The Charity Commission has issued new guidance on charities’ use of social media
Published today (18th September 2023), the guidance makes clear that social media can be a highly effective way for a charity to engage its audiences and communicate about its work but that there are risks involved, which trustees should plan for.
The new guidance is clear that charities using social media should have a social media policy in place and should ensure the policy is followed. This is standard practice in many charities and across other sectors and industries, and can help an organisation avoid problems and address issues swiftly if they occur.
The regulator says its casework has revealed a knowledge gap. Trustees are not always aware of the risks that may arise from using social media, meaning that some do not have sufficient oversight of their charity’s activity, leaving them and their charity vulnerable. The guidance aims to help trustees understand these risks, how their legal duties apply, and what to consider if issues arise.
The Guidance:
The new guidance was subject to a formal consultation, which ran from January to March 2023. The Commission received 396 responses. Many welcomed the guidance, but some felt it could be clearer to explain what is and is not expected of trustees. The regulator has made a number of changes to clarify the Commission’s regulatory expectations in light of the feedback. The final guidance also further emphasises the benefits of using social media, so that charities can have confidence in their ability to make use of them.
Paul Latham, Director of Communications and Policy at the Charity Commission, said:
He added:
The guidance can be read in full on the Charity Commission’s gov.uk page, alongside our consultation response.
Notes to Editors