Charity and Voluntary Sector
CC: The Charity Commission has published a supplement to guidance on campaigning & political activities by charities. Responding to concerns that some charities may be unnecessarily cautious when considering campaigning activities, the Charity Commission has published answers to common questions from charities uncertain about what political & campaigning activity the law allows.
In the Q & A, the Commission advises charities on how they can follow the example of successful campaigns like the Make Poverty History coalition and the RSPCA's controversial campaign on fox hunting and use their unique position in society to fight for change.
Ahead of the local and Welsh Assembly elections in May, this advice is being published alongside election guidance, which sets out the do's and don'ts for charities in the run up to the elections.
Press release ~ Campaigning and political activities by charities - some questions and answers ~ Charities and elections ~ CC9: Political Activities and Campaigning by Charities (2004)
CC: A dedicated unit to work with & support faith charities, strengthening their governance & accountability, is to be established by the Charity Commission with £600,000 a year funding provided by Communities and Local Government, as part of its newly announced Preventing Violent Extremism - winning hearts and minds strategy.
The new Faith and Social Cohesion Unit will provide support & advice to faith groups through outreach work, capacity building & training, publications & guidance. The unit aims to:
- improve the Commission's & society's understanding of faith charities
- engage with faith communities to identify & support organisations that could be but are not currently registered with the Commission
- assist faith charities to improve their standards of governance & accountability and thereby increase their effectiveness, and
- work collaboratively to achieve & promote well run and effectively regulated faith charities
There are over 23,000 faith charities on the Central Register of Charities, including those established specifically to advance a particular faith, as well as charities whose faith or religious belief is the motivation for the charitable activity undertaken. The Unit will initially work primarily with Muslim charities & communities; work with other faith communities will follow at a later stage.
Press release ~ Preventing Violent Extremism - winning hearts and minds strategy ~ Central Register of Charities
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