Felixstowe Charity News: new accounting guidance, funding deadlines and volunteering trends

Monday 21 September 2026

New Charity Commission guidance will help trustees navigate forthcoming accounting changes, while several funding opportunities require action before the end of September. This week also brings new evidence about volunteering and charitable giving, an employment-law change and further fundraising activity in Felixstowe.

Charity Commission publishes new accounting guidance

The Charity Commission issued new guidance on 16 September, with separate information for trusts and unincorporated associations, charitable companies and charitable incorporated organisations.

For financial years ending on or after 30 September 2026, the income threshold for mandatory independent examination rises from £25,000 to £40,000. The threshold for preparing accruals accounts rises from £250,000 to £500,000, while an audit will generally be required above £1.5 million.

The new Charities SORP applies to financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026. All charities must still prepare accounts, irrespective of their size, and requirements in governing documents or funding agreements may exceed the statutory minimum.

Why this matters: Trustees should identify which rules apply to their charity’s legal structure and financial year. Any change to accounting arrangements should be discussed with the charity’s independent examiner or accountant in good time.

Read the Charity Commission announcement⁠ and compare the threshold changes⁠.

Right-to-work responsibilities broaden from October

Home Office draft guidance sets out an expanded Right to Work Scheme taking effect on 1 October. Responsibilities will extend beyond employees working under conventional employment contracts to include people engaged under worker contracts, certain individual subcontractors and some online matching-service arrangements.

Genuine volunteering is not brought into the scheme. However, charities using casual paid workers, sessional staff or self-employed individuals should check whether their arrangements are covered. Checks should be applied consistently to avoid unlawful discrimination.

Why this matters: Organisations should review how they classify and onboard paid workers before 1 October, record the required checks securely and seek advice where employment status is unclear.

Read the Home Office guidance⁠.

Volunteering rises, but time remains the biggest barrier

New England-wide government statistics show that 18% of adults volunteered formally at least monthly during 2025/26. Including informal help given outside organised groups, 35% volunteered at least once a month.

Helping people or improving things was the most frequently reported motivation, cited by 51% of formal volunteers. Work commitments were the leading barrier, cited by 51% of those who had volunteered less than monthly or not at all.

Meanwhile, 66% of adults had given money to charity during the preceding four weeks. Charity-shop or catalogue purchases were the most common giving method, used by 28%, followed by direct debits or standing orders at 24%.

Why this matters: Flexible, short and clearly defined opportunities may help organisations reach people unable to make a regular commitment. Recruitment messages should show the practical difference volunteers will make.

Explore the volunteering and charitable-giving report⁠.

Funding deadlines approach

The Asda Foundation Foodbank Fundamentals Fund offers up to £1,000 to not-for-profit organisations whose core purpose is distributing food and alleviating food poverty. Eligible costs include essential food, toiletries, refrigeration, storage and fuel for deliveries. Applications close at 10am on 22 September and may close earlier if demand is high. Check eligibility and apply⁠.

The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) offers grants of up to £5,000 to community-led organisations with annual income below £250,000. Priorities include basic needs and homelessness, early-childhood development, preventing violence against women and girls, and supporting refugees and people experiencing forced migration. The deadline is 5pm on 30 September. Read the application guidance⁠.

Applications for National Garden Scheme Community Garden Grants open on 29 September. Grants of £1,500–£5,000 will support horticultural projects benefiting local communities; only the first 300 eligible submissions will be considered. Prepare an application⁠.

Heritage Week highlights volunteer contribution

Felixstowe Heritage Week concluded on 20 September following a volunteer-supported programme of exhibitions, walks, performances and historic-building openings. Organisers report several thousand participants over the main weekend, demonstrating what local groups can achieve through shared promotion and partnership working.

See the Felixstowe Heritage Week programme⁠.

Mayor’s autumn charity programme continues

Felixstowe Mayor Cllr Darren Aitchison’s programme supporting Brave Futures, Dora Brown and Pitstop includes a charity skydive on 27 September, the Half Moon Quiz on 30 September and the Bargain Hunt Auction at Harvest House on 3 October.

See the full programme from Felixstowe Town Council⁠.

Dates and opportunities

• 22 September, 10am: Asda Foundation Foodbank Fundamentals Fund closes.
• 22 September, 9.30am–12.30pm: Online Volunteers and the Law training. Details⁠
• 29 September: National Garden Scheme grant applications open.
• 30 September, 5pm: Comic Relief Community Fund closes.
• 30 September: New charity accounting thresholds begin applying to relevant financial years.
• 1 October: Expanded Right to Work Scheme takes effect.
• 2 October, 9am: East Suffolk Youth Fund closes. Fund information⁠
• 3 October, 7pm: Mayor’s Bargain Hunt Auction, Harvest House.
• 19 October: Port Community Fund closes. Fund information⁠
• 5 November, 9.30am–3pm: Felixstowe Charities Summit, Felixstowe School.

Information was checked at the time of publication; readers should confirm details with the relevant organisation.

Felixstowe Charity News

Felixstowe Charity News

Felixstowe Charity News: Gift Aid improvements and new local funding

Monday 14 September 2026

New local grants provide timely opportunities for Felixstowe organisations, while HMRC has introduced a simpler online Gift Aid process. This week’s briefing also covers financial controls, volunteer-management training and forthcoming community events.

HMRC simplifies the online Gift Aid claims process

HMRC announced on 9 September that an updated online service for claiming Gift Aid and tax repayments went live at the beginning of the month. The new process divides claims into clearer, single-purpose screens and provides more structured guidance; the eligibility requirements for claims have not changed.

A new HMRC video explains how Gift Aid allows eligible charities to claim an additional 25p for every £1 donated. It also covers common circumstances in which donations do not qualify, including the requirement for donors to have paid sufficient UK Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax.

HMRC is also seeking people who have registered a charity for tax and posted supporting evidence during that process to participate in user-research sessions.

Why this matters: Charities should familiarise finance staff and volunteers with the updated service before their next claim. Accurate declarations help organisations maximise income while avoiding invalid claims and subsequent corrections.

Read HMRC’s September charities newsletter⁠

Charity Commission warns against open and blank cheques

The Charity Commission reported on 9 September that it had concluded investigations into four charities within a wider statutory class inquiry. The inquiry originally followed evidence that 105 charities had issued cheques subsequently exchanged for £22 million in cash between December 2021 and March 2023.

Although the four charities were found to have undertaken charitable activity, the regulator identified misconduct or mismanagement in every case because blank or open cheques created significant risk and lacked adequate oversight. The charities still operating have been given regulatory action plans to strengthen their governance and internal financial controls.

Why this matters: Trustee boards should ensure that payments have supporting documentation, appropriate authorisation and a clear audit trail. Pre-signing cheques or approving payments without knowing the recipient should never form part of a charity’s financial procedures.

Read the Charity Commission’s findings⁠

Port Community Fund opens for Felixstowe applications

The Port Community Fund opened on 7 September, offering grants of up to £2,000 towards core and project costs. It is specifically intended for grassroots charitable and community organisations supporting people who live or work in Felixstowe and the Trimleys, as well as communities experiencing deprivation in Ipswich and Woodbridge.

Priorities include locally developed solutions, community cohesion, sustainable and supportive communities, tackling disadvantage, and promoting health and wellbeing. Social enterprises are not eligible for this particular fund. Applications close on 19 October, with decisions expected by early December.

Why this matters: This is one of the most directly relevant funding opportunities for Felixstowe groups. Applicants should explain the local need clearly and show how residents will benefit.

See the criteria and apply to the Port Community Fund⁠

Coastal conservation grants available

The Sea-Changers Harwich Haven Fund is supporting marine conservation projects around the coastal borders of Suffolk and Essex. Projects can involve practical conservation, citizen science, community education or activities encouraging environmental stewardship.

Small grants of up to £500 are available throughout the year. Applications for the main grant programme, offering up to £2,500, remain open until the end of September.

Why this matters: Felixstowe’s coastline makes this particularly relevant to community groups, schools and charities considering beach-care, biodiversity, environmental education or volunteering projects.

Read the official fund announcement⁠ and see application information⁠.

Felixstowe Heritage Week begins

The Felixstowe Society’s Heritage Week runs from 14 to 20 September, with its main weekend on 19 and 20 September. The volunteer-supported programme includes exhibitions, performances, guided walks, historic buildings and the “A Window to Felixstowe’s Past” shopfront trail.

Most activities are free, although some require advance booking. Tours of Martello Tower P are now fully booked, but outdoor activities on Wireless Green remain open to visitors on 19 September.

Explore the Felixstowe Heritage Week programme⁠

Mayor’s Bargain Hunt auction approaches

Ten local charity teams have each been given £100 to find two interesting items in Felixstowe’s shops. The resulting 20 lots will be auctioned at Harvest House at 7pm on Saturday 3 October, with proceeds supporting the Mayor’s Charities: Pitstop, Brave Futures and Dora Brown.

Read the Felixstowe Town Council autumn magazine⁠

Dates and opportunities

• 15 September, 10am–1pm: Online Effective Business Planning training for voluntary organisations; £45 for VCFSE participants. Details and booking⁠
• 19–20 September: Main weekend of Felixstowe Heritage Week.
• 22 September, 9.30am–12.30pm: Online Volunteers and the Law training. Details and booking⁠
• 29 September, 9.30am–1.30pm: Online Volunteer Journey training covering recruitment, induction, support and retention. Details and booking⁠
• 30 September: Main Sea-Changers Harwich Haven grant round closes; new charity accounting thresholds also take effect for relevant financial years. Accounting guidance⁠
• 2 October, 9am: East Suffolk Youth Fund deadline. Fund information⁠
• 19 October: Port Community Fund deadline.
• 5 November, 9.30am–3pm: Second Felixstowe Charities Summit at Felixstowe School.

Information was checked at the time of publication; readers should confirm details with the relevant organisation.

Monday 7 September 2026

This week brings an important safeguarding change for organisations working with children, fresh reminders about trustees’ financial responsibilities and new evidence about what builds confidence in fundraising. We also highlight free support and forthcoming training for Suffolk charities and community groups.

DBS rules have changed for some roles involving children

From 1 September, the “supervision exemption” was removed from the definition of regulated activity with children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Paid staff and volunteers whose work previously fell outside regulated activity solely because they were supervised may now be eligible for an Enhanced DBS check including the Children’s Barred List.

The Disclosure and Barring Service stresses that this does not mean every role involving children automatically requires a DBS check. Organisations must still consider the work undertaken, its frequency and the other eligibility criteria.

Why this matters: Charities, sports clubs, youth groups and cultural organisations should review the roles of staff and volunteers working with children. Particular attention should be given to roles previously treated as outside regulated activity because the person was supervised.

Read the DBS explanation and guidance⁠

Employers named for minimum-wage underpayments

The Government announced on 3 September that nearly 660 employers had been named for failing to pay the National Minimum Wage. Around £4 million has been repaid to approximately 27,000 workers.

The current minimum hourly rates are £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over, £10.85 for those aged 18 to 20, and £8 for younger workers and qualifying apprentices.

Why this matters: Charities employing staff should check that payroll arrangements correctly reflect workers’ ages, apprentice status and all working time. Trustees should seek appropriate advice if they are uncertain, as charitable status does not provide any exemption from minimum-wage law.

Read the government announcement and employer guidance⁠

Charity Commission emphasises financial oversight

A Charity Commission report published on 4 September criticised the former trustees of Coventry City of Culture Trust for inadequate budgeting, financial planning and scrutiny of the charity’s sustainability.

The regulator concluded that the failures amounted to misconduct or mismanagement. It found no evidence of charitable funds being misused for personal gain, but said trustees had relied too heavily on the executive team and had not responded adequately to financial risks or the loss of important funding.

Why this matters: Delegating day-to-day financial management does not remove the board’s responsibility. Trustees should receive understandable financial information, question forecasts, monitor cash flow and record important decisions.

Read the Charity Commission’s findings⁠

What gives the public confidence in fundraising?

New Fundraising Regulator research found that 64% of people described their overall experience of supporting charities as positive. Across every fundraising method examined, people who had a positive experience were more likely to say they would support charities in future.

However, 70% said they trusted some fundraisers but not others. Concerns included whether organisations were genuine and whether donations were being used properly. Among those surveyed, 45% said seeing the Fundraising Badge would make them more likely to donate.

Why this matters: Clear explanations of how money will be used, courteous treatment of supporters and visible evidence of accountability can all strengthen public confidence. Charities registered with the Fundraising Regulator should consider displaying its badge prominently.

Read the Fundraising Regulator’s research⁠

Artificial intelligence changes the grant-funding landscape

The GC Gibson Charitable Trust has stopped accepting open online applications. The funder says it will instead identify potential recipients through its trustees’ networks and its database of previous applicants. Civil Society reported that the Trust attributed the volume of applications partly to the increased use of artificial intelligence.

This is one funder’s decision and should not be treated as evidence that all grantmakers will follow the same course. It does, however, underline the importance of building relationships, maintaining a visible local profile and submitting specific applications supported by genuine evidence rather than generic AI-generated material.

Read the funder’s current application information⁠ and the sector report⁠.

Free organisational support available in Suffolk

The Stronger Suffolk VCFSE Support Programme offers free assistance to Suffolk charities, community groups, faith organisations and social enterprises where cost is a barrier.

Support can include an organisational health check, action planning, governance and business-planning assistance, training and individual implementation support. A separate pathway is available for CICs reviewing their structure, business model or long-term sustainability. Expressions of interest are accepted throughout the year.

Find out about the Stronger Suffolk programme⁠

Felixstowe’s voluntary groups support Heritage Open Days

East Suffolk Council has highlighted the contribution of voluntary and community organisations to Heritage Open Days, taking place from 11 to 20 September. Council grants of up to £750 are supporting 13 local projects, including the Felixstowe Society’s “A Window to Felixstowe’s Past” trail and Felixstowe Museum’s “Changing Faces” exhibition.

The Felixstowe programme also includes Level Two’s “Journeys of Hope”, performed at Felixstowe railway station at 11.40am on Saturday 19 September.

Read the East Suffolk announcement⁠ and see details of Journeys of Hope⁠.

Dates and opportunities

• 11 September: Advance booking closes for tours of Martello Tower P.
• 15 September, 10.00–11.30am: Free “Let’s Talk – Volunteering” session for East Suffolk organisations at the Kirkley Centre, Lowestoft. Details and booking⁠
• 19–20 September: Main weekend of Felixstowe Heritage Open Days activities.
• 22 September, 9.30am–12.30pm: Community Action Suffolk’s online “Volunteers and the Law” training. Details and booking⁠
• 30 September: New charity accounting and independent-examination thresholds take effect for relevant financial years ending on or after this date. Charity Commission guidance⁠
• 30 September, 10.00–11.00am: Free online NHS Healthy Start webinar for organisations supporting young families. Details and booking⁠
• 2 October, 9.00am: East Suffolk Youth Fund application deadline.
• 5 November, 9.30am–3.00pm: Second Felixstowe Charities Summit at Felixstowe School.

Information was checked at the time of publication; readers should confirm details with the relevant organisation.

Trial edition – 3 September 2026

Welcome to this week’s round-up of news, funding and forthcoming events relevant to charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in Felixstowe. This edition includes important accounting changes, local grant opportunities and developments affecting volunteer recruitment.

New charity accounting thresholds take effect this month

Several important charity accounting thresholds will rise on 30 September 2026, applying to financial years ending on or after that date.

The income threshold above which accounts must normally be independently examined will rise from £25,000 to £40,000. The threshold at which an independent examiner must be professionally qualified will rise from £250,000 to £500,000.

Non-company charities with income below £500,000 will be able to use receipts and payments accounts, compared with the present £250,000 limit. The main audit threshold will rise from £1 million to £1.5 million.

Why this matters: Trustees should check how the changes affect their next set of accounts before altering arrangements with their accountant, auditor or independent examiner. Different rules may apply to charitable companies and charities whose governing documents or funders require an audit.

Read the Charity Commission guidance

Charity Commission warns of increasing risks

The Charity Commission’s 2026 risk assessment reports a 29% increase in concerns about charitable status being exploited for private benefit, with 374 cases recorded during 2025–26.

Financial pressures also remain significant. Two in five charities spent more than their income, while safeguarding continued to account for around a quarter of concerns reported to the regulator. The Commission also highlights fraud, weak governance and the possible misuse of artificial intelligence in fraudulent charity and grant applications.

Why this matters: Trustees may wish to review their risk register, financial forecasts, safeguarding procedures and checks on prospective suppliers or delivery partners.

Read the Charity Commission’s risk assessment

Reach Volunteering announces closure

Reach Volunteering, which has connected charities with trustees and skilled volunteers for 45 years, began a managed closure programme on 1 September after deciding that it could not secure sustainable long-term funding.

The last day for organisations to advertise new roles is expected to be 28 September, with applications continuing until 26 October. Organisations using the service should download any information they need and consider alternative recruitment channels.

Felixstowe organisations can also advertise opportunities through the Felixstowe Charities Network volunteer vacancies page.

Read Reach Volunteering’s closure information

East Suffolk Youth Fund open for applications

Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations can apply to the East Suffolk Youth Fund for grants of between £200 and £2,000.

The fund supports projects benefiting young people across East Suffolk. Priorities include mental health and wellbeing, sport, transport, youth clubs, environmental projects, employment skills, activities for 14 to 18-year-olds and removing financial barriers to opportunities.

A total of £32,000 is available, and grants can cover up to 100% of eligible project costs. Applications close at 9.00am on Friday 2 October 2026.

Read the East Suffolk Youth Fund guidance

Local funding watch

Suffolk Community Foundation continues to accept applications to its Central Fund, which offers grants of up to £5,000 for core costs, projects and some equipment.

The Harwich Haven Authority Fund is scheduled to reopen during September. It can provide up to £5,000 for suitable projects in IP11 and other eligible Suffolk postcode areas. Its priorities include the environment, maritime activities, education, community resilience and physical or mental wellbeing. At the time of writing, the individual fund page still shows the application round as closed, so applicants should check before beginning an application.

The Port Community Fund, supported by businesses associated with the Port of Felixstowe, is also expected to reopen during September for eligible local charitable and community organisations.

See current Suffolk Community Foundation grants

Giving remains substantial but fewer people can afford to donate

The Charities Aid Foundation’s UK Giving Report 2026 estimates that the British public donated £14 billion during 2025. However, one in five people said they could not afford to give to charity.

Direct debits and standing orders remain the most popular donation methods. For smaller charities, this reinforces the value of offering simple regular-giving options alongside one-off appeals and local fundraising events.

Read the UK Giving Report 2026

New national fund will support local partnerships

The Government confirmed on 2 September that Locality UK and its partners have been awarded up to £11.59 million to deliver the Local Covenant Partnerships Fund.

The programme will support partnerships between voluntary organisations, councils and other local bodies in 15 areas of England between 2026 and 2029. The participating areas have not yet been announced, so there is currently no confirmation that Felixstowe or East Suffolk will be included.

Read the government announcement

Dates and opportunities

• 11 September: Advance booking closes for tours of Felixstowe’s Martello Tower P.

• 19–20 September: Felixstowe Heritage Open Days, including historic buildings, guided walks, exhibitions and the Port to Port community art installation. See an example of the Felixstowe programme

• 28 September: Last expected date for posting roles through Reach Volunteering.

• 30 September: New charity accounting thresholds take effect.

• 2 October, 9.00am: East Suffolk Youth Fund application deadline.

• 15 October, 12.45pm: Free online Charity Commission Annual Public Meeting. Register and find out more

• 5 November, 9.30am–3.00pm: Second Felixstowe Charities Summit at Felixstowe School.

Information was checked at the time of publication; readers should confirm details with the relevant organisation.

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