# What are charities for and how should they be regulated?

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/02/17/what-are-charities-for-and-how-should-they-be-regulated/
- Published: 2016-02-17T17:08:43+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Centre for the Study of British Politics and Public Life at Birkbeck College,
London, last night hosted a panel discussion on the role of charities and how they
should be regulated.**

The panel of speakers consisted of:

 * Sir Stuart Etherington (NCVO)
 * Lucy de Groot (Trustee of the Baring Foundation)
 * Rob Macmillan (Third Sector Research Centre, University of Birmingham)

and the event was chaired by Joe Irvin, Chief Executive of Living Streets.

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The discussion at the free event addressed a range of questions including:

 * What are charities for?
 * Why are they special and what is the purpose of regulating them?
 * How should they be regulated?
 * How do and should they organise their funding?
 * Why do charities fail?
 * What are the ideas behind our current system and how are these changing?
 * What is the appropriate role of the regulators?

You can read [more about the event](http://www.csbppl.com/2016/02/17/charities-regulation-under-scrutiny/#more-3189)
from the Centre for the Study of British Politics and Public Life, and you can listen
to the recording of the 1 hour 50 minute event:

 

https://soundcloud.com/british-politics-centre/charities-regulation-under-scrutiny

 

_Main image: [red ribbon red tape?](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-314866481/stock-photo-red-ribbon-sign-isolated-on-white.html)
by Africa Studio on Shutterstock.com_

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