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| Charities could face fundraising ban for breaking rules, review says | Charities could face fundraising ban for breaking rules, review says |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Charities could be banned from certain forms of fundraising, such as cold-calling or mailshots, if they break stricter rules proposed for the sector. | Charities could be banned from certain forms of fundraising, such as cold-calling or mailshots, if they break stricter rules proposed for the sector. |
| A government-commissioned review also recommended the creation of a new register to allow people to opt out of all charity contact. | 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 fundraising tactics by some charities, particularly targeting the vulnerable. | It follows concerns about aggressive fundraising tactics by some charities, particularly targeting the vulnerable. |
| It also said the main fundraising regulator should be scrapped. | It also said the main fundraising regulator should be scrapped. |
| 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. | 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. |
| When the heads of several major UK charities appeared before MPs earlier this month, they placed the bulk of the blame for improper fundraising tactics with outside agencies working on their behalf. | When the heads of several major UK charities appeared before MPs earlier this month, they placed the bulk of the blame for improper fundraising tactics with outside agencies working on their behalf. |
| Sir Stuart said charities must "really carefully scrutinise what these agencies are doing", and must be prepared to accept a drop in the amount of money they raise - in the short term at least - in order to improve standards. | Sir Stuart said charities must "really carefully scrutinise what these agencies are doing", and must be prepared to accept a drop in the amount of money they raise - in the short term at least - in order to improve standards. |
| At present, the FRSB regulates standards set by fundraisers themselves, but the review found this was an "inappropriate arrangement". | At present, the FRSB regulates standards set by fundraisers themselves, but the review found this was an "inappropriate arrangement". |
| Among the report's recommendations: | Among the report's recommendations: |
| Sir Stuart said of the new regulator: "It will be able to say to charities, 'That fundraising method that you're using, you're using inappropriately and we're going to stop you using that for a while.'" | Sir Stuart said of the new regulator: "It will be able to say to charities, 'That fundraising 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 fundraising plans to the regulator before being allowed to recommence their activities. | Charities could then have to submit future fundraising plans to the regulator before being allowed to recommence their activities. |
| The regulator could also order compulsory training for fundraisers who have not adhered to the rules, for example by failing to follow correct procedure when dealing with vulnerable people. | The regulator could also order compulsory training for fundraisers who have not adhered to the rules, for example by failing to follow correct procedure when dealing with vulnerable people. |
| Sir Stuart 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 fundraising methods". | Sir Stuart 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 fundraising methods". |
| "We have to make sure that we restore public confidence in charity," he added. | "We have to make sure that we restore public confidence in charity," he added. |
| 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 fundraising, but the new overarching regulator would ultimately be responsible for all forms of fundraising. | 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 fundraising, but the new overarching regulator would ultimately be responsible for all forms of fundraising. |
| The FRSB said it agreed some reform was needed, but said "a revamped FRSB, properly resourced, would be the most viable and cost-effective way of moving forward". | The FRSB said it agreed some reform was needed, but said "a revamped FRSB, properly resourced, would be the most viable and cost-effective way of moving forward". |
| Sold on | Sold on |
| The death of the UK's longest-serving poppy seller Olive Cooke put the issue of charity fundraising under the spotlight earlier this year, after an inquest found the 92-year-old from Bristol had received 267 charity letters in one month. | The death of the UK's longest-serving poppy seller Olive Cooke put the issue of charity fundraising under the spotlight earlier this year, after an inquest found the 92-year-old 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, ultimately ending up with scammers. | 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, ultimately ending up with scammers. |
| Samuel Rae's son, Christopher, told the BBC: "I have heard some of the platitudes, but actions speak louder than words. | Samuel Rae's son, Christopher, told the BBC: "I have heard some of the platitudes, but actions speak louder than words. |
| "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." | "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." |
| The Institute of Fundraising, which represents the sector, said its members wanted "to see a stronger and more robust system". | The Institute of Fundraising, which represents the sector, said its members wanted "to see a stronger and more robust system". |
| But Steve Bell, chief executive of homelessness charity Changing Lives, said the overhaul should go further, with a total ban on street collecting - or "chugging" - and doorstep cold calling. | |
| 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. |
| Rob Wilson, minister for Civil Society, welcomed the report and said he would consider it fully. | Rob Wilson, minister for Civil Society, welcomed the report and said he would consider it fully. |