MEMBERS of the public and charities will be quizzed on how fundraisers conduct themselves as a month-long probe into the third sector prepares to get under way.
After recent complaints sparked a review south of the border, the review will assess whether or not the current system of public charity fundraising self-regulation is working in Scotland.
Reporting back by the end of August, it will be carried out by umbrella group the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) on behalf of the Scottish Government.
It will also seek information and views from organisations the public complain to, including Consumer Focus, Trading Standards, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and the Fundraising Standards Board.
Senior figures from the third sector have been drafted in to help direct the review and assist on who it should consult with.
The inquiry will run alongside a review of fundraising being carried out in England and Wales and comes after revelations about aggressive tactics and targeting of vulnerable elderly of UK charities following the death of 92-year-old poppy seller Olive Cooke.
Her body was found in the Avon Gorge in Bristol in May after she had complained about being hounded by requests from fundraisers for donations.
John Downie, director of public affairs at SCVO, said: “Charities in Scotland have earned high levels of public trust but high-profile media reports of poor fundraising practice south of the border are damaging the strong reputation which charities rely on to attract donations and volunteers.
“It’s vitally important that we do everything in our power to maintain high levels of trust of charities otherwise thousands of people across Scotland could miss out on life-changing help and support.
“The review will consider what reasonable steps can be taken to strengthen public trust, put a stop to any bad practice and make sure that giving to charity is a positive experience for people in Scotland.
“People right across the country will have a chance to feed their views and experiences into the review when we launch the survey next week.”
David Cameron has already announced that the UK Government will change the law to rein in rogue fundraisers who target vulnerable people for charity donations. This is despite the fact that a review the Prime Minister ordered into the effectiveness of self-regulation and whether any further legislation is needed is still underway.
Fraser Hudghton, of the Institute of Fundraising (IOF) Scotland, said: “As a sector we also need to ensure maximum transparency around charity fundraising in Scotland and better communicate with the public about who oversees best practice. Adherence to the Code of Fundraising Practice is a must for charities.
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