Whistleblowing reports about concerns within charities have increased by 72% over the last year and are now at a record level.

During 2023/24 a total of 561 reports were received, the most since the regulator began compiling figures around whistleblowing in 2015/16.

The previous high was in 2020/21 when the regulator received 431 reports.

Financial concerns are driving the increase, according to latest figures from the Charity Commission.

While in 2022/23 there were 62 reports, this had more than doubled to 128 by 2023/24. This is the most the Commission has received around charity’s finances.

Over the same period concerns around governance increased by 125 to 277, another record for the regulator.

Safeguarding concerns rose from 81 in 2022/23 to 104 in 2023/24. This is lower than the record year for such concerns in 2020/21 when 122 reports were received.

More than half of reports are from employees and ex-employees, similar to the previous year.

The highest number of reports relates to education and training charities. The regulator received 258 complaints about their conduct.

Health, disability and anti-poverty charities are also the charity sectors to see a high number of reports.

Armed forces, overseas aid and animal charities received the lowest number.

“As was the case last year, governance remains the most prominent type of issue and has helped to drive the overall year-on-year increase in total disclosures,” said the Commission.

“However, with a significant rise in overall disclosures, we have seen an increase in reporting for various types of issues. Reports regarding financial harms have increased significantly,” it added.

More than eight out of ten reports led to the Commission opening cases to investigate the charity further. The remaining reports related to a charity that was already subject to a probe by the regulator.

In 264 cases the Commission decided to close a case and not take further action, while in 115 cases regulatory advice and guidance was given.

---