Category: charities

Law to protect foreign aid rejected by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 13th, 2014 in bills, budgets, charities, news by tracey

‘Philip Hammond has rejected a “bizarre” plan to enshrine in law Britain’s commitment to spend billions of pounds every year on foreign aid. The Foreign Secretary’s comments could prompt a row with the Liberal Democrats, who are attempting to force through legislation committing the Government to spending 0.7 per cent of GDP on foreign aid. Mr Hammond said there is no need for a new law because the Government is already spending 0.7 per cent, which is a United Nations target.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th November 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jimmy Savile trust challenges victims’ compensation scheme – BBC News

Posted November 5th, 2014 in BBC, charities, compensation, news, personal injuries, sexual offences, victims by sally

‘A charitable trust has launched an Appeal Court challenge over the compensation scheme for people who say they were abused by Jimmy Savile.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th November 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Routier and another v Revenue and Customs Commissioners – WLR Daily

Posted October 31st, 2014 in charities, inheritance tax, Jersey, jurisdiction, law reports, trusts, wills by sally

Routier and another v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2014] EWHC 3010 (Ch); [2014] WLR (D) 449

‘For a transfer under a will to be exempt from inheritance tax because it was to be “held on trust for charitable purposes” within the meaning of section 23(6) of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 the relevant trust had to be subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom courts.’

WLR Daily, 18th October 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Voluntary sector at forefront of new fight against reoffending – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 30th, 2014 in charities, contracting out, news, probation, recidivists, rehabilitation by sally

‘A major step towards completing the government’s crucial rehabilitation reforms was taken today, as the organisations that will play a key role in turning round the lives of offenders were announced.’

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 29th October 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Q&A: Probation reforms explained – BBC News

Posted October 30th, 2014 in charities, contracting out, news, probation, rehabilitation by sally

‘In June the government put into force plans to change the way the probation service runs, and forged ahead with proposals to privatise parts of it. But why are some people unhappy about this?’

Full story

BBC News, 29th October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Abortion investigation: Group launches private prosecution – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 27th, 2014 in abortion, charities, Crown Prosecution Service, doctors, gender, inquiries, news, private prosecutions, public interest by sally

‘Papers submitted to court in bid to trigger rare private prosecution of doctors exposed in The Telegraph’s undercover abortion investigation.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th October 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cameron takes action on terrorism funding in charity sector through new law – The Independent

Posted October 22nd, 2014 in bills, charities, fraud, news, tax avoidance, terrorism by sally

‘David Cameron has awarded extra powers and £8 million to a charity watchdog in an effort to “confront the menace of extremism” posed by bogus charities that divert cash to terrorism and other criminal activity.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New minicab law ‘would put women at risk’ – The Independent

Posted October 20th, 2014 in bills, charities, child abuse, licensing, local government, news, police, sexual offences, taxis, women by sally

‘Ministers will come under fresh pressure this week not to ease rules on minicabs, a relaxation that safety campaigners say would endanger vulnerable women.’

Full story

The Independent, 19th October 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Property gifts in contemplation of death: Donatio mortis causa – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted October 15th, 2014 in animals, charities, gifts, news, wills by sally

‘As the opening comments of Charles Hollander QC in his judgment in King v Dubrey [2014] EWHC 2083, make clear, a donatio mortis causa (DMC) takes effect as a historic and anomalous exception to the requirements of the Wills Act. It involves… a present gift which takes effect in the future and remains conditional until the donor dies. On death it becomes absolute. It has previously been described as being of “an amphibious nature, being a gift which is neither entirely inter vivos nor testamentary.” The task for the Court is to distinguish between a genuine DMC and an attempt to make a testamentary gift other than in accordance with the Wills Act. The test has, for over one hundred and fifty years, been a high one –

“…no case of this description ought to prevail unless it is supported by evidence of the clearest and most unequivocal character.”’

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 25th September 2014

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

To litigate or not to litigate in claims involving wills: practical points for charities – New Square Chambers

Posted October 15th, 2014 in animals, appeals, charities, families, gifts, news, wills by sally

My purpose in this article is to highlight the sort of issues facing charities in deciding whether or not to litigate over a legacy, or residuary gift, contained in a Will. In particular, I shall be looking at a number of cases where charities have faced such difficult decisions, some of which they have got wrong.

Full story (PDF)

New Square Chambers, 2nd October 2014

Source: www.newsquarechambers.co.uk

Clarifying the legal framework for social investment by charities – Law Commission

Posted September 24th, 2014 in charities, Law Commission, news by sally

‘In a paper published today the Law Commission explains the existing legal framework for social investment by charities and recommends measures to simplify and clarify the law.’

Full story

Law Commission, 24th September 2014

Source: www.lawcommission.justice.gov.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau 75 year anniversary: Geese too loud? Lost false teeth? We can help! Celebrating seven decades of the CAB – The Independent

Posted September 8th, 2014 in budgets, charities, citizens advice bureaux, legal aid, legal services, local government, news by sally

‘In September 1939, the CAB was established with the creation of 200 emergency centres across the country. Today it deals with issues from the fallout of the bedroom tax, benefits cuts and fraud, but in wartime it helped to replace lost ration books and put wives and parents in touch with lost sons and husbands in prisoner-of-war camps.’

Full story

The Independent, 7th September 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Charity Commission for England and Wales v Framjee and another – WLR Daily

Posted August 22nd, 2014 in charities, Charity Commission, internet, law reports, trusts by tracey

Charity Commission for England and Wales v Framjee and another; [2014] EWHC 2507 (Ch); [2014] WLR (D) 340

‘Where a charitable trust held donations intended for other charities nominated by members of the public, and there was a shortfall between the funds held by the charitable trust and the donations, it was just and appropriate to treat the unpaid charities as participants in a common misfortune brought about by the management of the donation scheme. Those charities should bear that burden equally as to the distribution of the remaining funds.’

WLR Daily, 22nd July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

£230m wasted on needlessly holding people on remand, says Howard League – The Guardian

Posted August 18th, 2014 in budgets, charities, news, prisons, remand, sentencing, statistics by tracey

‘Up to £230m has been spent “needlessly” holding people on remand in custody who eventually avoided jail, a penal reform charity has said. More than 35,000 people kept on remand in 2013 went on to be either acquitted or be given non-custodial sentences, according to new figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform from the Ministry of Justice through a Freedom of Information request.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th August 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

RSPCA prosecute family over cat’s long hair – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 11th, 2014 in animal cruelty, charities, complaints, Crown Prosecution Service, evidence, news, prosecutions, public interest by sally

‘Richard and Samantha Byrnes express their relief after the Crown Prosecution Service steps in and orders the RSPCA to halt an animal cruelty case against them.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 10th August 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Savile estate cash ‘to go to lawyers, not victims’ – BBC News

Posted July 31st, 2014 in charities, compensation, fees, legal profession, news, victims by michael

‘A charity set up by Jimmy Savile has warned a compensation scheme for the sex abuser’s victims could result in millions being paid in lawyers’ fees.’

Full story

BBC News, 31st July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Charity Commission for England and Wales v Framjee and Another – WLR Daily

Posted July 31st, 2014 in charities, Charity Commission, law reports, trusts by michael

Charity Commission for England and Wales v Framjee and another [2014] EWHC 2507 (Ch);  [2014] WLR (D) 340

‘Where a charitable trust held donations intended for other charities nominated by members of the public, and there was a shortfall between the funds held by the charitable trust and the donations, it was just and appropriate to treat the unpaid charities as participants in a common misfortune brought about by the management of the donation scheme. Those charities should bear that burden equally as to the distribution of the remaining funds.’

WLR Daily, 22nd July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Help for Heroes conman who pocketed £300,000 in charity donations to face ‘lengthy’ jail sentence – The Independent

Posted July 29th, 2014 in bail, charities, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who tricked the public into donating £300,000 of pounds to the armed forces charity Help for Heroes, only to pocket the money himself, has been told by a judge he faces a “lengthy” prison sentence.’

Full story

The Independent, 28th July 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regina (Detention Action) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening) – WLR Daily

Posted July 16th, 2014 in Administrative Court, appeals, asylum, charities, detention, Equality and Human Rights Commission, human rights, immigration, judicial review, law reports by tracey

Regina (Detention Action) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Equality and Human Rights Commission intervening); [2014] EWHC 2245 (Admin); [2014] WLR (D) 310

‘The Detained Fast Track policy, operated by the Secretary of State, for the detention of some asylum seekers while their asylum claims were being determined was not unlawful in its terms.’

WLR Daily, 9th July 2014

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Gay bus advert ban probed by High Court – BBC News

Posted July 2nd, 2014 in advertising, appeals, charities, Christianity, homosexuality, lobbying, news by sally

‘A High Court judge is considering whether Boris Johnson acted improperly in banning a bus advert suggesting people could “get over” homosexuality.’

Full story

BBC News, 1st July 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk