Charity Commission ‘not fit for purpose’, says Margaret Hodge – The Guardian

‘Margaret Hodge has described the Charity Commission as not “fit for purpose” after a highly critical report warned that its failure to investigate fraud and abuse was undermining public faith in good causes.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th December 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New victims’ funding for restorative justice – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 19th, 2013 in charities, news, police, restorative justice, victims by sally

“At least £29million is being made available to Police and Crime Commissioners and charities to help deliver Restorative Justice for victims over the coming three years, Justice Minister Damian Green has announced.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 19th November 2013

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

Gay rights group challenges Charity Commission refusal – The Guardian

Posted November 18th, 2013 in appeals, charities, homosexuality, human rights, news, public interest by sally

“A human rights organisation that supports gay and lesbian individuals in countries where homosexuality is outlawed has been denied charitable status on the grounds that it is not sufficiently of ‘public benefit’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 17th November 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Marwaha and others v Singh and others – WLR Daily

Posted November 12th, 2013 in appeals, charities, law reports, trusts by tracey

Marwaha and others v Singh and others: [2013] WLR (D) 429

“Where on the true construction of a trust, the trustees have a duty to exclude ineligible persons from membership and they breach that duty, the court is not prevented from intervening. The court has power to vary a scheme pursuant to the general supervisory power of the court in relation to charities.”

WLR Daily, 6th November 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

RSPCA accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after Ledbury Hunt case collapses – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 8th, 2013 in animal cruelty, charities, hunting, news, private prosecutions, prosecutions by tracey

“The RSPCA has been accused of ‘naked political campaigning’ after its latest case involving a hunt collapsed. The charity accused Will Goffe, 33, of hunting a fox with a hound while out with the Ledbury Hunt, near Malvern in Worcestershire. However, the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. It is the fourth failed RSPCA hunt prosecution this year.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th November 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

NCVO report attacks ‘crude’ implementation of payment by results contracts – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 31st, 2013 in charities, contracting out, contracts, news, public procurement, reports by michael

“There is general support among charities for ‘payment by results’ but its implementation has often been ‘crude’ and ‘seriously flawed’, a report for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations has argued.”

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th October 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Vulnerable elderly ‘locked out’ of state-funded care despite reforms, study finds – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 23rd, 2013 in benefits, budgets, care homes, carers, charities, elderly, local government, news by tracey

“Hundreds of thousands of frail elderly and disabled people who need help with basic tasks such as washing and dressing will receive no assistance towards the cost of their care, despite Government reforms, experts have warned.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Hospitals told to investigate all patient complaints in spite of possible lawsuits – The Guardian

“Hospitals will be banned from refusing to investigate complaints from patients harmed by poor care who may also sue for damages, after campaigners condemned the practice as an illegal and unfair denial of patients’ rights.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th October 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Charity chiefs back ‘once-in-a-generation’ change to fostering law – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 9th, 2013 in bills, charities, children, education, fostering, local government, news, statistics by sally

“An alliance of 40 charity chiefs and experts is today urging members of the Lords to seize a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to change the law to give young people in foster care the same start in adult life as their peers.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 9th October 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mesothelioma charities clash with Ministry of Justice over Grant ‘pledge’ – Litigation Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in asbestos, charities, compensation, news, victims by sally

“The government has played down claims by charities supporting asbestos victims that minister Helen Grant agreed not to introduce changes to the compensation regime that they did not support.”

Full story

Litigation Futures, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The unsung heroes who share court victims’ burden of grief and trauma – The Independent

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in charities, courts, news, victims by sally

“A team of volunteers supports those exposed to some of the Old Bailey’s most harrowing cases.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st October 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Draft Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Bill – Law Commission

Posted September 27th, 2013 in bills, charities, consultations, Law Commission, press releases by tracey

“In a consultation launched today, the Law Commission for England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission invite comments on the draft Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Bill as it stands at 26 September 2013.”

Full press release

Law Commission, 26th September 2013

Source: www.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission

Government to amend lobbying regulation plans – BBC News

Posted September 27th, 2013 in bills, charities, elections, freedom of expression, lobbying, news by tracey

“The government has proposed a series of amendments to its lobbying bill, after charities and voluntary groups raised concerns they could be gagged.”

Full story

BBC News, 26th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women are legally free to abort a baby because of its sex, says abortion charity head – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 18th, 2013 in abortion, charities, Crown Prosecution Service, doctors, equality, gender, news, prosecutions by sally

“The chief executive of Britain’s biggest abortion charity has said women are legally free to arrange an abortion because they are unhappy with the sex of their unborn baby.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 18th September 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Charities force anti-lobbying laws rethink – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2013 in bills, charities, lobbying, news by tracey

“Ministers have amended their plans for new anti-lobbying laws after charities warned the bill could affect their ability to campaign.”

Full story

BBC News, 6th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Cancer fund father Kevin Wright jailed for theft and fraud – BBC News

Posted September 6th, 2013 in charities, fraud, news, sentencing, theft by tracey

“A man who stole from children’s cancer charities, including one to help his son, has been jailed for five years.”

Full story

BBC News, 5th September 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lobbying Bill: Government rejects warning by charities that new law will have ‘chilling effect’ – The Independent

Posted September 4th, 2013 in bills, charities, lobbying, news, public interest by sally

“Downing Street has rejected warnings by charities that its new lobbying legislation would restrict voluntary organisations from campaigning on matters of public interest.”

Full story

The Independent, 2nd September 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New lobbying bill will affect charities’ ability to campaign on political issues – The Guardian

Posted August 27th, 2013 in bills, budgets, charities, lobbying, news by tracey

“The Electoral Commission, Britain’s elections watchdog, has concluded that government plans to curb political campaigning by charities before a general election are flawed and in part unworkable.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bobby’s Fund founder stole cancer donations to fund lifestyle – BBC News

Posted August 16th, 2013 in charities, fraud, news, theft by tracey

“The money was meant to help children suffering with some of the rarest forms of cancer, including his own son.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th August 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Preacher faces scrutiny from Charities Commission over church’s finances – The Guardian

Posted August 16th, 2013 in charities, conflict of interest, news by tracey

“Thousands hear sermons by Nigerian bishop David Oyedepo as UK Winners’ branch receives £16m in tithes from followers.

But the booming British operation of Oyedepo, who flies on private jets
and runs a 50,000-seat mega church in Lagos, is being looked at by the
Charity Commission.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th August 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk