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The Charity Commission has today published new guidance to help charity trustees make confident, responsible grant-making decisions at a time when many charities are facing sustained financial pressure. 

Source: The Charity Commission published on this website Wednesday 3 June 2026 by Jill Powell

Thousands of charities carry out their purposes by making grants to other organisations. This guidance explores the fundamentals of effective grant-making, from setting funding priorities and carrying out due diligence, to monitoring grants and reporting impact.  

In March, the charity regulator revealed that grant-making charities awarded £17.84 billion in grants during 2024, up from £16.97 billion in 2023, which included £12 billion to other charities. However, for a third year in a row, the analysis has shown an ongoing financial squeeze in parts of the sector. This follows a three-fold increase in demand for charitable services across England and Wales.  

The new guidance replaces and expands on previous guidance to now cover all grant making. It makes it clearer that grant-making charities have the flexibility to provide unrestricted grants to charities with the same, or narrower, purposes than their own. This gives charities that receive grants the freedom to use funds how they think best. Funds must be used to further a charity’s purposes, but an unrestricted grant enables trustees to be responsive to things like changing beneficiary needs in their area of work, changes to their activities and can help cover core costs to ensure continued operation.  

The guidance explains that charities can fund organisations that are not charities, which can help reach new beneficiaries or grow grant-making charities’ impact. This can be particularly effective in communities where there are very few charities operating. However, given that non-charities are less regulated, trustees must take reasonable steps to assess and manage potential risks. 

In all cases, grant-making charities must have a written agreement in place and should monitor it to make sure the recipient organisation is meeting the agreed terms. The Commission expects charities to complete appropriate checks on potential recipients of funds, including ensuring they understand how the organisation operates, checking if it is genuine, and that the grant can be effectively monitored.  

The guidance has been updated as part of the Commission’s work programme of supporting effective philanthropy across England and Wales, in line with the regulator’s five-year strategy. The full guide can be found on gov.uk.  

Mazeda Alam, Head of Trustee Guidance at the Charity Commission said: 

Many charities are finding it hard to keep running services that communities increasingly depend on. We also know that securing funding for core costs — the kind that keeps a charity running — can be a significant challenge.  

“Grant-making charities and philanthropists play a vital yet often unappreciated role in providing financial support to the sector. This guidance is designed to give them the flexibility to use their best judgement when awarding funds and encourage them to do so confidently, growing the reach of their support. 

“Any funding decision must ultimately be driven by one question: will this help the grant-making charity further its purpose, and make a difference to the people and causes it exists to serve? This guidance gives trustees assurance that they can answer that question, and to make decisions that are both bold and responsible.”

Former private school teacher jailed for multiple non recent sexual assaults

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on Tuesday 2 June 2026 by Jill Powell

An ex-private school teacher has been imprisoned for numerous child sexual abuse offences against former pupils. David James Clarke, 82, previously found guilty at Lewes Crown Court of 45 counts of child sexual abuse and has now been sentenced to 26 years imprisonment.

The Sussex police investigation and subsequent Crown Prosecution Service uncovered that while Clarke was a teacher at Newlands School, Seaford, East Sussex, committed 38 counts of indecent assault and 5 offences of gross indecency with a child, and one offence of buggery. He was also convicted of one count of making indecent images of children.

The defendant ran a photography club and in the dark room he would sexually abuse his pupils. The defendant took advantage of running the Photography Club to isolate the boys where he began by hugging them and asking them to sit on his lap before progressing to touching their genitals under and over clothing, escalating to mutual masturbation and, on occasion, oral sex and buggery.

When he was arrested when the police discovered indecent images of children on his desk top computer.

Claire Brinton, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“David James Clarke preyed on 14 children at school, who were vulnerable because of their age, many who were isolated, away from their homes and families. Clarke was a teacher, in a position of enormous responsibility who exploited them for his own hideous and vile sexual gratification, often using threats and bribes to manipulate his way to abuse numerous boys in his care.

“I hope this sentencing send a clear message that the CPS, working closely alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children and adults, whenever that abuse took place and that Clarke’s imprisonment offers some comfort to the victims’ families and friends.

“All children have the right to feel safe. I encourage anyone who has been in a similar position to come forward to report these incidents to the police. It is never too late to seek justice - you are not alone and there is help available.”

Statement from the Children’s Commissioner on the sentencing in the Fordingbridge rape case 24 May 2026

Source: Children’s Commissioners Office published on this website Tuesday 25 May 2026 by Jill Powell

In response to the news regarding the recent rape case, which was also published on this website Friday 22 May 2026.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza said:

“The rape of two teenage girls in Fordingbridge is deeply disturbing and has shocked people across the country. My thoughts are first and foremost with the two girls and their families, who have shown extraordinary courage in speaking out about these heinous crimes.

“No child should experience the violence, humiliation and trauma described in this case. The impact of sexual violence does not end when an attack is over, it can impact every part of a young person’s life from their safety and confidence to their education, mental health and their future. It is essential that children who report abuse feel heard, protected and treated with dignity throughout the process.

“As Children’s Commissioner I welcome the urgent review being undertaken by the Attorney General. My office will be reaching out directly to the families involved to offer support. Children must know that if they speak up, adults and institutions will act decisively to keep them safe and deliver justice.”

G7 Digital Ministers have agreed a common approach to shielding children and young people from harm online for the first time.

Source: Department of Science, Innovation and Technology published on this website Monday June 1 2026

Following talks at the G7 Digital Ministers in Paris Friday 29 May, the UK and G7 partners have for the first time agreed a common approach to shielding children and young people from harm online.

G7 countries have agreed to a set of new shared principles to help tackle the growing risks children face in a digital world, from harmful content to exploitation. These are centred around promoting digital literacy, addressing risks to children from AI chatbots, and pushing digital services providers to take a robust approach to online safety.

The landmark G7 agreement sets clear expectations that children’s safety should not be an afterthought, but built into digital services from the start, underpinned by effective age assurance. There is also a commitment to closer cooperation between digital service providers and children, parents and guardians.

The agreement comes just a few days after the UK’s consultation on protecting children from online harms closed, which asked for views on measures including potential bans or curfews for under-16s, restrictions on harmful app features like infinite scrolling, and stronger parental controls. The consultation received thousands of responses from children, parents and experts alike, with the Government intending to respond in the very near future.

As part of the discussions at the G7, countries also agreed that data sharing between online platforms, parents and researchers should be improved, to better understand how digital services impact children’s wellbeing.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

“AI and other technologies have the power to transform our economies and create prosperity for people across all our nations.

“But ordinary citizens and businesses will only see those benefits when they have trust that these technologies are being developed safely and responsibly — and when children can grow up in a digital world designed with their wellbeing in mind.

“The agreements we have reached today are an important step on that journey: outlining a shared approach to protecting our children, backing our small businesses to adopt AI, and ensuring AI is developed safely and responsibly.”

While much of today’s discussions in Paris focused on online safety, they also recognised the immense potential for emerging technologies like AI to unlock economic growth and improvements to the everyday lives of citizens.

G7 countries reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring AI is developed and used in ways that people can trust, all while recognising the transformative benefits of the technology.

Ministers highlighted the importance of staying ahead of a range of threats such as cyberattacks, and the development of chemical and biological capabilities. Under France’s Presidency, G7 countries agreed to further discussions on a mutual understanding of AI risk assessment frameworks, to ultimately boost public trust in the technology and ensure innovation can flourish.

To ensure the benefits of AI are felt more widely across society, Ministers agreed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be supported to adopt the technology with a tool developed in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that will also help small businesses better their AI-readiness and identify areas where they can improve their workforce’s knowledge to speed up AI adoption. G7 leaders also agreed a Vision on AI Openness, recognising that AI models play a key part in supporting innovation, scientific discovery, and economic growth.

Taken together, these steps will help ensure AI delivers real improvements to people’s lives and that people can trust that these technologies are being developed with their safety in mind. G7 members will now take forward these commitments in partnership with international organisations, industry and academia.

Man jailed for multiple sexual abuse offences involving seven children

Source: National Crime Agency (NCA) published on this website Tuesday 5 May 2026 by Jill Powell

A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 23 years after being convicted of multiple sexual abuse offences involving seven children.

Jamie Beckett, from Wakefield, was arrested in December 2022 by National Crime Agency officers after receiving intelligence from international partners.

Further work by NCA investigators revealed links between a PayPal account, Gmail account and mobile number which were attributed to Beckett.

Beckett exploited the facilitator and victims' financial situation by offering cash for medical appointments, electricity and wifi in exchange for images and videos of child abuse. The payments ranged from as little as £6.20 to a maximum of £187 per request.

Online records revealed that between June 2020 and June 2022, Beckett had exchanged 9,493 messages, 356 media files and approximately 39 calls with the facilitator.

Beckett, a telecommunications engineer by profession, would provide specific instructions of what he wanted the facilitator to do to the victims. When the bespoke content did not meet his criteria, he withheld payment until new media was supplied which he was satisfied with.

Messages included Beckett persuading the facilitator to inflict sexual or physical harm, saying 'it will be a good money earn for you' and the child will 'get used' to it.

He would also object to receiving content he had already seen, instead demanding new images and videos of abuse. At one point he stated he wanted to travel to the Philippines to engage in the abuse himself.

In total, Beckett paid just under £560 for the abuse material which involved seven children aged between 5-15. The children have since been safeguarded.

Analysis of devices seized from his home found further evidence of his guilt, including indecent images of children on his mobile phone.

Beckett pleaded guilty to 25 charges at Leeds Crown Court in February 2026. He was sentenced to 23 years at the same court Friday 1 May, 16 years custodial and seven years on license. Beckett will be on the sex offenders' register for life and be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Judge Batiste described his offending as 'vile, repulsive, revolting and truly appalling beyond words' and gave the NCA officers involved a Judge's commendation for their work on the case.

Danielle Pownall, NCA Senior Investigating Officer, said:

"This was a long and complex investigation into a depraved individual with a blatant disregard for children. Beckett completely dehumanised his victims, paying pitiful amounts of money in exchange for images and videos of extreme child abuse. The transactional relationship between Beckett and the facilitator exploited the victims' vulnerability and circumstances.

"With thanks to US law enforcement colleagues and the Philippine National Police, the NCA was able to identify Beckett and bring him to justice. We will continue to work closely with partners at home and abroad together with the Crown Prosecution Service to protect children from the threat posed by individuals who would seek to harm them."