What OSCR deals with

• the trustees are not acting in accordance with the governing document or charity law
• it appears that misconduct in the charity may be putting assets at risk
• the charity's income is not being used for its stated charitable purposes
• the way in which the charity is administered is detrimental to its beneficiaries or causes served
• an organisation is calling itself a charity when it is not.

What OSCR may not deal with

At all times, OSCR will act in the public interest, not on behalf of individuals or groups.

OSCR does not regulate every aspect of a charity's business.  Those matters that may not be appropriate for OSCR to deal with include:

•  employment issues; including those dealt with by employment tribunals
• issues relating to the quality of service provided by a charity; dealt with through the charity's own complaints system
• disputes within a charity or between a charity and a third party unless OSCR has good reason to believe that the dispute is putting charity assests at risk or endangering the charity's ability to meet its charitable objects
• complaints against Registered Social Landlords (RSLs); dealt with by The Scottish Housing Regulator
• concerns about policies pursued or actions taken by the trustees within the law and the provisions of the charity's governing document or when another organisation is best placed to deal with the concern. 
  

Criminal activity in a charity is primarily a matter for the police and criminal justice system.  OSCR's intervention may involve liason with the police and other regulators where appropriate.

For further information on how to complain about a charity read our making a complaint page.