
Interview: Lynne Berry
The chair of the Commission on Ageing and the Voluntary Sector says charities should think carefully about the rising age of their workforce, beneficiaries and volunteers

The year in policy and politics: 2013
The main developments of the past twelve months included the lobbying bill, a parliamentary select committee mauling of the Charity Commission and a debate by MPs on the charitable nature of religious groups

The year in finance: 2013
The main developments of the past twelve months included the revelations about the tax avoidance scheme the Cup Trust, the introduction of the online Gift Aid system and warnings about a 'pensions time bomb'

Locality chief executive plans to step down
Steve Wyler will leave the membership body for community organisations when a successor has been recruited

Charity Commission has investigated 13 charities with similarities to the Cup Trust, report reveals
Sam Younger, the commission's chief executive, says it is taking a tougher approach to tackling financial abuse and non-compliance by charities

Analysis: is it realistic to demand ethical screening of charity investments?
Comic Relief has been found by the BBC Panorama programme to be investing millions in companies that produce arms, alcohol and tobacco

Government proposes changes to the planned social investment tax relief
Jane Tully of the Charity Finance Group says the amendments, due to be introduced in the Finance Bill 2014, are a step in the right direction

Government to allow community interest companies to pay more to investors
Stephen Lloyd of the law firm Bates Wells Braithwaite welcomes the proposed changes, which follow a consultation

Comic Relief to review its investment policy after criticism over arms, alcohol and tobacco links
Kevin Cahill, its chief executive, says the Charity Commission had confirmed that the policy was 'acceptable', but the charity would seek more clarity on the matter

Comic Relief invested millions in companies contrary to its mission, TV report alleges
The BBC's Panorama programme, to be broadcast this evening, claims that the charity invested in alcohol, tobacco and arms companies

Save the Children 'avoided criticising corporate donors', former head of news alleges
Dominic Nutt tells BBC Panorama programme that the charity decided not to put out a press release criticising British Gas over price rises

Financial Reporting Council investigates whether any Cup Trust chartered accountant might be guilty of misconduct
The standards body will examine whether there is sufficient evidence to open a formal inquiry into individuals associated with the tax-avoidance vehicle

Government launches consultation on English Heritage spin-out
Under the proposals, part of the heritage organisation will become a charity in 2015 and will manage sites including Stonehenge (pictured) and Hadrian's Wall

Catch22 takes over subsidiary of CfBT Education Trust
The young people's charity says it has purchased five independent schools run by CfBT subsidiary Include and will retain all its staff

New £11.5m fund will develop social investment in the north east of England
The North East Social Investment Company, set up by Big Society Capital and the Northern Rock Foundation, is expected to open for lending by the mid-2014

Government to introduce new tax relief for social investment
Nick O'Donohoe of Big Society Capital welcomes the move to widen the scope of the relief, as announced in the Autumn Statement

Ministers will legislate to prevent tax relief for charities being used for tax avoidance
Chancellor's Autumn Statement tells parliament a new definition of charity for tax purposes will be established

Charity to launch legal action to reclaim £626,000 allegedly misspent by Lord Bhatia
The crossbench peer and former interim head of the Ethnic Minority Foundation stepped down in 2012 after he was challenged by trustees about his use of charitable resources

Regulator has 'tried to do too much and achieved too little', Cabinet Office says
The department says the Charity Commission should focus on its core responsibility of regulating the sector

Regulator 'too passive' in approach to Cup Trust, says report
National Audit Office findings on the tax-avoidance scheme say that the Charity Commission was slow to recognise how serious the case was