# GuideStar UK responds to feedback about financial information

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/07/10/guidestar-uk-responds-feedback-about-financial-information/
- Published: 2006-07-10T10:06:24+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

PRESS RELEASE

 

5 July 2006 – GuideStar UK responds to feedback about financial information

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After a successful trial period GuideStar UK’s new finance preview facility which
allows charities to view their latest financial data before it is presented to the
public is helping to build confidence within the sector.

 

The facility has been designed so that whenever new financial data is received for
a charity, an automatic email alert is sent to notify them. This gives the charity
the opportunity to log in to the new preview section of the ‘Update my Charity’ 
tool for their GuideStar UK entry. The charity then has the option to either publish
this financial information or send GuideStar UK suggested changes. GuideStar UK 
then works on a one to one basis with each charity to make amendments to the entry
until the charity is confident that the financial information is accurate.

 

This new facility was developed in response to feedback received from a number of
charities who requested the option to check their financial information before it
was published.

 

The initiative has been welcomed by the Charity Finance Directors’ Group with Chief
Executive Keith Hickey commenting

 

I am pleased to see that GuideStar UK is responding to the feedback they have received.
The new preview section will help to ensure that the financial data on GuideStar
UK is accurate before it is released to the public which will increase confidence
in its output”.

 

Les Hems, Director of Development & External Affairs at GuideStar UK said;

 

Now GuideStar UK is fully operational, we have been able to design this new facility
in response to feedback from charities. We realise that GuideStar UK can best serve
charities, the general public and other users if it learns from the feedback received.
We are committed to developing a website that responds to users’ needs and are actively
seeking further feedback”.

 

GuideStar UK is now concentrating on developing systems to improve the accuracy 
of charity information and the speed with which it is available on the free website.

 

Notes to Editors

 

1. GuideStar UK’s website, [www.guidestar.org.uk](http://www.guidestar.org.uk) was
launched on December 12th 2005. It presents information on the activities, organsiation
and finances of all 167,000 registered charities in England and Wales. It is free
for members of the public and charities.

 

The users of the GuideStar UK website include:

 

• Members of the general public looking for services, help and information provided
by charities.

 

• Donors, grantmakers, local & central government agencies that fund charities.

 

• Representative bodies and professionals that support the work of charities.

 

• Charities themselves not only as a means of communication but also for benchmarking
and comparative purposes.

 

2. The GuideStar UK website has launched Phase 1 – the 167,000 registered main charities
in England and Wales. Phase 2 will extend coverage to charities in Scotland and 
Northern Ireland and to exempt and excepted charities in England and Wales.

 

3. The main sources of data for the GuideStar UK website are the reports and accounts
that charities file at the Charity Commission. There is no additional reporting 
burden, but charities can supplement their own entries for free by adding links,
press releases and information on their latest activities and achievements directly
onto the website.

 

4. The content and design of the GuideStar UK website has been developed in close
consultation with charities and representatives from other user constituencies including
donors, grantmakers, government departments, academic researchers, media and the
general public.

 

5. GuideStar UK is an independent charity established in March 2003 to promote and
support the work of UK charities by creating a comprehensive and easily accessible
source of information about their activities and finances, made available free to
the public through a website. It is the first venture of its kind in the UK.

 

6. In March 2003 GuideStar UK was awarded a grant of £2.85m over 3 years from HM
Treasury’s Invest to Save Budget. The Charity Commission and the Active Communities
Directorate of the Home Office were partners in GuideStar UK’s application. GuideStar
UK has also benefited from the support of charities, charitable trusts and individual
philanthropists.

 

7. The Charity Finance Directors’ Group was set up in 1987 and is an umbrella charity
that specialises in helping charities to manage their finance-related functions.
Visit [www.cfdg.org.uk](http://www.cfdg.org.uk) for further information. CFDG’s 
1150 plus members are responsible for the finances of charities with a wide variety
of income levels. Between them our members manage some £10 billion in charity income
per year.

 

CONTACT:

 

Jo O’Brien

 

Communication and User Services Manager

 

GuideStar UK

 

Telephone: 020 7240 1969

 

E-mail: jo*******@***********rg.uk

 

Website: [www.guidestar.org.uk](http://www.guidestar.org.uk)

 

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