TWO-THIRDS TRUST CHARITIES, WHILE LESS THAN
ONE IN FIVE TRUST GOVERNMENT, SURVEY FINDS
“Conference hears Government must act to protect trust in charities”
Dublin, 29 May: Two-thirds of people (75%) say that they trust charities, while 67% have little or no trust in the government, according to the results of a national survey published today.
The findings of the survey were released at a national conference for the non-profit sector organised by The Wheel, a national body representing 903 community, voluntary and charitable organisations. Over 200 representatives from the non-profit sector attended the event at Croke Park.
The survey of 1,500 households, conducted by NFPsynergy, also found that schools are the second most trusted public institutions while the EU, the media and local and city councils enjoy little trust. Less than half (41%) said they trusted the legal system, and just over a quarter (28%) said they trusted their local city and county councils. Most (60%) said they had little or no trust in the Church.
Speaking at the conference, Deirdre Garvey Chief Executive of The Wheel said:
“The social and economic crisis has shattered trust in public institutions, exposed limitations in our democracy and weakened communities through cuts to social, health and welfare services. Despite this, charities remain the most trusted institutions in Irish society today, and it is crucial that this trust is maintained.”
Ms Garvey called on the government to fully implement the Charities Act 2009 and to establish a Charity Regulator. She added: “The lack of regulation of charities poses a threat to charities that rely on the public’s trust and good will to operate. We need responsive and sensitive regulation, said Ms Garvey” Speaking on the obligations of charities, Ms Garvey called on organisations to be as transparent as possible, and to adopt voluntary codes such as the Governance Code and Statement of Guiding Principles in Fundraising.
The conference was sponsored by Ulster Bank (Lead Partner) and BHP Insurances (Associate Partner). Commenting on the conference David Thomas, Managing Director Corporate Banking, Ulster Bank said: “We are delighted to be the lead partner of this event. We believe that events like these empower community and voluntary organisations to make the greatest possible impact in the communities and in the lives of the people they serve. In addition to our support for the charity and social enterprise sectors, we have a strong commitment to the communities in which we operate.”
END
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Deirdre Garvey, Chief Executive of The Wheel is available for interview. Contact Gert Ackermann on Tel: 086 176 9287, (01) 454 8727 or email gert@wheel.ie.
Photos issued by Lensman before 1pm.
About the Survey
The survey was conducted by nfpSynergy on behalf of the Irish Charity Engagement Monitor. Base: all respondents (1,575), 16+, Republic of Ireland. A detailed graph can be downloaded here: http://goo.gl/G2Tzt
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 900 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.
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