25/01/10
By Andrew Holt
A third of charity managers and trustees across the country are unaware of the Government’s recently introduced requirements to vet staff and volunteers.
According to a new study published today by insurer Ecclesiastical, 32% of those surveyed said they were not aware of the new requirements to vet staff and volunteers introduced by the 2006 Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act.
Cultural charities were the least aware with 45% of managers and trustees saying they did not know about the new rules.
For youth charities the figure dropped to 20%.
16% of charity managers and trustees said they felt the introduction of the rules would deter new volunteers, while 6% said they felt it could have an impact on their existing volunteers’ willingness to stay involved.
Asked whether they felt the Act would have the desired effect of increasing protection for vulnerable groups, a quarter (25%) said no, while a further 44% said they did not know.
The Vetting and Barring Scheme was introduced by the Government in October 2009.
Developed as a response to the Soham murders, the scheme applies to anyone working with children or vulnerable adults and requires them to have a criminal record check. Current estimates suggest that 11 million people will need to be checked by 2015.
Commenting on the study’s results, Steve Wood, managing director of Ecclesiastical Insurance said: “We wanted to see how charities were dealing with the new vetting and barring rules because failure to implement them correctly could lead to litigation and significant costs for charities.
"While awareness of the requirements is high, particularly in the youth sector, there is clearly a significant group of managers and trustees who’ve yet to get to grips with the implications of the scheme for their organisations.”
On an economic note, most charity managers and trustees (63%) believe that business will remain the same for them in 2010.
Almost a quarter (23%) predict improving financial conditions, while 8% expect things to get worse for their charity.
The study surveyed a representative sample of 142 charities.
Other stories you may find of interest:
Commission has concerns with Viva Palestina
The Charity Commission has today published a report on its statutory inquiry into the charity Viva Palestina highlighting concerns over the running of the charity. The Commission opened an investigation in early March 2009 following various public fundraising events regarding the Lifeline for Gaza appeal, also known as Viva Palestina. The charity’s initial activity was to launch an appeal for, and to facilitate, a convoy of vehicles carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in February 2009. The charity’s website claimed that the appeal had raised £1 million. The Commission appreciated that the charity was established and operating quickly, in response to an immediate need in Gaza. However the Commission had a number of regulatory concerns.
Charity Commission inquiry into Catz Club finds charity breached charity law
The Charity Commission has today published the results of its inquiry into Catz Club, revealing over-ambitious growth left the charity in deficit. Catz Club is a charitable company set up to advance education and provide for the recreation of children of school age. It ran breakfast and after-school clubs across the country during school hours and school holidays. This included using inter-active numeracy and literacy computer software to run activities. The inquiry found that, having received a grant and loan package from Futurebuilders, Catz Club had embarked on a path of rapid expansion.
