Reform of self-regulation should come from the charity sector, but the government will step in if it is necessary to stop “the goodwill of the public haemorrhaging away”, charities minister Rob Wilson has said.
In his first formal interview since returning to the post after the General Election, Wilson said that the charity sector’s response to recent media criticism of fundraising practices had been “patchy” and that “self-regulation hasn’t been successful in its current form”.
He also criticised some charity fundraising practices, saying he was concerned by “industrial scale cold calling”.
“Most charities are very small and wouldn’t think about getting involved in something like that,” he said. “We’re talking about a small number of charities. But it’s a very big problem and a real challenge for the sector. It’s really resonated with the public.
“The practices that have been highlighted are completely unacceptable and in some cases immoral. For the charity sector to have those sorts of associations is a worrying trend. That’s why it’s so important that the sector itself takes up the challenge.”
Last week Wilson announced that a review of fundraising self-regulation would be carried out by a panel, to be chaired by Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, and he said this panel would be “given the room to make a robust review of self-regulation” before further action was taken.
But he warned he wanted to see a strong response.
“My view is that the solution to the problem needs to come from the sector, not from government foisting lots of regulation onto charities,” he said. “But if the sector fails to reform, the government will have no option but to step in.
“I think regulation comes with a whole host of problems and challenges, not least the cost. It would be expensive to regulate, and the sector would do well to avoid it if it can.
“But I’m prepared to do what’s necessary to protect the reputation of the sector, and we can’t afford to have the goodwill of the public haemorrhaging away.”
To read the full interview with the minister for civil society click here.
