Charity Commission for England and Wales

The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales.

The Charity Commission answers directly to the UK Parliament rather than to Government ministers. It is governed by a board, which is assisted by the Chief Executive (currently Paula Sussex) and an executive team. The current Chair is William Shawcross. The previous Chair was Suzi Leather, DBE who was appointed Chair of the Commission's board on 1 August 2006, after being chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the School Food Trust. Geraldine Peacock, CBE was Chief Charity Commissioner (as previous chairs of the Commission have been known) from 2003 to 2006, and Chair-designate from 8 July 2004 to 2006. It has four sites in London, Taunton, Liverpool and Newport. The commission's website lists the latest accounts submitted by charities in England and Wales.