Charity sector representatives yesterday urged Paula Sussex, chief executive of the Charity Commission, not to change the regulator's guidance on campaigning, but she refused to rule out a review.

It has been widely expected that a review of the Commission’s guidance on campaigning, CC9, would be launched after the election, but the extent of such a review is not clear.

The Commission last year said it was planning a review of charitable campaigning. It said this may include changes to CC9. In response it was accused of planning to "water down" its support for campaigning by Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of Acevo, among others.

Lord Low of Dalston, who is the chair of Acevo’s Commission on Regulating a 21st Century Social Sector, which is reviewing the Charity Commission's governance, urged the Commission not place any further restrictions on charities campaigning.

“My take is that campaigning has been given an undeservedly bad name by people trying to by people with an agenda by promoting the notion that that campaigning is a dirty word,” he said. And that in his experience most campaigning by charities is “nothing more than giving people information that they might need”.

Karl Wilding, director of policy at NCVO, said that a review of CC9 is “not a priority at this time” and that: “The election has shown that by and large the guidance is working.”

Sussex told the Directory for Social Change Charity Law Conference that, “we keep an eye on all our guidance”.

She added that “if we go out to formal consultation then I’m sure the people in this room will be among the first to know”. 

Make smarter use of technology

Sussex also told delegates embracing new technology was key to the Commission improving how it communicates with charities, admitting that “sometimes we have trouble getting that message across”.

 “I am going to be unashamed to talk about technology,” she said.

She said that because the rate of new registrations is increasing “we have to get smarter with technology” to cope with the demand.

She said the Commission could put more effort into “registering and managing charities online”. She emphasised the importance of new systems being easy to use.

Perception of independence

Wilding said that NCVO members have expressed concern that the Commission is not perceived to be independent of government and media agendas.

“It has to be perceived to be independent in its work – and that perception is really important,” he said.

Sussex said that the Nolan principles, the seven principles that apply to people who work at public office holder, were “alive and kicking” in the Commission.  

Nothing to fear from transparency

Wilding said that the sector as a whole needed to understand that “for millennials transparency is a value” and that charities should embrace it.

Lord Low added: “We should claim it for ourselves and shouldn’t be shy about getting ahead of the curve on transparency - we have nothing to fear from transparency.”

Sussex agreed and said that: “Our research is starting to show that the public is starting to look much more closely at the end use of funds.”