Freedom of Information Act benefits charities

Finance | Ian Allsop | 1 Dec 2005

The Freedom of Information Act (FIA) is having a positive impact on campaigning by voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) but more advice is needed, new research shows.

According to NCVO and Ashridge Business School, FIA has enabled at least 9 per cent of VCOs to gather or request information about the decision making processes of public bodies, and access data detailing which voices are being listened to in the decision making process.

Lead report author Matthew Gitsham of the Ashridge Business School said: "FIA will have a major impact on how business interacts with government. The research shows upwards of 20,000 organisations have plans to make requests about this. Not only will the legislation bring a new accountability to the way in which companies lobby government, it may also reveal a few skeletons in the closet."

The report shows, however, that the availability of such information should be better publicised and explained. The survey revealed that 29 per cent had never heard of the act, 59 per cent did not know how to access help in order to use the act and 85 per cent wanted to have more information.

Directory: National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

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