Sam Younger, chief executive of the Charity Commission, has called for the late filing of documents with the Commission to become the sector equivalent of drink driving.

Younger was speaking at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators Charity Governance conference where he urged charity umbrella bodies to create such a culture change in the sector:

"I would like to see late filing of documents among charities become the sector equivalent of drink driving," he said. "Something society has regarded as excusable in the past, but which is in fact potentially hugely damaging. Not just to the charity in question, but to the wider environment in which it operates.

“I’m not, of course, suggesting failing to file on time is as dangerous as drink driving. But I do think there’s a role for sector bodies and umbrella groups to work towards a similar sort of culture change. To help us at the Commission get the message across that accountability is not an individual choice, it’s a duty that follows from charitable status."

Younger also addressed the Charity Commission’s new strategic direction, which will see it reduce its one-to-one advice to charities and its interventions in individual cases, as it focuses on its key regulatory priorities in light of a 30 per cent budget cut over the next spending period:

“Changes at the regulator will mean that charities will need to become more independent and more self-reliant,” he said. “The Commission will focus on providing excellent online guidance that helps trustees make up their own minds as to what is right for their charities.”

Earlier in the week, David Locke, executive director of charity services at the Charity Commission, said the regulator’s new direction would mean charities would come to rely more heavily on professional advisers.