The Charity Commission is urging local charities to become more accountable to donors and the public.

Last year over 1,000 of the 9,000 charities in Wales were late in sending their accounts to the Commission.

To combat this, the Commission's Wales Office has launched a campaign to improve accountability by contacting Welsh charities that have not sent in their information.

All registered charities must send financial information every year to the Commission.

This information can then be accessed on the online Register of Charities by anyone who wants to find out more about a charity.

The register entry of any charity that is late in sending the Commission its financial information is marked with a red banner.

Harry Iles, head of the Charity Commission Wales Office, said: "We have a fantastic tradition in Wales of helping charities and many people do this by donating money. It is essential that charities demonstrate to donors they are transparent, accountable and well run; they can do this by ensuring that their entry on the Register of Charities is up-to-date.

"Getting accounts in on time has become even more important for charities as funds become harder to find. We are calling on all trustees to look at their register entry on our website and check that they have sent all their documents in on time.

"A red banner may be the deciding factor for someone who wants to support the charity, so we want all Welsh charities to stay out of the red."

Tessa White, grants manager from the Wales Council for Voluntary Associations, said: "WCVA fully support the Commission's project to improve the timely submission of accounts and annual returns by Welsh charities. We always look at the Register of Charities when allocating grants and we expect charities to be fully compliant and to have sound governance."

Charities spend over a billion pounds a year in Wales and the new Charity Commission initiative aims to improve the timely submission of accounts and annual returns by Welsh charities.

Throughout the year, the Commission's Newport based team will be contacting charities by phone reminding trustees to file on time and offering help and guidance if there are problems.

The Commission is also working with the WCVA and charity funding organisations in Wales to publicise the campaign. The overall goal is to ensure charities are effective, accountable and well-run so that they can continue to make a vital contribution to every aspect of life in Wales.

The new Charity Commission initiative aims to improve the timely submission of accounts and annual returns by Welsh charities.

The Commission is also working with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action and charity funding organisations in Wales to publicise the campaign.

The Commission's overall goal is to ensure charities are effective, accountable and well-run so that they can continue to make a vital contribution to every aspect of life in Wales.

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