Fundraising complaints line opens in Scotland
Melanie May | 8 July 2016 | News
Scotland’s fundraising complaints line and website have gone live, for members of the public wishing to make a complaint about charity fundraising in the country.
The move follows Scotland’s rejection of the Fundraising Regulator, which opened for business yesterday (7th July). Instead, Scotland has opted for stronger self-regulation.
Scottish Fundraising Complaints has been set up by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and the Scottish charity regulator OSCR to help people resolve any concerns about a charity’s fundraising practices, with the aim of helping to maintain public trust and confidence in charities operating in Scotland.
Scottish Fundraising Complaints is part of the new model for charity fundraising regulation in Scotland, which will see more responsibility placed on charities and the OSCR to encourage good practice.
The public can contact the service on 0808 164 2520, visit fundraisingcomplaints.scot or email sc***************************@sc**.uk.
Martin Sime, chief executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:
“This new phone and email service will make it easier for members of the public to complain about charity fundraising by helping them find the right place to raise their fundraising complaint and get it resolved. It coincides with the launch of a whole new chapter in the story of fundraising standards and the need for our sector to nurture public trust and confidence in what we do.”
Commenting on how Scotland will manage complaints about charities working cross border, communities secretary Angela Constance said:
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“In relation to cross border charities, we will follow a ‘lead’ regulator model – as used by OSCR and the Charity Commission – for charities with headquarters in England and Wales but which fundraise in Scotland, who will comply with the Scottish regulatory system but will be regulated by the Fundraising Regulator. This move follows extensive consultation with the third sector and the public and I’m confident it will keep public trust in our charities at the high level they deserve to be.”
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.