The UK government has launched a 10-week public consultation on plans to strengthen safeguards against the misuse of charities by individuals promoting extremism, hatred or violence.
The proposals would expand the powers of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, enabling the regulator to take stronger action against trustees and senior charity managers considered a serious risk to the organisations they oversee.
Under the proposed changes, individuals convicted of specified hate-related offences would automatically become ineligible to serve as charity trustees or senior managers. This would extend existing disqualification rules, which already cover people convicted of terrorism-related and certain other serious offences.
The government is also considering granting the Charity Commission discretionary powers to bar individuals where evidence indicates they have promoted violence or racial or religious hatred.
The proposals have been developed in cooperation with the regulator, drawing on its experience of investigating charities and identifying weaknesses in the current legal framework.
However, the government says the new safeguards must be designed carefully to prevent abuse without undermining legitimate political discussion, campaigning or freedom of expression. The consultation will therefore invite feedback on how the proposed powers should be applied in practice and what protections are needed to ensure they are used fairly.
Civil Society Minister Vicky Foxcroft said charities play an essential role in communities across the country and benefit from considerable public trust. While most organisations are well managed and make a positive contribution to society, she argued that stronger regulatory powers are necessary when individuals attempt to exploit charitable institutions to promote hatred or violence.
Foxcroft said the government wanted to hear from charities, trustees and the wider public to ensure the proposed measures provide effective protection without restricting legitimate debate and campaigning.
David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, stressed that freedom of lawful expression and robust debate remain fundamental to a democratic society. He noted that differences of opinion and opposing worldviews have long been part of the charity sector and should continue to be respected.
However, Holdsworth said the promotion of violence and racial or religious hatred had no place in charitable organisations. He added that regulatory powers must evolve in response to changing threats and encouraged charities and members of the public to participate in the consultation.
The initiative forms part of the government's broader strategy, outlined in its Protecting What Matters action plan, to strengthen safeguards against extremism and support a more cohesive and resilient United Kingdom.
Officials have also confirmed that discussions with the Charity Commission will continue to examine whether additional regulatory powers may be necessary in the future. The current consultation is therefore intended as one stage in a longer-term effort to prevent charities from being exploited for extremist purposes.
The consultation will remain open for 10 weeks, closing on 22 December 2026. Charities, trustees, sector organisations and members of the public are invited to submit their views through the official government website:
