Charities must amend their fundraising practices or face government legislation, leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling suggested yesterday.
Speaking following a series of critical articles about fundraising practice in the Daily Mail this week, Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, asked Grayling whether the Commons could “have a debate to ensure that the code of conduct has teeth and that those grotesque practices stop forthwith?”
Grayling implied that there would be an opportunity to legislate if necessary as part of the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill, which is currently making its way through the Lords.
“The Daily Mail’s campaign has been immensely valuable in highlighting a shocking set of practices,” Grayling said. “It is simply unacceptable for charities to exploit vulnerable, elderly people to raise funds. Charities that have been involved in such practices should be ashamed of themselves.
“Of course, the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill is currently working its way through the other place and will end up in this house in the autumn. I say to charities that if they do not want the house to react sharply against what they are doing in those debates, they ought to get their house in order pretty quickly.”
Grayling was reiterating comments he had previously made in which he said: “This government will bring forward measures to address issues in the charitable sector."
In May Grayling told John Spellar, Labour MP for Warley, that: “He will not find opposition in any part of the House to ensuring that charities operate in a way that is acceptable and, frankly, consistent with the role they are supposed to play.”
GoGen closed, Mail reports
The Daily Mail also reported that GoGen, the telephone fundraising agency criticised in the Daily Mail article, would be closed until further notice.
The charities which used GoGen have suspended their use of the agency and Oxfam and CRUK have written to supporters to reassure them. NSPCC has also suspended activity with GoGen.
Charity chief executives speak out
The Daily Mail also quoted charity chief executives who were critical of current fundraising practice, including Dame Hilary Blume of the Charities Advisory Trust, who was quoted as saying: “I'd like to dismiss all the people who are in charge of these big fundraising operations in these big charities. I'd say to them, go and develop your careers elsewhere. We want people who have a higher ethical standard.”
It also quoted Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental illness charity Sane, who wrote in the paper today: “It is immoral and unjustified and, as chief executive of Sane, I feel I have a responsibility to speak out.
“The greatest danger is that the aggressive behaviour we have read about this week — badgering vulnerable and elderly people at home to give money — will break the bond of trust between charities and the public, and that, as a result, donations will tumble as people lose faith in giving money to good causes.
“It is time for new legislation to put an end to such methods. I believe cold-calling individuals by phone, and fundraising face to face on the street — by so-called chuggers — or on doorsteps, should be banned. I would also welcome a review, in which charities would be called to give evidence.”
