“We are very disappointed that the review calls for the closure of the FRSB and a new body to be established to regulate fundraising”.
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“The FRSB has been clear during the course of the summer that regulation of fundraising requires fundamental reform”.
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. Not only that, but the government review has also recommended the creation of a new register, which will allow people to opt out of absolutely all charity contact. Currently, the FRSB adjudicates against standards set by fundraisers themselves via their trade body, the Institute of Fundraising.
A new watchdog is needed to keep an eye on charity fundraisers, according to a cross-party review of the sector.
The review, led by Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, also proposes abolishing the fundraising regulator and replacing it with a body with powers to name and shame rogue charities.
The panel recommends that the new regulator, provisionally entitled The Fundraising Regulator, reports to parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on a regular basis to ensure parliament has an opportunity to scrutinise its work on the public’s behalf.
“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 fundraising”. The service would be overseen by the new regulator.
John Brady, ex-chairman of the Institute of Fundraising in Scotland said any measures being brought in on the back of the Etherington Review might be right for Scotland, but said charity fundraisers feared being caught up in the febrile atmosphere affecting the sector in England. “This has been a clear wake-up call and now is the time to tighten the standards”. “The charities need to do more farming and less hunting”.
‘The reality is that most people give to charities when they are asked to, rather than spontaneously, so charities do need to ask. The recommendations represent a new approach to fundraising self-regulation.
It would be paid for by a levy on charities that spend more than £100,000 on fundraising. It would be their responsibility to ensure fundraising was carried out in compliance with the law.
The move would enable people who feel pressured by aggressive fundraising tactics to put a stop to further demands for donations.
When a charity is working with a professional agency to fundraise, trustees and chief executives should play a more active role in managing the relationship between the two.
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The SCVO report said: “Media coverage and the complaints data suggests the problem is more prevalent in large United Kingdom charities than Scottish charities raising funds exclusively in Scotland”.
