I have always regarded Crawley as a generous town, particularly when it comes to helping those in genuine need. We have many good and deserving local and national charities that receive much local support. However, recent months have seen concerns raised in the national media about some fundraising methods which have started to undermine public confidence. That is not good for charities or for the people whose natural instincts are to support them.
The Conservative government has recognised the need to rebuild people’s faith in big charities. We all want to ensure that those who give to charity have the security of knowing that their donation is going to further a worthy cause and this trust will never be abused.
The Minister for Civil Society has announced plans to create a new charity fundraising regulator. Creating a new charity fundraising regulator will help to protect vulnerable people while ensuring charitable giving continues to play a vital role in our society, one which will be celebrated and encouraged once again. Crucially, there will be protection of the personal information of donors, stopping it from being passed on to third parties.
Any charities wishing to share any data will require the consent of a donor and any donor can withdraw their consent at any time to stop receiving marketing material. 17 of the UK’s largest charities, including Oxfam and the British Legion, have already written an open letter to support these plans. This letter states that “no one should ever feel pressured into giving”.
We should never lose sight of the great work our charities do. The Conservatives recognised this in government which is why we supported charities with over £400 million in extra funding since 2011. We have made it easier for people to set up a charity by removing barriers and by cutting red tape. We have also made it easier and quicker for charities to claim Gift Aid which can significantly increase the value of donations. All this good work may not have made the national headlines but I am optimistic that our charities will continue to be well-supported.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
7th October 2015