Macmillan and Great Ormond Street singled out for criticism in MPs' report

26 Jan 2016 News

A Parliamentary report into charity fundraising has singled out both Macmillan and the Great Ormond Street charity for criticism for forcing donors to agree to share their data with others - but both charities denied the charges months ago.

A Parliamentary report into charity fundraising has singled out both Macmillan and the Great Ormond Street charity for criticism for forcing donors to agree to share their data with others - but both charities denied the charges months ago.

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee published its report, entitled The 2015 charity fundraising controversy: lessons for trustees, the Charity Commission, and regulators, yesterday.

The report includes a claim that "both Great Ormond Street Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support required donors to agree that the charity could pass on their details to others".

The committee originally heard these allegations in October 2015, from Katherine Faulker, investigations editor at the Daily Mail, who said that: “Great Ormond Street requires donors to agree to have their details passed on to third parties and there is no option to opt out and in Macmillan”.

Cheryl Gillen, Conservative MP for Chesham and Amersham, also said at the time that both charities appeared to require donors to allow the use of their data, which she said “made my blood run cold”.

Both Macmillan and GOSH denied Faulkner’s assertions in October, but the accusations remain in the final report.

A spokesperson from Macmillan said that the cancer charity would “never sell or swap donor data”.

A spokeswoman from GOSH said that the charity “sets ourselves very high standards in all our fundraising, including following guidance to provide clear opt outs for third party data sharing”.

Civil Society News has approached both charities for a response. Macmillan has since declined to comment.

In a statement on its website, GOSH said: "We want to reassure our supporters that, whichever way you contact us, we have always provided the opportunity for you to opt out of any further communication from us or other third parties".