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.”

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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

RSPCA accused of using criminal prosecutions to increase revenue – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 8th, 2013 in animal cruelty, charities, news, prosecutions by sally

“The RSPCA is facing calls to give up its role as a criminal prosecutor following claims that it is using court cases as a means of increasing its revenue.”

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Daily Telegraph, 7th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

JK Rowling law firm pays damages over pseudonym leak – BBC News

Posted August 1st, 2013 in anonymity, charities, costs, damages, disclosure, law firms, news by sally

“Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has accepted a substantial charity donation from the law firm that revealed she was writing under a pseudonym.”

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BBC News, 31st July 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Surviving LASPO: ‘Be creative, be out there’ – LegalVoice

“Now that legal aid is diminished, is it possible to find new sources of public funding for legal advice? Yes, if you work at it, writes Sue Bent.”

Full story

LegalVoice, 31st July 2013

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Helping Female Offenders Keep Their Home – Criminal Law and Justice Weekly

Posted July 29th, 2013 in charities, community service, homelessness, housing, news, women by sally

“Harriet Stranks on one charity’s work to tackle re-offending and homelessness among women released from prison.”

Full story

Criminal Law and Justice Weekly, 20th July 2013

Source: www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk

Legal Education Foundation launches with grants to promote pro bono, education and social mobility – Legal Futures

Posted July 11th, 2013 in charities, equality, legal education, news, pro bono work by sally

“The charity created following the sale of the College of Law last year has today announced its first grants, with access to justice, the profession and education the focus.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th July 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Pollen Estate Trustee Co Ltd v Revenue and Customs Comrs; King’s College London v Same – WLR Daily

The Pollen Estate Trustee Co Ltd v Revenue and Customs Comrs: King’s College London v Same: [2013] EWCA Civ 753;   [2013] WLR (D)  255

“Where a charity contributed to the purchase of a property, to be held on trust for it and other, non-charitable, contributors in proportion to their contributions, the ‘chargeable interest acquired’ by reference to which stamp duty land tax was to be levied under Part 4 of the Finance Act 2003 was the equitable estate collectively acquired by the beneficiaries under the trust. However, paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 8 to the 2003 Act was to be interpreted as exempting the land transaction from charge to the extent of the charity’s interest.”

WLR Daily. 26th June 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

SDT rulings send out warning to law firms over relationships with debt recovery companies – Legal Futures

“Law firms must not allow arrangements with debt recovery companies to compromise their independence, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned, after two solicitors were fined heavily for allowing litigation to be carried out in their name.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 17th June 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Case for legal clampdown on ‘chuggers’ compelling, say MPs – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 6th, 2013 in charities, education, news, public interest, reports, select committees by sally

“Charities should be forced to rein in the use of High Street fund-raisers known as ‘chuggers’ or face state regulation, a cross-party committee of MPs has concluded.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th June 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Cross-government reforrms benefit charities and mutuals – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 21st, 2013 in charities, news, probation, rehabilitation by sally

“A comprehensive package of measures to help the voluntary sector and mutuals compete for contracts to cut reoffending was announced today by the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 21st May 2013

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

Fish & Fish Ltd v Sea Shepherd UK and others – WLR Daily

Fish & Fish Ltd v Sea Shepherd UK and others [2013] EWCA Civ 544; [2013] WLR (D) 181

“In order for a party to be liable as a joint tortfeasor by virtue of doing acts in furtherance of a common design to do acts that were tortious, it was not a requirement that the party’s acts had been an essential part of or of real significance to the commission of the tort.”

WLR Daily, 16th May 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Charity unable to claim rates relief – Wi-Fi transmitters were “minimal” use, says High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 16th, 2013 in charities, news, rates, telecommunications by sally

“A registered charity that provides free Wi-Fi services and broadcasts public safety messages using transmitters installed in otherwise empty commercial properties cannot claim business rates relief, the High Court has said.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 15th May 2013

Source: www.out-law.com

Probation reform: payment by results can reduce reoffending – The Guardian

Posted May 15th, 2013 in charities, news, probation, public private partnerships, recidivists by sally

“The recent announcement from the justice secretary, opening up probation work to the private and voluntary sectors, may help to rebuild lives.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th May 2013

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tax scandal threatens charity donations – The Independent

Posted May 9th, 2013 in charities, Charity Commission, news, taxation by tracey

“The Charity Commission’s handling of a high-profile tax-avoidance scandal that saw shockingly little donated money reach good causes has put charities at risk of losing the public’s confidence – and consequently their money, one of the leading figures in the sector has warned.”

Full story

The Independent, 8th May 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How will government proposals to reduce reoffending affect charities? – The Guardian

Posted April 4th, 2013 in charities, news, recidivists, rehabilitation by sally

“The government has laid out plans to open the majority of probation services to competition, in its programme ‘Transforming Rehabilitation – a revolution in the way we manage offenders’. The aim is to reform offender management services in the community, in order to reduce re-offending rates, while delivering improved value for money for the tax payer.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th April 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fake vicar jailed for charity fraud – BBC News

Posted March 25th, 2013 in charities, fraud, news, sentencing by sally

“A conman who posed as a vicar and tricked Merseyside charities out of about £90,000 has been jailed for five years.”

Full story

BBC News, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Christian B&B owners sued over refusing gay guests can now turn away homosexual couples – The Independent

“A Christian couple who broke equality laws when they refused to let a gay couple stay in a double room in their bed and breakfast will now be able to legally turn away homosexual couples after becoming a not-for-profit organisation.”

Full story

The Independent, 22nd March 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk