Head of England and Wales' Charity Commission tells groups to get their house in order
Charities should stop “hounding” vulnerable and older people, the chair of the Charity Commission has said.
Speaking at a public meeting in Southampton, William Shawcross, said that it was wrong to blame the media for negative reporting when many of the public agreed charities were going too far in breaching guidelines.
Because of the size and scale of the sector, charities would necessarily come under the spotlight and this was something charities had to prepare themselves for.
Making reference to negative reporting following the death of 92 year old poppy seller Olive Cooke, he said: "Now some have blamed the media, but this is to miss the point. The impact of the revelations of the last year have been felt so strongly because they struck a chord with the public.
“The stories found a receptive audience who thought in recent years that perhaps some charities had allowed their values to become obscured as they adopted the sharp practices of industry.”
It cannot be right for vulnerable people, older people, generous people, to be hounded
He said the commission, in response, has set out more clearly than ever what trustees must do to ensure their fundraising practice fits with the values that accompany charitable status.
“Simply put, it cannot be right for vulnerable people, older people, generous people, to be hounded, on the telephone, through the letter box or in the street," he said.
Shawcross’s speech came in tandem with a formal warning issued by the Charity Commission to 1,700 charities.
Alerting trutees, some commercial activities could undermine the ethics of their organisation, the letter urges groups to make sure all their deals are "legal, ethical and not potentially harmful to the charity’s reputation."
Commercial tie-ins may bring valuable income and awareness for charities but a charity’s “name and reputation are valuable assets which trustees must protect,” states the letter.
