Welcome to the Charity Commission’s strategic review site. The Commission’s funding is to reduce by 33% in real terms over the next four years – a reduction of around £8 million. Cuts at this level mean we can’t just keep going as we are. We have developed this site to help you shape the Commission’s future.
Monday 1 November 2010
What are your expectations of the regulator?
This is an open question for discussion - what are the key expectations you have of the Charity Commission, and why?
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Guidance and advice.
ReplyDeleteStop acting as a part of the Labour party, and cut out the political attacks on indepentant schools.
ReplyDeleteNot your job, and who knows what sector might be next on the hit list.
1)Keeping an eye open for flagrant abuses of rules.
ReplyDelete2) Reducing interference to the minimum (eg why do small charities have to fill in a 10 page form every year - surely the cut-off barrier should be raised to over £50k turnover/annum)
3)Not hounding existing long standing charities to show "public benefit" Ray Burton
It is important for everyone, Trustee, employee, subscriber and government, to know what a charity is and that it is being "managed" to the benefit of the taxpayers who let the gifts be taxfree. Hence we need an overall regulator. However, we do not need ever increasing regulation which falls for the most part on volunteers and diverts their effort from the real work of the charity. The reports are becoming an unnecessary burden. Now larger C of E churches have to be registered charities, no account has been taken that there is already a very comprehensive national reporting system and accountablity. Duplication is a waste of time. If the CC is satisfied with the C of E regulation then the CC need not be concerned with such churches and reduce their workload accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThe government cannot have what they do not pay for; if it reduces the funding it has to reduce policing of the regulation.
Gordon Goodman - C of E Churchwarden
1. To detect fraud and to prevent it at as an early a stage as possible.
ReplyDelete2. To ensure that the Register is kept up to date.
Regulate first and foremost. Advise and guide secondly - only if it has the money to indulge. Most trustees do their very best and work hard for nothing other than the satisfaction of helping others. Some, sadly, do not. I want to see more regulation - more action taken against those who breach rules, regs and (ultimately), the public's trust. The Commission should demonstrate it's not toothless - it should not be risk averse. It should name and shame wrongdoers (charities that fail to submit accounts/returns, etc); it should fine for misconduct and strike off the register repeat offenders. It should make greater use of its powers (Parliament gave them, so it should use them). It should point charities to other bodies - for general advice/guidance as that is surely a luxury. Ultimately, if it scales down investigative regulation - then what hope has the honest man and woman got in seeking redress, if they have the misfortune to come in to contact with rogue set up's? The Commission isn't the police, I know, but it has the ability to tackle abuse and it should continue doing so. It seeks to protect your money and mine - when we donate our hard earned pennies. I expect it to be robust and firm and want it to continue investigating abuse in the sector.
ReplyDeleteI expect the Charity Commission to make sure the money that i donate goes where it should go and I expect it to investigate those that don't think twice about stealing my hard earned cash under the guise of charity. Most people use the internet now to find out what they can and can't do to run their charity but the internet can't regulate or investigate. The Charity Commission should use its knowledge, expertise and powers to prevent abuse and maintain public confidence.
ReplyDelete"Regulate first....advise and guide secondly" - sounds good in theory I am sure... However, surely the more guidance and advise given the less the risk of not following regulations - after all if people don't know what the requirements are, have some problems then they will fall foul of the regulations.
ReplyDeleteA bit like 'chicken and the egg' - what do you do first.
I think more advice should be given after registration - this is the time to make sure the charity is aware of all its legal obligations. Perhaps the Commission should join forces with NVCO and arrange regional charity inductions.... This could give trustees the initial help they may need and could 'head off at the pass' any issues before they get to serious.
How many charities does it register each year? It's a nice idea, but could it afford to travel around doing inductions? Wouldn't the public start moaning about Civil Service travel costs/hotel costs etc? I don't think they have many staff, and they'll soon have (if I've read the papers correctly)about 140 less. What, realistically, can they do? It's a real shame.
ReplyDeleteToo much regulation will deter people from acting as Trustees to worthy causes. Give clear regulations and advice, support Trustees and punish offenders. Trustees want to achieve their aims and objectives, not fill in forms. If the approval process is sound,Trustees should be trusted.
ReplyDeleteRegulate: ensure statutory obligations such as filing of annual returns and accounts are met; investigate serious breaches highlighted by individuals or other professionals; ensure registration of viable charities; deregister obsolete charities or those in serious breach of filing obligations. Secondly, provide support and resources to enable trustees to more easily and effectively carry out their roles - this might be a case of pointing them to other pre-existing sources rather than doing so much themselves inorder to save money.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your expectations of the regulator?
ReplyDeleteRemove the opinions slant in the system and have b/w regulations thus processes imho.
The registration of Charities to maintain public confidence in the term “ registered charity”, the promotion of regulatory compliance and good practice, intervention as needed to address legal and regulatory breaches.
ReplyDelete