That’s a missed opportunity. This is your charity’s chance to look ahead with ambition, resilience, and direction – and to give stakeholders confidence that the organisation is not only well run today, but well prepared for tomorrow.

What Needs to Be Included

The Charity Commission expects charities to set out:

• A statement of plans for the coming year.
• Clear links back to the charity’s objectives and activities.
• An outline of how the charity intends to achieve its goals.

Why This Section Matters

• Confidence – funders and supporters want to see that you have a plan and the capacity to deliver it.
• Continuity – this section connects past achievements to future priorities, showing a joined-up journey.
• Clarity – it helps trustees, staff and stakeholders align around what comes next.

Common Pitfalls

Too often, this section falls short by:

• Simply repeating the charity’s objectives rather than describing next steps.
• Being vague or overly cautious, which can sound stagnant.
• Overpromising without acknowledging the resources or funding required.
• Not tying plans back to earlier sections of the TAR – particularly objectives and the reserves policy. Inconsistency weakens strategy and messaging.

Adding Value Without Overdoing It

This section doesn’t need to be lengthy. In fact, shorter is often stronger. Good practice includes:

• Showing progression – how lessons from the past year shape the next year’s priorities.
• Highlighting one or two specific projects or campaigns rather than producing a long list.
• Being honest – if growth depends on funding, say so.
• Keeping it inspiring and confidence-building, not “war and peace.”
• Reinforcing strategy with consistent messaging across objectives, finances, and reserves.

Example Statements (Good Practice)

• “Building on our pilot mentoring programme, we will expand support to an additional 50 young people next year, subject to securing funding.”
• “We plan to invest in digital systems to improve volunteer management, following feedback from our teams.”
• “Over the next 12 months, we will strengthen our reserves position to provide greater stability.”

More Than a Formality

The “Plans for the Future” section is where your TAR shifts from a record of the past to a vision of what comes next. It doesn’t need to be long, but it does need to be purposeful. Done well, it reassures supporters, inspires confidence, and shows that your charity is prepared for both challenges and opportunities ahead.

Need support?

If you’d like us to assist you with translating your strategy into a compelling “future plans” section of your TAR, or would like us to proof-read your TAR, give us a call.