Every month, we'll be shining a light on a timely topic relevant to your work as a church administrator. Whether it's a change in legislation, a seasonal event to prepare for, or a practical reminder, In Focus is here to help you stay informed and resourced in your role.

Giving Update: New Fundraising Code

The Fundraising Regulator's updated Code of Fundraising Practice came into effect on 1 November 2025.

The code is for Charitable Institutions which includes many churches, and this should encourage us to see that we are stewarding God's resources with clarity and securely. It's a good time to double-check our internal processes for giving.

There are a number of areas to look at, Safeguarding the Vulnerable, Governance, Partnership working and we've expanded below on two other areas for churches covered in the code:

Cash donations: The new code examines clear procedures for counting, recording, and banking cash promptly. Also setting roles and monitoring processes for handling cash. (Section 3 of the code).

QR codes: When using QR codes on materials like posters or pew cards to link to giving webpages, it is recommended to conduct a fraud risk assessment. This may include using a trusted QR generator, testing the destination link, ensuring codes are not left permanently unattended to prevent them being covered over with a fraudulent destination, and using a recognisable URL preview (visible when hovering over the code). Section 7.5 of the guide.

You can also read more in resources provided on Stewardship's website.

Lastly, don't forget the UCAN Facebook Forum for Administrator and Manager level members - a great place to ask questions, share resources and find inspiration!