Forum Brief: Charity law

David Blunkett has announced a new legal definition of a charity, requiring the organisations to work for the "public benefit" in one of 12 key areas.

The move will open up charitable status to human rights organisations, such as Amnesty International, and amateur sports clubs.

Forum Response: Charity Commission

John Stoker, the chief charity commissioner, said: "These proposals are an excellent reforming package, building on the strengths of the current charity system.

"They fit well with the way we in the Commission have been developing the Commission's approach, and we will set this out when we publish our annual report tomorrow.

"I am confident we can work with the proposals, as the Strategy Unit intended, to help charities achieve their potential within a clear and purposeful framework of regulation.

"They will bring; greater accountability for charities, backed by more and better information; greater clarity in the law- making it easier to understand what's charitable; modernisation - helping charities to adapt to the needs of modern communities; a new fillip for social enterprise - both through the emphasis on community development issues and the proposals for better institutional models; and regulation which is better targeted and concentrates on risk.

"The result should be to help charities - and other not-for-profits - set up, grow and prosper."

Forum Response: Association for Charities

A spokeswoman for the Association for Charities told ePolitix.com: "It's one of the paradoxes of our times that huge numbers of people are involved in one way or another in charities, whether on the giving end as trustees, volunteers or donors, or on the receiving end as beneficiaries, yet the charity sector has up till now tended to be the governmental and parliamentary Cinderella, with charity issues rarely being debated, nor do they hit the headlines in the national press either.

"So indeed is it with this quiet 'launch' of the proposed new charity legislation. We see the Home Office decision, however, as a great opportunity to bring charity issues for once into full profile and to re-examine some of our core values as a society.

"MPs might quite enjoy thinking for a change about whether cricket is really charitable or whether they'd let their children donate their pocket-money to a non-registered charitable cause. We trust that all will agree that the Charity Commission, like all public bodies, must be open and accountable and that people who give their time and energy to helping others must never be wrongly indicted, as very regrettably happens at present.

"The provision of an independent tribunal to dispense justice at 'charity' rates, in lieu of the High Court, will come not a moment too soon. We trust that lots of MPs will join the Association for Charities at a briefing Seminar on the new charity legislation in the autumn - date to be announced."

Forum Response: Voice UK

Kathryn Stone, director of Voice UK, told ePolitix.com: "Anything that increases public confidence in charity operations has to be a good thing.

"It is also good to know that charities are recognised as a force for good in society."

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive of Counsel and Care, told ePolitix.com: "I welcome anything which aims to cut red tape, but I am highly suspicious as most government initiatives on this issue tend to have the reverse effect."

Forum Response: The Disabilities Trust

David Eggleston, marketing and fundraising manager of the Disabilities Trust, told ePolitix.com: "Although our initial reaction is that there would be little direct impact on the Disabilities Trust, we welcome the changes that are aimed at reducing bureaucracy and helping to make the voluntary sector more transparent and more effective."

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: "The government has responded positively to demands for a modern legal and regulatory framework for charities.

"This is a positive step forward and we look forward to working with the government to ensure that any proposed legislation is as effective as possible.

"The government must now commit to including draft legislation in the next Queen's Speech."

Forum Response: Shelter

A spokeswoman for Shelter told ePolitix.com: "Shelter welcomes the announcement by the home secretary today regarding changes to charity law. Shelter recognises that the voluntary sector already plays a key role in many areas of society, including service delivery, and that this role will continue, rightly, to expand in the future.

"It is vital, therefore, that charities are as democratic, transparent and accountable as possible to ensure they maintain and improve their effectiveness."

Forum Response: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, director of Depression Alliance, told ePolitix.com: "Depression Alliance welcomes these reforms. They should breathe new life into the Charity Commission and clarify the role of charitable organisations in the public eye.

"We particularly welcome the self regulation aspects as they will enable us to promote better practice in fundraising.

"If the government delivers on these plans then they will have succeeded in reforming a 400 year sector at a stroke."