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Charity fund-raising regulator should be scrapped - review Charities could face fund-raising ban for breaking rules, review says
(35 minutes later)
The body that regulates charity fund-raising should be scrapped and replaced with a more powerful regulator with tougher sanctions, a report has said. Charities could be banned from certain forms of fund-raising, such as cold-calling or mailshots, if they break stricter rules proposed for the sector.
A government-commissioned review said the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) had lost the public's confidence. A government-commissioned review also recommended the creation of a new register to allow people to opt out of all charity contact.
It follows concerns about aggressive fund-raising tactics by some charities, particularly targeting the vulnerable. A new opt-out register covering contact from charities is recommended. It follows concerns about aggressive fund-raising tactics by some charities, particularly targeting the vulnerable.
The FRSB agreed some reform was needed. It also said the main fund-raising regulator should be scrapped.
But it added: "We strongly believe that a revamped FRSB, properly resourced, would be the most viable and cost-effective way of moving forward in developing better regulation of charity fund-raising." Sir Stuart Etherington, from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, who led the review, said the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) "really doesn't have the clout or the sanctions" to prevent bad practice.
He added: "We have to make sure that we restore public confidence in charity.
"Not all charities behaved in this manner, indeed I suspect it was very few, but we've got to tackle those problems, otherwise I think the charity brand, if you like, will be damaged."
The FRSB agreed some reform was needed, but said "a revamped FRSB, properly resourced, would be the most viable and cost-effective way of moving forward".
'Name and shame''Name and shame'
At present, the FRSB regulates standards set by fund-raisers themselves and the review - carried out by three cross-party peers and chaired by Sir Stuart Etherington - found this was an "inappropriate arrangement". At present, the FRSB regulates standards set by fund-raisers themselves, but the review found this was an "inappropriate arrangement".
Among their report's recommendations: Among the report's recommendations:
Sir Stuart said of the new regulator: "It will be able to say to charities, 'That fund-raising method that you're using, you're using inappropriately and we're going to stop you using that for a while.'"
Charities could then have to submit future fund-raising plans to the regulator before being allowed to recommence their activities.
The regulator could also order compulsory training for fund-raisers who have not adhered to the rules, for example by failing to follow correct procedure when dealing with vulnerable people.
Two other existing regulators, the Institute of Fundraising and Public Fundraising Association, would merge and continue to monitor aspects of on-street and door-to-door fund-raising, but the new overarching regulator would ultimately be responsible for all forms of fund-raising.
Sold on
The death of the UK's longest-serving poppy seller Olive Cooke put the issue of charity fund-raising under the spotlight earlier this year.The death of the UK's longest-serving poppy seller Olive Cooke put the issue of charity fund-raising under the spotlight earlier this year.
An inquest found Mrs Cooke, who was 92 and from Bristol, had received 267 charity letters in one month.An inquest found Mrs Cooke, who was 92 and from Bristol, had received 267 charity letters in one month.
It led to suggestions that the hounding for money had pushed her to take her own life, although her family insist the charities were not to blame.It led to suggestions that the hounding for money had pushed her to take her own life, although her family insist the charities were not to blame.
Earlier this month, it was alleged that an 87-year-old dementia patient's personal details were sold or passed on by charities up to 200 times.Earlier this month, it was alleged that an 87-year-old dementia patient's personal details were sold or passed on by charities up to 200 times.
The Information Commissioner's Office is investigating claims that former Army colonel Samuel Rae was targeted by fraudsters and lost thousands of pounds after his information ended up with scammers. Samuel Rae's son, Christopher, told the BBC: "I have heard some of the platitudes, but actions speak louder than words.
Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said Britain was a "tremendously generous country" but charities were not thinking hard enough about "what it was like to be on the receiving end of some of their fund-raising methods". "I think they've got a long way to go before they step back over the line we all thought they were behind. The charities need to do more farming and less hunting."
"They thought too much about the ends and not enough about the means," he said. The Information Commissioner's Office is investigating claims that Mr Rae was targeted by fraudsters and lost thousands of pounds after his information ended up with scammers.
'New approach' Sir Stuart Etherington said Britain was a "tremendously generous country" but charities were not thinking hard enough about "what it was like to be on the receiving end of some of their fund-raising methods".
"The reality is that most people give to charities when they are asked to, rather than spontaneously, so charities do need to ask. But they should inspire people to give, not pressure them to.""The reality is that most people give to charities when they are asked to, rather than spontaneously, so charities do need to ask. But they should inspire people to give, not pressure them to."
Rob Wilson, minister for Civil Society, welcomed the "wide-ranging" report, which he said represented a "new approach to fund-raising self-regulation". He added that he would consider it fully.Rob Wilson, minister for Civil Society, welcomed the "wide-ranging" report, which he said represented a "new approach to fund-raising self-regulation". He added that he would consider it fully.
In July, the government announced that charities would be forced to draw up written agreements showing how vulnerable people would be protected from aggressive fundraising tactics, in amendments to the Charities Bill.In July, the government announced that charities would be forced to draw up written agreements showing how vulnerable people would be protected from aggressive fundraising tactics, in amendments to the Charities Bill.
Do you think reform is needed? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Do you think reform is needed? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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