OSCR launches monitoring of cross-border charities
29 Jun 09
The monitoring of cross-border charities commenced last month
The new monitoring regime is outlined in OSCR’s consultation document, although there are some changes to the information return to make completion easier.
OSCR has also updated its guidance for cross-border charities to outline the key aspects of the regulatory regime in Scotland and its impact on English and Welsh charities that are also entered on the Scottish Charity Register. This guidance should be available shortly to download from the OSCR website, and a copy is being sent to each cross-border charity.
Benevolent fundraising
New regulations which govern benevolent fundraising in Scotland have recently been laid in Parliament and will come into force on 1 July 2009. The Charities and Benevolent Fundraising (Scotland) Regulations 2009 govern the way in which volunteers, charity employees, professional fundraisers and commercial businesses fundraise on behalf of benevolent bodies (including charities) or for general benevolent purposes. The key issues addressed by the regulations are:
• the requirement for formal fundraising agreements between benevolent bodiesand some types of fundraiser
• the information which mustbe provided to potential donors when funds are being sought for benevolent bodies
• the conditions attached to donors' rights to a refund of their donations
• the prevention of unauthorised fundraising.
These regulations are the first in a series of regulations relating to fundraising. It is anticipated that the Scottish Government will consult on regulations relating to public benevolent collections (the collection of money or promises of money in public places or door-to-door) and the collection of goods later in 2009.
OSCR, in partnership with the Institute of Fundraising Scotland, is currently working to develop guidance to help charities and those who fundraise on their behalf to understand and comply with the new regulations. This guidance will be available as a web-based resource shortly on the OSCR website.