First update on progress of the NI Fundraising Regulation consultation

Decision-making

Progress on the set up of the NI Fundraising Regulation Working Group and decision on how fundraising will be voluntarily regulated in NI pending the result of a full sector consultation.

NI Fundraising Regulation Working Group 

The starting point for a full consultation on the way forward for Northern Ireland was the development of a NI Fundraising Regulation Working Group.   Following requests for members from the sector, a Working Group was established. 

The Working Group is comprised of a wide range of organisations including large and small charities, UK, NI and all-Ireland based charities, trustees, CEOs, and fundraisers. There are also Observers from the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI).  Opinions from relevant experts will continue to be sought as required and the Working Group may add to its membership if this is deemed to be useful.

NI Fundraising Regulation Working Group Members 

NAME  ORGANISATION/BODY

Alison Snookes

Ulster University

Claire O'Hare (OBSERVER)

Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI)

Ciaran Kearney

Northern Ireland Sports Forum

Conor McGale 

 Rural Community Network (RCN)

Denise Hayward

Volunteer Now

Elaine McCrory

The Friends of Assisi Animal Sanctuary

Elley Martin

Institute of Fundraising (IOF), NI Chest Heart & Stroke

Jane Hoare

Cancer Fund for Children

Kate Laverty

CO3, Colin Community Counselling

Kerry Anderson

NI Chest Heart & Stroke

Lynn Kennedy

NICVA

Mairead McGinn

Depaul 

Maeve Colgan

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland

Margaret Carr

Cancer Research UK

Martin Ireland (OBSERVER)

Department for Communities: Voluntary and Community Division

Murdo Murray

Northern Ireland Environment Link

Nadine Campbell (CHAIR)

Institute of Fundraising (IOF), Age NI (formerly CLIC Sargent)

Peter Toner (OBSERVER)

Department for Communities: Voluntary and Community Division

Roisin Foster

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland

Sandra Bailie

NICVA

Valerie Cromie

TinyLife

 

 

NI Fundraising Regulation Working Group Remit

  • Produce an options appraisal for the proposed options for NI which could be used as an engagement tool by the sector;
  • Engage with the voluntary and community sector consulting and gathering views
  • Analyse the findings of the consultation and produce a report with recommendations.
  • Establish an action plan/process for implementation

To see the full Terms of Reference of the Working Group please contact [email protected] 

Interim Decision on Fundraising self-regulation for NI

One of the key recommendations arising from the initial consultation event was that an interim fundraising self-regulation system be chosen pending the results of the consulation exercise. 

At the first meeting of the working group in November 2016 it was agreed to accept an offer from the Fundraising Regulator for England and Wales to field fundraising complaints for NI whilst a more detailed consultation on the way forward for NI was carried out.  SCVO and the Scottish Independent Panel had also offered to fulfil the same role for the NI public whilst the NI consultation was underway.

The Working Group agreed to accept the offer from the Fundraising Regulator for the following reasons:

  • The Fundraising Regulator is currently up and running and willing to field complaints from the NI public whilst the NI consultation is underway
  • At present CCNI is referring as necessary to the Fundraising Regulator – it simply retained the status quo
  • This option provided a simple solution which was clear and easy for the public to understand in the interim period.
  • The Fundraising Regulator was actually originally set up to cover all of the UK whereas the Scottish system was set up solely to reflect the needs of Scottish charities.
  • There will be no cost to the NI VCSE sector
  • The Fundraising Regulator will work reactively, fielding complaints from the NI public as required.

This is only to be an interim arrangement until the consultation is complete and a decision has been made. It will in no way influence the final decision for NI and the Working Party will continue to develop relationships with all relevant bodies including the Fundraising Regulator, ICO, OSCR, SCVO and the Scottish Independent Panel.

Future Updates and Useful Information

A hub will has been set up in on www.nicva.org where all documents and information relevant to the debate on the future of fundraising regulation in Northern Ireland will be available.

For those who feel that they could bring added value to the Working Group, please contact Lynn Kennedy at [email protected] or Sandra Bailie at [email protected]

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