News | Advocacy and Policy | Guidance on Charity Advocacy: Do’s and Don’ts

Guidance on Charity Advocacy: Do’s and Don’ts

This guidance is intended for registered charities undertaking advocacy work in the UK. It sets out key principles of good practice, presented as “dos” and “don’ts”, to help organisations stay compliant with Charity Commission regulations and ensure their advocacy is both appropriate and effective.  Do: Maintain a comprehensive risk register:  >Your… Read More

This guidance is intended for registered charities undertaking advocacy work in the UK. It sets out key principles of good practice, presented as “dos” and “don’ts”, to help organisations stay compliant with Charity Commission regulations and ensure their advocacy is both appropriate and effective. 

Do:

Maintain a comprehensive risk register: 

>Your risk register should identify external, governance, financial, operational, regulatory, and compliance risks.  

>It should assess the probability and potential impact of each risk and outline clear actions aimed at mitigating them. 

>Consider the risks of livestreaming or uploading content to platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. 

>Consider how engaging in advocacy may fit within your organisation’s risk appetite (e.g. how it may expose the charity to media or public criticism, Islamophobic attacks, or legal or financial issues). 

>Assign responsibility for managing each risk, highlighting when trustees must be involved. (See MCF’s Risk Register template and Principles of Advocacy guide) 

>When conducting your risk assessment, also consider whether charitable status remains the most suitable structure for your activities. In some cases, alternative structures may offer greater flexibility for advocacy and reduce regulatory risk. 

Maintain strong governance through a strengthened policy framework: 

  • Social Media Policy – covering both organisational and personal accounts of trustees, staff and volunteers. All organisational communication must be in line with the charity’s objectives. (See MCF’s Social Media Policy template and the Charity Commission’s guidance) 
  • Speakers Policy – with clear vetting processes, guidance for khutbahs/lectures, and meetings with speakers beforehand to clarify content. Trustees should be made aware of what they should do if a speaker were to breach the policy, e.g. interrupt the talk. 
  • Complaints Handling Policy – a formal process to respond to internal and external complaints, including Islamophobic criticism. 
  • Safeguarding Policy – extended to cover youth or vulnerable people participating in advocacy or online activism. 

Ensure all advocacy advances your charitable objectives: 

>Document how each activity links to your objects and demonstrates public benefit. 

>Remain politically neutral – advocacy may address issues that fall within the charity’s objects (e.g. human rights, equality, or community cohesion), but it must never involve endorsing, opposing, or appearing to support any political party, candidate, or elected official. 

>Consider widening your charitable objectives to issues such as the advancement of education or the advancement of human rights, conflict resolution, or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity. 

Example: 

Contact MCF for further support if you are notified of regulatory action from the Charity Commission. 

Don’t:

>Do not engage in activities that fall outside of your charitable objectives. 

>Never share illegal content online or allow speakers to make unlawful statements, for example, expressing support for proscribed groups or inciting violence. 

>Do not publish or share content that is not evidence-based, from verified sources, or factually accurate. 

>Do not fund, promote, or endorse any political party, politician, or candidate – charities must remain politically neutral. 

>Do not engage in activities that the trustees reasonably believe could pose significant legal, financial, or reputational risks to the charity. 

If you would like more support for your charity, get in touch with our team at: [email protected]