Regulator gives Charities confidence in campaigning

CHARITY COMMISSION News Release (11/07) issued by The Government News Network on 3 April 2007

Charity Commission publishes supplement to guidance on campaigning and political activities by charities

Responding to concerns that some charities may be unnecessarily cautious when considering campaigning activities, the Charity Commission today (Tuesday 3 April) published answers to common questions from charities uncertain about what political and 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.

Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission said:

"Campaigning, advocacy and political activities can all be legitimate and valuable activities for charities to undertake. In fact the strong links charities have into their local communities, the high levels of public trust and confidence they command, and the diversity of causes they represent, mean that charities are often uniquely placed to campaign and advocate on behalf of their beneficiaries. "

Campaigning and political activities by charities - some questions and answers and Charities and elections are both available on the Charity Commission website at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk under 'news'.

CC9, Political Activities and Campaigning by Charities, is available on the Commission's website at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk under 'publications'.

Notes to editors:

1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator for charitable activity in England and Wales. See http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk for further information.

2. The Commission's revised guidance, CC9, 'Political Activities and Campaigning by Charities' was published in September 2004, following recommendations from the Strategy Unit's report into the voluntary sector 'Private Action, Public Benefit'. The report had recommended the guidance 'be revised so that the tone is less cautionary and puts greater emphasis on the campaigning and other non-party political activities that charities can undertake'.

3. The Advisory Group on Campaigning and the Voluntary Sector, which includes a mixture of charity representatives and sector lobbyists, is due to report at the end of April. The Advisory Group is looking at the following areas:
* The impact of existing charity law and regulation for charities undertaking political campaigning activity
* The operation of the Communications Act 2003
* The operation of the Serious Organised Crime and Policy Act 2005
* The implications of the Freedom of Information legislation for charities' political campaigning activities.