The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Do not let scandals wreck trust in local charities, pleads boss
Praisefor ‘hard-working, decent’ people who run operations
A charity boss has made a plea for international scandals not to affect vital services for vulnerable people closer to home.
Voluntary sector boss Kenny Murphy fears diminishing trust will damage society and put vulnerable citizens and communities at greater risk.
Mr Murphy, chief executive of Fife Voluntary Action, which represents enterprises across the region, said: “Trust in charities leads directly to better lives.”
He was speaking the wake of the Oxfam sexual exploitation scandal following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, which has resulted in the loss of more than 7,000 donors to the charity since it was exposed last month.
“As chief executive of a voluntary sector support agency, you may well expect me to dismiss wrongdoing in our sector or perhaps even make excuses for it. I do not,” said Mr Murphy.
“I’ve conducted investigations into wrongdoing in charities and have seen some serious problems within a small number of them across the country.
“I know charities better than most people, having directly advised and supported hundreds over many years.
“I trust them and the people who run them — they are hard-working, decent, honest people who continue to impress and inspire me.”
He added: “Let’s ensure some wrongdoing somewhere, as serious as it may have been, does not result in services being needlessly lost to our most vulnerable citizens.”
Mr Murphy said he had been outraged to hear of the sex scandals facing Oxfam and Save the Children and angry and embarrassed they were not dealt with properly at the time.
However, he insisted: “Most organisations operating in Fife are locally-owned — owned by the communities they serve.”
Mr Murphy said he was particularly concerned by the timing of the revelations.
“We have over 3,000 community groups, voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises operating in Fife today,” he said.
“Funding is getting harder to come by, donations are down and yet costs are going up and demand is increasing for most organisations.
“As austerity continues to bite hard, mostly affecting those who can least cope, public sector budgets are reducing and the voluntary sector is expected to step in.
“And we do. Almost without fail in every single case.”
He added: “Without essential support from local people these organisations would not exist and could not help the tens of thousands of people in Fife who benefit directly every single month.”
Let’s ensure some wrongdoing somewhere, as serious as it may have been, does not result in services being needlessly lost to our most vulnerable citizens. KENNY MURPHY FIFE VOLUNTARY ACTION