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.
'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
April 13, 2025 at 3:25 AM
'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
“Some of the dogs were housed in the property... But the failure to manage the conflict of interest and the receipt of unauthorised benefits, in respect of accommodation costs, enabled [the trustees] to ... live rent-free in a sizeable, family home.”...
January 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“Some of the dogs were housed in the property... But the failure to manage the conflict of interest and the receipt of unauthorised benefits, in respect of accommodation costs, enabled [the trustees] to ... live rent-free in a sizeable, family home.”...
.@tilly_clough and I are keen to hear from charity sector staff about their experiences of charitable campaigning and the law! If you are interested, join our focus group and presentation, 14.00 to 16.00 on Wednesday 11th Dec. Register here:...
January 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
.@tilly_clough and I are keen to hear from charity sector staff about their experiences of charitable campaigning and the law! If you are interested, join our focus group and presentation, 14.00 to 16.00 on Wednesday 11th Dec. Register here:...
'The donation achieves three objectives: preserving intact the collection; keeping every single piece on public display together in perpetuity in a dedicated gallery and ensuring that the collection can be used for educational purposes.'...
January 2, 2025 at 6:31 PM
'The donation achieves three objectives: preserving intact the collection; keeping every single piece on public display together in perpetuity in a dedicated gallery and ensuring that the collection can be used for educational purposes.'...
'The [non profit] makes most of its income from deploying its roster of advisers, which includes former Finnish premier Sanna Marin, to counsel governments on areas ranging from strategy to policy and technology.' https://on.ft.com/4fh7bOo
January 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
'The [non profit] makes most of its income from deploying its roster of advisers, which includes former Finnish premier Sanna Marin, to counsel governments on areas ranging from strategy to policy and technology.' https://on.ft.com/4fh7bOo
'Palm oil was an essential component of soap manufacturing and William Lever duly set up with concessions from the Belgian government in its colony in the Central African – Les Huileries du Congo Belge (HCB) – as a subsidiary of Lever Brothers.'...
January 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
'Palm oil was an essential component of soap manufacturing and William Lever duly set up with concessions from the Belgian government in its colony in the Central African – Les Huileries du Congo Belge (HCB) – as a subsidiary of Lever Brothers.'...
"The Charity Commission opposed the bid, claiming that Mr Kerman did not have “standing” and that the case was “extremely stale”, but Mr Justice Swift ruled that Mr Kerman was “an appropriate substitute claimant”....
January 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
"The Charity Commission opposed the bid, claiming that Mr Kerman did not have “standing” and that the case was “extremely stale”, but Mr Justice Swift ruled that Mr Kerman was “an appropriate substitute claimant”....
'The Law Commission’s proposals would enable any burial ground to reuse graves, but only after public consultation, and only with government approval of the burial-ground operator’s plans.' ...
January 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
'The Law Commission’s proposals would enable any burial ground to reuse graves, but only after public consultation, and only with government approval of the burial-ground operator’s plans.' ...
'In an anonymous letter ... it was revealed community assets [at Eldonian Village] (including the nursery and village hall) ... were being sold off to private companies, many to an offshore organisation in the British Virgin Islands...'...
January 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
'In an anonymous letter ... it was revealed community assets [at Eldonian Village] (including the nursery and village hall) ... were being sold off to private companies, many to an offshore organisation in the British Virgin Islands...'...
"The trust was incorporated in 1987 as part of the unique housing cooperative, which rose from the post-industrial wasteland brought about by the decline of both the empire and Liverpool’s significance as a leading global port."...
January 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
"The trust was incorporated in 1987 as part of the unique housing cooperative, which rose from the post-industrial wasteland brought about by the decline of both the empire and Liverpool’s significance as a leading global port."...
"[Emmaus founder] Grouès until July remained a familiar sight on charity shop posters and in metro stations urging people to think of the poor. He gave his inheritance away aged 18 to join an order of monks, later becoming active in the Resistance ..."...
January 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
"[Emmaus founder] Grouès until July remained a familiar sight on charity shop posters and in metro stations urging people to think of the poor. He gave his inheritance away aged 18 to join an order of monks, later becoming active in the Resistance ..."...
“These are not regular council assets but artworks within an accredited museum so there are major implications and complications even if we wished to consider [sale of Birmingham City Council art]." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20ljz7l7y2o
January 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
“These are not regular council assets but artworks within an accredited museum so there are major implications and complications even if we wished to consider [sale of Birmingham City Council art]." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20ljz7l7y2o
"The £52,749-a-year private boys’ school said fees will 'likely' increase in January, meaning most parents will have to pay about £63,000." https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/eton-college-fees-rise-labour-vat-b1179236.html
January 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
"The £52,749-a-year private boys’ school said fees will 'likely' increase in January, meaning most parents will have to pay about £63,000." https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/eton-college-fees-rise-labour-vat-b1179236.html
Commission publishes guidance for local authority trustees https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authorities-as-charity-trustees Explainer: https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/governance/314-governance-a-risk-articles/58344-councils-and-charity-trustees-2
January 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Commission publishes guidance for local authority trustees https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authorities-as-charity-trustees Explainer: https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/governance/314-governance-a-risk-articles/58344-councils-and-charity-trustees-2
“Pastor Tobi” staged weekly services attended by hundreds of worshippers at the Grand Sapphire Hotel. At these meetings, the main objectives appeared to be for young church-goers to pay over large sums of cash in the church collection." ...
January 2, 2025 at 6:51 PM
“Pastor Tobi” staged weekly services attended by hundreds of worshippers at the Grand Sapphire Hotel. At these meetings, the main objectives appeared to be for young church-goers to pay over large sums of cash in the church collection." ...
"On Wednesday, the Charity Commission said the 'tone and nature of RSPB’s post was inappropriate and had not been signed off at the appropriate level within the charity'. It stopped short, however, of imposing any sanctions for the post."...
January 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM
"On Wednesday, the Charity Commission said the 'tone and nature of RSPB’s post was inappropriate and had not been signed off at the appropriate level within the charity'. It stopped short, however, of imposing any sanctions for the post."...
'Buffett had grown to view the [Gates] foundation as bloated with inflated operating costs ... had become complacent and had less appetite for risk that could boost the effectiveness of its giving.'...
January 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM
'Buffett had grown to view the [Gates] foundation as bloated with inflated operating costs ... had become complacent and had less appetite for risk that could boost the effectiveness of its giving.'...
'Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was a [income tax exempt] 527 political organization that formed solely out of opposition to Kerry’s campaign.' https://www.npr.org/2024/08/09/nx-s1-5069480/swift-boat-john-kerry-tim-walz-jd-vance
January 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM
'Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was a [income tax exempt] 527 political organization that formed solely out of opposition to Kerry’s campaign.' https://www.npr.org/2024/08/09/nx-s1-5069480/swift-boat-john-kerry-tim-walz-jd-vance
'Global Warming Policy Foundation is to divest from its campaigning subsidiary and change its outputs after a Charity Commission investigation.' https://goodlawproject.org/update/climate-denial-charity-to-offload-campaigning-arm-after-investigation/
January 2, 2025 at 6:56 PM
'Global Warming Policy Foundation is to divest from its campaigning subsidiary and change its outputs after a Charity Commission investigation.' https://goodlawproject.org/update/climate-denial-charity-to-offload-campaigning-arm-after-investigation/
'After receiving an $18 million grant from Bezos, however, the Science Based Targets Initiative board announced its decision to allow companies to meet their climate targets with carbon offsets rather than decreasing pollution' ...
January 2, 2025 at 6:57 PM
'After receiving an $18 million grant from Bezos, however, the Science Based Targets Initiative board announced its decision to allow companies to meet their climate targets with carbon offsets rather than decreasing pollution' ...
“The Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation, the Harvard University endowment, these are fundamentally cancers on American society but they pretend to be charities so they benefit from preferential tax treatment ... ”...
January 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
“The Ford Foundation, the Gates Foundation, the Harvard University endowment, these are fundamentally cancers on American society but they pretend to be charities so they benefit from preferential tax treatment ... ”...
"After we contacted them, the websites of Amazon and Waterstones were amended to add a message saying that the publisher would hold any donations on trust until they can be transferred to the charity [under investigation]."...
January 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
"After we contacted them, the websites of Amazon and Waterstones were amended to add a message saying that the publisher would hold any donations on trust until they can be transferred to the charity [under investigation]."...
'A Charity Commission inquiry into the St. Laurence Educational Trust, which runs Ampleforth College, and Ampleforth Abbey Trust, which operates the Abbey, has taken 7 years.' https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/report-on-ampleforth-the-catholic-eton/
January 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
'A Charity Commission inquiry into the St. Laurence Educational Trust, which runs Ampleforth College, and Ampleforth Abbey Trust, which operates the Abbey, has taken 7 years.' https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/report-on-ampleforth-the-catholic-eton/
'Measuring about 9.5ft by 7.5ft (2.9m by 2.3m), [the Lustleigh tithe map] was drawn up in 1837 and was one of a series of maps created across the country as part of a system of enforcing a local tithe or tax.' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ngxrvew6ro
January 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
'Measuring about 9.5ft by 7.5ft (2.9m by 2.3m), [the Lustleigh tithe map] was drawn up in 1837 and was one of a series of maps created across the country as part of a system of enforcing a local tithe or tax.' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ngxrvew6ro