Overview
BrightAccountsProduction has been updated to support the new UK Charity SORP 2026 (Statement of Recommended Practice) requirements.
This enhancement introduces expanded Trustees’ Report fields into the Compliance Database, applicable across all three charity tiers.
These changes apply to UK Charity entities Commencing January 2026.
Charity Tier Thresholds
| Tier | Income Threshold | Reporting Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Up to £500,000 | Simplified SOFA, basic Trustees’ Report |
| Tier 2 | £500,001 – £15 million | Enhanced reporting, optional Cash Flow Statement |
| Tier 3 | Over £15 million | Full reporting, mandatory Cash Flow Statement |
BrightAccountsProduction provides the full set of Trustees’ Report fields (Tier 3 level) to all UK charities, allowing flexibility depending on reporting needs.
Prerequisites
Before using the new SORP 2026 Trustees’ Report fields, ensure:
- Charity template version 1.1 or later
- Country of Incorporation: United Kingdom
- Entity Type: Charity
- Commencing January 2026.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Access the Compliance Database
- Open the Charity client file in BrightAccountsProduction.
- Click Compliance Database from the main menu.
- The Compliance Database will load with all available compliance sections.
Step 2 – Navigate to the Trustees’ Report Section
- In the Compliance Database, go to Directors’ Report.
- Select Report Information.
- The new SORP 2026 – Trustees’ Report fields will appear.
Step 3 – Complete the New Trustees’ Report Fields
The following new fields are now available. All support rich text formatting, including bullet points and paragraphs.
- Purposes of the Charity – Describe your charitable purposes and objectives.
- Strategy for Achieving Aims and Objectives – Outline the activities and strategies used.
- Criteria or Measures to Assess Success – Specify success indicators and evaluation criteria.
- Charity Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit – Statement of adherence to public benefit guidance.
- Governance (User-definable heading) – Customisable heading and content for governance disclosures.
- Measures/Indicators for Assessing Performance – Performance metrics or KPIs.
- Outcomes and Impacts – Charitable results, achievements, and impact for the year.
- Review of Investment Performance – Investment strategy and performance assessment.
- Review of Financial Position – Overview of current financial health.
- Members and Volunteers – Information about volunteer contributions and member involvement.
- Sustainability and the Environment – Environmental policies and sustainability initiatives.
- Review of Fundraising Objectives and Performance – Fundraising aims and results.
- Grant-making Policy – How the charity awards grants.
- Social Investment Policy – Social investment strategy.
- Review of Reserves Held – Reserves policy and current reserve levels.
Step 4 – Generate the Accounts
- Click Close to save your changes.
- Navigate to Produce Accounts.
- Select the required account type (Full, Abridged, etc.).
- Generate the accounts to view the updated Trustees’ Report.
Note:
Any field left blank will not appear in the generated Trustees’ Report.
Important Notes
- All fields are optional — include only what is relevant to your charity.
- Fields support rich text formatting (bullet points, paragraphs, headings).
- The Governance section supports a custom heading.
- Changes apply only to periods Commencing January 2026.
- This update represents Phase 1 of SORP 2026 implementation.
Related Resources
- SORP 2026 Exposure Draft
https://www.charitysorp.org - OSCR Example Tier 1 Charity Accounts
https://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-a-charity/charity-accounting/fully-accrued-accounts/5-example-accounts/