# Scotland rejects Fundraising Regulator for stronger self-regulation

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/07/04/scotland-rejects-fundraising-regulator-stronger-self-regulation/
- Published: 2016-07-04T08:50:12+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Fundraising Regulator will not have a role in Scotland when it opens for business
this week, with Scottish charities opting for enhanced self-regulation instead.**

 

A new independent panel comprising members of the public, donors, charities, fundraisers,
[OSCR](http://www.oscr.org.uk/) and the Scottish Government, will be convened to
develop a set of standards for all charities that set a higher bar for fundraising
in Scotland.

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A new Freephone fundraising complaints line and website will also be set up to provide
guidance to members of the public on how to raise complaints.

 

The move follows an extensive period of consultation with the third sector in Scotland
and the public, led by the Scottish Fundraising Working Group. This was convened
by the [Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations](http://www.scvo.org.uk/) (
SCVO) earlier this year to find a solution to the need for a new system of fundraising
self-regulation identified in the SCVO’s review of fundraising regulation in Scotland,
reported in the autumn of 2015.

 

The Working Group presented three potential options for the future of charity fundraising
in Scotland in its consultation with industry professionals and the public:

 

1) Adopting the UK-wide Fundraising Regulator as an intermediary between the public
and charities.

 

2) Setting up a new Scottish Fundraising Regulator as an intermediary.

 

3) No intermediary: charities in Scotland and OSCR take on an enhanced role in regulating
fundraising.

 

The consultation identified resounding support for option three. As a result, The
Working Group has recommended this option to the Scottish Government as the model
that should be followed, with the further recommendation that the regulation of 
cross-border charities uses a lead regulator model. This recognises that charities
operating in Scotland but registered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are 
answerable to the Fundraising Regulator, which replaces the Fundraising Standards
Board on 7th July.

 

Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities Angela Constance
said:

 

> “The Scottish Government welcomes this report. The extensive consultation that
> has been carried out indicates the clear support to continue with self-regulation
> of charity fundraising. What is needed is a more robust approach which is easier
> for everyone to understand and encourages charities to adhere to good fundraising
> practice, which is why we welcome the proposal to introduce a new online and phone
> complaints approach so that everyone in Scotland knows who to contact and be informed
> of what to do if they have a complaint about charity. We will consider and respond
> to the rest of the recommendations in due course.”

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