Fundraisers face probe into tactics used to raise money
Urgent review of charities called for following death of poppy seller
CHARITY fundraisers in Scotland are to be probed over their tactics after recent complaints sparked a review south of the Border.
The move comes after revelations about aggressive tactics and targeting of vulnerable elderly of UK charities following the death of 92-year-old poppy seller Olive Cooke.
Ms Cooke’s body was found in the Avon Gorge in Bristol in May after she had complained about being hounded by requests from fundraisers for donations.
The Scottish Government has asked umbrella body the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) to carry out the review and report back by the end of next month on the extent of any problems north of the Border.
David Cameron has already announced that the UK Government will change the law to rein in rogue fundraisers who target vulnerable people for charity donations.
This is despite the fact a review the Prime Minister ordered into t he ef f e c t i vene s s of s el f - regulation and whether any further legislation is needed is still under way.
Four leading UK charities – NSPCC, British Red Cross, Oxfam and Macmillan Cancer Support – are currently under investigation over their use of telephone fundraising companies.
They are accused of using a call centre that targeted people for donations even if registered with the Telephone Preference Service to prevent cold-calling.
Journalists in England have also exposed alleged malpractice by call centres working for charities including the targeting of people with Alzheimer’s disease or demen- tia for donations and the deluging of people with direct mail.
Some organisations, including Save the Children, have since said they will stop using cold-calling to target existing or new supporters.
Charities north of the Border have largely been immune from the crisis, but the Scottish Government is understood to think a review is necessary to ensure practice is responsible and to improve public trust in the sector.
Any changes to the law in England would not directly affect charities in Scotland, in theory, as charity policy is devolved. Should it be felt that change is needed in Scotland, new Holyrood legislation might be required to extend the powers of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
However, changes in practice for the Fundraising Standards Board might well have an effect in Scotland as it has a UK-wide remit.
John Downie, director of public affairs at the SCVO, said there was no evidence of aggressive fundraising practices in Scotland, although many charities operate on both sides of the Border.
He added: “Recent media stories about poor practice in some areas of fundraising impact on the public reputation of the whole sector. SCVO believes it is vital that the industry can effectively tackle bad behaviour so the public can enjoy the experience of donating to charity safe in the knowledge their money is well spent.”