The first ever Annual Return for Scottish charities was issued today by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

The move sees the start of a phased introduction of active monitoring of Scottish charities, when, along with the return form, all charities with an income of over £25,000 are asked to submit their latest available set of accounts. From next year, all charities will be required to submit their accounts as well as the form, while charities with an income of over £25,000 will be required to complete a supplementary Monitoring Return.

The information gathered will be used to create a comprehensive list of accessible and searchable information about all charities, available online 24 hours a day.

OCSR chief executive, Jane Ryder, said: “By asking all charities to complete an Annual Return, we are ensuring that OSCR and the public have the most comprehensive information possible about the charity sector in Scotland. This will not only make it easier for the public to access information about charities but will also be a route for the sector to offer information to potential funders, donors and supporters. Presence on the list ort index will give immediate reassurance that a charity is being regulated and has nothing to hide.”