John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
This is a nonprofit law scrapbook. Glued in: case law, regulation, donation, politics. I am an academic charity lawyer at the University of Manchester.
Law
41%
Political science
27%
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Aug 10
What is the face of the UK gambling charity sector post-GambleAware?
The announcement of the managed closure of GambleAware jarred a sector that seems to have expected the outcome but didn’t enjoy the sensation of its col
www.gamblinginsider.com
'To maintain a gambling license, an operator must pay a percentage of earnings into a pot. That money will then be distributed by commissioners...'
www.gamblinginsider.com/in-depth/305...
www.gamblinginsider.com/in-depth/305...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Aug 10
Code of Fundraising Practice launched
The Fundraising Regulator (FR) has issued a new Code of Fundraising Practice to take effect from 1 November 2025. It replaces the current version, which was last revised in 2019. The Code applies to f...
www.farrer.co.uk
Code of Fundraising Practice launched: www.farrer.co.uk/news-and-ins...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Aug 10
Edmund Kell Unitarian Church probed over 'unaccounted-for' £290k
The Southampton charity's finances are being investigated by the Charity Commission.
www.bbc.co.uk
'In a statement the Charity Commission said it had ben engaging with the charity in April 2025 after receiving an application from its trustees to change the charity's structure.' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Aug 10
'All sides' to blame in Prince Harry charity row, watchdog finds
The Charity Commission criticises “all parties” at Sentebale for allowing a “damaging” dispute to play out publicly.
www.bbc.co.uk
"'All sides' to blame in Prince Harry charity row, watchdog finds" www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Jun 7
Oxfam workers protest over 'outsourcing' of jobs
Unite members gathered outside Oxfam offices because of the charity's redundancy plans.
www.bbc.co.uk
"Oxfam said its 'restructuring proposals' were to secure its financial future and 'not about a policy to replace in-house roles with non-unionised casual labour'." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Jun 7
UK government to sue Roman Abramovich over £2.5b frozen Chelsea sale proceeds
The UK government is set to launch legal action against Roman Abramovich over the £2.5 billion proceeds from the 2022 sale
www.gistreel.com
“The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine." www.gistreel.com/uk-governmen...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Jun 7
Dundee University misses charity accounts deadline, regulator warns
Dundee University's charitable status is at risk of being withdrawn after it failed to submit its annual accounts to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) by the required deadline. As a ...
www.scottishfinancialnews.com
"A previously leaked financial statement for 2023-24 indicated a £12 million deficit, and the former principal resigned last year after revealing a £30m budget shortfall and impending job losses." www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/dun...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Jun 7
‘Gay conversion’ Christian group appeal for charity status rejected
Group linked to NI 'gay conversion' charity Core Issues Trust refused charitable status due to "political purpose" Read More »
www.secularism.org.uk
"The Commission refused to register IFTCC on the basis that its purposes "were not exclusively charitable nor for the public benefit". www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/05...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Jun 7
EXCLUSIVE: £2m St Andrews University donor who nearly pulled funds over rector ‘genocide’ remarks revealed
The Courier can reveal the Wolfson Foundation was the donor “concerned” after Stella Maris accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
www.thecourier.co.uk
“No donor has influence on university governance, and it is mischievous and disingenuous to suggest otherwise." www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/5246...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Jun 7
Kids Company: Part of Kids Company report 'unfair', says judge
In a judgement, Mr Justice Sheldon describes two paragraphs in the report as
www.bbc.co.uk
"The fact that the report contains errors, and even a small number of irrational findings or observations, does not mean that the overall document is irrational." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Apr 13
'If [Campbell] succeeds, the implications for her former friend could be serious. Knowingly providing misleading information to the Charity Commission is a criminal offence that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.' on.ft.com/44mUTBF
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Apr 13
Diaspora Philanthropy 3.0 (SSIR)
How and why funders must move beyond traditional giving
ssir.org
'Those of us involved in international solidarity need to look past the current retrenchment to search for new ideas and sources of resources. One of the most promising new ideas is to improve the amount and the quality of diaspora philanthropy.' ssir.org/articles/ent...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Apr 13
Five years on, what happened to the pandemic's mutual aid groups?
From flood defence to reselling Amazon packages as a way of funding food banks, the nation's mutual aid groups are transforming.
www.bigissue.com
“The thing about mutuality is it’s not based on volunteerism. It’s mutual, so it’s people helping each other to do something. The hastiness that happened over lockdown meant it might have slipped much more into a charitable model." www.bigissue.com/news/activis... #mutualaid
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Apr 13
Prince Harry charity row: why did he resign and what is dispute about?
Duke of Sussex and other trustees have quit Sentebale, while the charity’s chair accuses them of trying to oust her
www.theguardian.com
'While the charity was successful, it was a kind of pet project for Harry, relying on the annual Sentebale polo cup and surviving the Covid pandemic largely through a pro bono performance by the pop star James Blunt, a friend of the previous chair.' www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Apr 13
Beset on all sides, European NGOs risk running out of money
A conservative campaign against public funding for NGOs has piled on the pressure to an already beleaguered sector.
www.theparliamentmagazine.eu
'Signs of political activity targeting nonprofits emerged last November, when the European Commission sent a stark message to over 30 NGOs: They could no longer use funds from the LIFE programme, an EU green cash pot, for advocacy.' www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Apr 13
Human rights body criticises Luxembourg begging law
Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CCDH) questions purpose of draft legislation to criminalise so-called ‘aggressive’ begging
www.luxtimes.lu
'The Human Rights Commission also criticises the disproportionate nature of the penalties, with fines of up to €3,000 and prison sentences of up to two years [which homeless people cannot pay]'. www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/h...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Apr 13
Kids Company report has ‘chilling impact’ on charity sector, High Court told
A two-day hearing is taking place over the Charity Commission’s February 2022 report into the collapsed children’s charity.
www.standard.co.uk
'The barrister later said there was a 'real possibility' the Charity Commission was “predetermined” to criticise Kids Company.' www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/k... #Kidscompany
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Mar 10
A visit to the William Morris Society’s museum
Some people have their homes turned into museums devoted to the person -- but not many get two of them, and such a person is William Morris.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
'As a museum, it’s very small and doesn’t really tell you a lot about the man himself. However, it does host a modestly interesting exhibition.' www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/a-v...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Mar 9
Churchill, Chartwell & Jock the cat | lady.co.uk
In continuous publication since 1885 and widely respected as England's longest running magazine for women.
lady.co.uk
'Such was Churchill’s fondness for his pet that he wrote a special bequest that a cat of the exact colour and markings [of his cat Jock] should always live at Chartwell. And that is why Jock VI has just arrived at the estate.' lady.co.uk/churchill-ch...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Mar 9
New scheme aims to ease regulator’s decision-making processes
www.civilsociety.co.uk
'The seven commissioners, who are not full-time, were [previously] responsible for making all casework, enquiries, compliance and registration decisions and orders through a committee.' www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/new-sch...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Mar 9
Drake-A-Wish Foundation: The problem with celebrity philanthropy
Drake heeded the signs begging for charity at his Sydney show earlier this week – but is this itself a sign of something more sinister?
www.dazeddigital.com
'Eventually, hip hop’s own Dr Barnardo spots a sign held up by a single mother claiming to be 20 weeks pregnant. He lifts her out of the moshpit and into the VIP section and gifts her $30k. This is a good deed… right?' www.dazeddigital.com/music/articl...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Mar 9
Regulator finds misconduct at Birmingham Sikh TV charity
The Charity Commission finds serious failings at The Sikh Channel Community Broadcasting Company.
www.bbc.co.uk
'The chief executive was found to have acted as a de-facto trustee, and set himself a yearly unauthorised salary of £40,000.' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Mar 8
James Harrison, blood donor, 1936-2025
The railway worker who found his mission and saved the lives of more than 2mn babies
on.ft.com
'The man with the golden arm, as he was dubbed, gave plasma 1, 173 times over 50 years until, to his chagrin, he was forced to stop aged 81.' on.ft.com/3QRMzC5 via @FT
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Feb 23
Too little, too late: Charity Commission reminds General Synod of charity trustee’s safeguarding duties
A miracle! The Charity Commission has finally taken public action in response to the ongoing safeguarding fiasco at the Church of England and its Archbishops’ Council. Last week, the Charity Commissio...
anglican.ink
'The Charity Commission’s chief executive wrote to those members of the General Synod who are also charity trustees. This must mean most ... General Synod members, because membership of the General Synod comes with automatic membership of a parish’s PCC.' anglican.ink/2025/01/29/t...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Feb 23
Providing information to the Charity Commission: Understanding the criminal offence under Section 60
Charities are required to maintain transparency and integrity when dealing with the Charity Commission. Under Section 60 of the Charities Act 2011, providing false or misleading information, whether k...
www.trethowans.com
'Charities are required to maintain transparency and integrity when dealing with the Charity Commission. Under Section 60 of the Charities Act 2011, providing false or misleading information, whether knowingly or recklessly, is a criminal offence.' www.trethowans.com/insights/pro...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Feb 23
Charity issued with Official Warning over support for foreign military
A London charity has been issued with an Official Warning over a fundraising campaign in support of a soldier of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
www.gov.uk
'Chabad Lubavitch Centres North East London and Essex Limited set up a fundraising page in October 2023 to raise funds for a soldier of the IDF stationed in northern Israel. The page, which was eventually removed in January 2024, raised around £2,280.' www.gov.uk/government/n...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Feb 23
Ombudsman rules Charity Commission failed to properly handle safeguarding concerns related to historic child sex abuse | Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO)
www.ombudsman.org.uk
'The Charity Commission failed to properly handle safeguarding concerns relating to historic child sexual abuse at a charity, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has found.' www.ombudsman.org.uk/news-and-blo...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Feb 23
Man Leaves Fortune of 10 Million to a Tiny French Town He Never Visited
Describing the endowment as "beyond imagination" the local mayor said the money would help clear a €400K debt from the municipality.
www.goodnewsnetwork.org
'Heir to his parents’ fortune made in the vinting business, Roger Thiberville, a meteorologist shared but one thing with the town of 1,800 residents: its name.' www.goodnewsnetwork.org/man-leaves-e...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Feb 23
Former JNF UK trustee overturns Charity Commission ban in ‘landmark’ case - The Jewish Chronicle
The Commission had sought to disqualify Gary Mond over allegedly ‘anti-Muslim’ social media posts
www.thejc.com
'According to the Daily Telegraph, Thursday’s judgement by the First-tier Tribunal is the first case in which anyone has successfully overturned [a disqualification] order.'
www.thejc.com/news/communi...
www.thejc.com/news/communi...
John Picton
@johnpicton.bsky.social
· Jan 19
Independent secures funding from Bill and Melinda Gates’ foundation
It has given British media group more than $700,000 to fund journalism in ‘under reported’ parts of the world
on.ft.com
'Gates Foundation has given the UK-based group more than $700,000 for the next 18 months to fund journalism in “under reported” parts of the world."