Red Cross welcomes new charity regulator

The publication of the government-commissioned Etherington review in to charity regulation follows a summer of intense engagement with the voluntary sector. 

The Red Cross was among hundreds of not-for-profit organisations to make submissions to the cross-party panel chaired by Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. 

A welcome vision

Mike Adamson, chief executive of the British Red Cross, described the report as a 'historic opportunity to rebuild trust and confidence in the charity sector.' 

He said: "We are very supportive of a new approach to the self-regulation of fundraising and of the creation of a single regulator with robust new powers. 

"We particularly welcome the vision of charities developing longer-term and deeper relationships with donors. 

"These recommendations are entirely consistent with our proposals in our submission to the Etherington review. Any new approach must balance the right to give, the right to ask, with the right to say no." 

Restore confidence

The report, titled Regulating Fundraising for the Future, recommends the establishment of a new fundraising regulator which would operate a new code of conduct and would be funded by a levy on charities. 

Mr Adamson added: "We’re looking forward to working through the detail of the report with government and the wider sector. 

"It is essential that charities restore public confidence and assure their supporters that they are committed to the highest standards of fundraising.”