IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 17 January 2014
STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE WHEEL
CALL FOR DETAILED TIMELINE AND IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN FOR CHARITIES REGULATOR
“Survey reveals that over half of charities have been adversely affected by CRC scandal"
The Wheel, a national network representing 930 charities, calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter TD to urgently publish a detailed timeline and implementation plan for the establishment of the Charities Regulatory Authority in 2014.
The urgent need for action is demonstrated by the results of a survey of 150 Irish charities conducted by The Wheel earlier this week. The survey shows that:
- 97% of the charities surveyed believe that the CRC affair has damaged public trust in Irish charities, and about half (54%) believe that this damage may be permanent.
- More than half (53%) of those charities that fundraise from the public say that the negative publicity has had a negative impact on their fundraising.
- A fifth reported that their fundraising income is already down by more than 10%.
- A quarter (26%) have received concerned phone calls or correspondence from donors or members of the public.
- 14% reported negative or abusive comments directed at their volunteers, fundraisers or staff.
- Over 80 percent believe that the government has not done enough to implement the Charities Act 2009.
Minister Shatter announced in July 2013 that the Charity Regulatory Authority would come into operation in 2014.
Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel said: “A crisis of public confidence has engulfed the charity sector since the revelations about the failures at the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC). While we know that the Charities Regulatory Authority will not be a panacea against governance failures and malpractice in charities, all stakeholders agree that it will set clear requirements in relation to governance practice, activity and financial reporting, and increase transparency and accountability. In doing so it will provide the public with the necessary assurances to maintain public giving.”
The Wheel has consistently emphasised the need for individual charities to comply with the Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations, the Principles of Good Practice in Fundraising and the Statement of Recommended Practice for Financial Reporting by Charities (SORP) in their work, and we are happy to see that several hundred of charities have already embraced, and continue to support these initiatives.
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Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on Tel: 086 176 9287, (01) 454 8727 or emailgert@wheel.ie.
NOTE TO EDITOR:
About the Survey
The online survey was conducted by The Wheel on 15 and 16 January 2014. The data is based on a sample of responses from 150 charities.
About The Wheel
The Wheel is a national organisation that represents and supports community, voluntary and charitable organisations in Ireland. Founded in 1999, we currently have over 930 members across Ireland, reflecting the enormous scope and scale of this vibrant and diverse sector. The Wheel exists to help change people’s lives for the better. We do this by helping non-profit organisations get things done, more efficiently and more effectively. The Wheel is registered charity (no. 13288) and a company limited by guarantee. See www.wheel.ie.
