New data from the Charity Commission shows a sharp rise in whistleblowing reports on governance failures, nearly doubling from 152 in 2023-24 to 303 in 2024-25. Governance failures remain the most reported issue over the past decade, outpacing concerns over financial harms and safeguarding, both of which saw declines in reporting. Charities in the education and training sector recorded the highest number of reports, followed by organisations with general charitable purposes and those focused on health or saving lives. The regulator noted that governance failures often intersect with safeguarding issues, highlighting the potential impact on beneficiaries and public confidence.
In response, the Charity Commission opened cases for 363 of the 546 reports received, while issuing guidance or taking no further action where concerns were assessed as low impact. Whistleblowing experts emphasised the importance of strong governance and proactive oversight, noting that staff in charities may be more likely to report wrongdoing due to ethical motivation(s). The data reinforces the need for trustees, chairs and sector leaders to implement robust oversight, encourage reporting, and foster a culture that addresses governance and safeguarding failures before they escalate.
