The government’s Big Society initiative is failing to bolster cuts because it is not sufficiently engaging poorer communities, the young and ethnic minorities, an independent audit has warned.

The gift aid claimed by a charity on a supporter’s donation will be counted by HMRC as contributing to the donor’s own tax relief in assessing whether the donor has reached the new tax relief cap, the government has confirmed.

Tania Mason takes issue with one of the Leadership 20:20 Commission’s recommendations.

The total amount of the voluntary sector’s reserves plummeted by nearly a third in the first year of the recession, as stock markets crashed and the value of assets tumbled.