The Charity Commission is to introduce a series of new customer service divisions in response to concerns raised during its stakeholder survey.

Although the results of the survey are not due to be launched until later this year, the commission’s chief executive, Andrew Hind has said it is already highlighting some key trends. Speaking at the Charity Fair conference yesterday, he told delegates that the results show how the commission needs to improve the quality and consistency of its advice and information, and that it should adapt a more intelligent framework for risk assessment, which is proportionate to the charities in question.

Off the back of this, the commission is to set up four new divisions by September, which it hopes will tackle these issues. There will be a charity reporting division, focusing on annual accounts and returns; a charity effectiveness division, which will be used to help spread expertise and best practice; a policy and public affairs division and a legal division, both of which will aim to ensure compliance with the necessary obligations.

Hind said: “The commission wants to become a regulator that focuses on the needs of charities in a modern way. Instead of being a government department with a closed wall around it, we want to be much more open and engage in dialogue with our stakeholders.

“This also means committing to being fair and reasonable, and we are making a public pledge to only ask charities for information we need instead of what we think would be helpful.”

The news of these changes coincides with a recent rebranding exercise by the commission, which has seen the launch of a new logo, mission and vision statement. For more information visit www.charitycommission.gov.uk