During the current uncertainty surrounding the spread of coronavirus, charities are urged to check the most up to date advice from Public Health England.
The virus may result in incidents which should be reported as a serious incident to the Charity Commission but these need to lead to a significant impact on your charity.
For example, if your charity stops all or a significant part of its work due to coronavirus this would be a significant impact on its operations and serious harm to the charity's work which we would expect to be reported. Examples would be a school that has to close or a charity that has significant activities in China which it has stopped.
Cancelling a fundraising event may be reportable depending on the impact. If it might result in significant loss of expected funds and/or insolvency issues for your charity, then it should be reported. Similarly, if coronavirus results in insolvency issues for some other reason, this should also be reported.
Where a charity thinks it might be affected due to the nature of its activities or service users but there is no impact yet, they do not need to make a report now. For example, a care home which is taking all appropriate measures to protect vulnerable residents and staff but has not had any suspected cases of coronavirus currently would not need to make a report.
It is ultimately the responsibility of the charity trustees to decide whether an incident is significant and should be reported.
