an organisation knowingly to permit them to do so (or where the organisation has reason to believe that the person is barred).

Charity leaders should review roles involving children and young people to identify whether any volunteers who were previously supervised and therefore exempt from regulated activity are now within the definition. Organisations may need to obtain Enhanced DBS checks with Children’s Barred List checks before individuals undertake these activities.

Representation of the People Bill

The Representation of the People Bill has now completed its passage through the House of Commons and has moved to the House of Lords. The Bill proposes a range of electoral reforms, including extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, expanding accepted forms of voter ID, introducing more automated voter registration, strengthening political finance rules and increasing the Electoral Commission’s enforcement powers. The Bill was amended during both its Committee and Report stages, with several government amendments implementing recommendations from the Rycroft Review on countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics.

ACEVO policy colleagues take part in the Civil Society Voice Policy and Media groups, working alongside others to discuss and advance the protection and championing of civic space and legitimate campaigning.

Charity Commission guidance on preparing trustees’ annual report updated

The Charity Commission guidance on preparing a trustees’ annual report for your charity has been updated to reflect the introduction of the Charities SORP 2026 which applies to accounting and reporting years starting on or after 1 January 2026. Your trustees’ annual report helps people understand what your charity does, particularly your charity’s beneficiaries and potential funders. You must write a trustees’ annual report if your charity is registered in England or Wales. Along with your accounts, the report tells people: about your charity’s work, achievements and impact, where your money comes from and how you’ve spent your money in the past year.

Charity Commission guidance on charity accounts updated

Guidance from the Charity Commission on what accounts your charity must prepare has been updated to reflect the introduction of SORP 2026 which applies to accounting years starting on or after 1 January 2026 and changes to accounting thresholds which come into effect on 30 September 2026 and apply to financial years ending on or after 30 September 2026.

Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise business hub

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has updated its Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise business hub, which brings together guidance, tools and information to help charities and social enterprises access public sector contracts, understand procurement opportunities and prepare to bid for government work. The hub also includes information on government departments’ commitments to working with VCSE organisations and links to relevant funding and tendering opportunities.

Engagement

Meeting with DCMS Director of Civil Society and Youth

ACEVO CEO, Jane Ide met with DCMS’s new Director of Civil Society and Youth, Ben Jupp earlier this month. Discussion covered DCMS programme of work, the new procurement notice on social value, devolution and the current operating environment for sector leaders. We look forward to continuing to raise the issue of the importance of infrastructure charities/organisations and their funding models, and the need for a conversation into this part of the sector and the impact it has in enabling the government’s mission and priorities in working with civil society in delivering its aims.

HMT and Civil Society Forum meeting

We met with advisors at HMT as part of our regular monthly cycle, set up following the launch of the Civil Society Covenant. Together with other sector bodies NCVO and CFG, we discussed the upcoming budget, the Civil Society Group submission and key asks, the establishment of No 10 North and interaction with HMT. We proposed further Ministerial engagement following the Budget to discuss how to address impacts on communities.

Everyone’s Environment Leaders

Over the past year, ACEVO has been working with New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) and Green Alliance on Everyone’s Environment Leaders. This project brought together lived experience, community, environmental, social justice and funding perspectives to understand how environmental change can be more connected to people’s everyday realities. The work has explored where community insight is lost, what gets in the way of collaboration, and what practical action could help shift power, build trust and support more joined-up responses across civil society. The final report was launched through an online webinar earlier this month, which explored the learning shared so far, what this means in practice, areas of challenge, tension and opportunity and examples of promising approaches worth building on.

Supporting charity leader wellbeing

The influencing team held its second meeting with the ACEVO member steering group on CEO wellbeing. The discussion focused on the first theme of the planned report: governance, board behaviour and the chair-CEO relationship. The steering group will continue meet throughout the next few months.

Consultations

The future of National Lottery funding

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) launched a consultation on the future of National Lottery Good Cause funding. ACEVO submitted a response which advocated for a funding system that is needs-led, inclusive, transparent and responsive to changing community needs, recognising that communities can be defined by shared experiences, identities or circumstances as well as geography. Thank you to our members who provided case studies, which helped our response.

Acas consultation on the updated draft Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures

We responded to the Acas consultation on the updated draft Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. The draft Code places greater emphasis on early, informal resolution of workplace concerns, covering both employer and worker concerns. It provides practical suggestions whilst aiming to avoid overly formalising informal processes, including making written confirmation of outcomes optional. The guidance would form part of the statutory Code and could therefore be considered by employment tribunals when assessing relevant cases.

Post-Implementation Review 2027 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004

The government is seeking views as part of the Post-Implementation Review 2027 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. VCS Emergencies Partnership are preparing a collective response and would value input from partners to help shape this. They have published a discussion paper that sets out three options. The aim is to explore how legislation might better support effective resilience outcomes. Send your responses to the key questions (listed in the paper), along with any additional reflections, to Policy and Insight Lead, Tom Watkins on twatkins@vcsep.org.uk by Thursday 1 October.