# Largest charities urged to improve their reporting

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/08/31/largest-charities-urged-improve-their-reporting/
- Published: 2002-08-31T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

In an open letter to the Chairs of Trustees of the 200 largest charities in England
and Wales, The Chief Charity Commissioner, John Stoker, has urged them to take the
lead to improve the way charities communicate about their activities and achievements
within their annual reports.
The letter, a copy of which is published on the Charity
Commission’s Web site, addresses how well charities account for and report on the
effectiveness and efficiency of their work.

Mr Stoker asked whether trustees were aware of the opportunities to use their charity’s
annual report under the Statement on Recommended Practice (SORP) to communicate 
its aims and achievements “in a rounded, rather than a narrowly technical way.” 
He noted that The National Audit Office had recently reported that, reading charities’
annual reports, it was not always possible to compare actual with planned performance,
or to compare performance over time. In addition, he commented that not enough charities“
provide sufficient information or explanation about other matters on which the SORP
invites a supporting narrative, including reserves policies and fundraising performance.”

Mr Stoker was not seeking response specifically, but encouraged the major charities’
trustees to reflect on these issues and to discuss them with their peers.

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