Ordinary every day people who have been brought up with a strong sense of right and wrong. People who hate abuse, bullying and exploitation in whatever form it takes. People who believe that when you see something that is wrong you should stand up and do whatever you can to stop and correct that wrong.

It really is as simple as that.

We are group of people who are supporters of various charities whether it be as trustees, volunteers, directors or fundraisers. We have raised money for charities, given money to charities and have a strong and passionate belief in the concept of charity. We are not against charity or charities.

Until our own individual and different experiences we believed that charities in England and Wales were regulated by the Charity Commission, that the Charity Commission was there to ensure that charities comply with the law, follow guidance and behave and report honestly. Due to our own circumstances and supported by further extensive research we have discovered that this is not the case with any charity and that in fact there is little or no regulation by the Commission at all. 

It certainly seems that there is enough guidance and regulation governing charities and charity work, it’s not a lack of this that is the issue. Rather it is the Commission's reluctance to apply that regulation or use its regulatory powers that is the problem. 

Where there is no adequate or functioning regulatory body then there is the opportunity for criminal activity and abuse. In fact, knowledge about the lack of regulation encourages criminals to enter the charity arena, there are easy pickings and little or no risk. Even if criminality or fraud is found it is extremely unlikely that the Charity Commission will report to the police. The charity commission rarely mentions fraud in serious inquiries, instead they describe it as misconduct and mismanagement.  

Registering a charity is a fairly simple process and along with that easy registration process comes a badge of respectability, tax breaks, and the knowledge that you can pretty much do anything you want. If anyone does complain to the Commission about a charity’s activities the Commission will immediately consider the complainants to be hostile. The Commission will go into defence mode, circle its wagons around the trustees and the charity and protect them at all costs. It is very clear from our own direct experiences and research into other complaints that this is the Commissions modus operandi in practically every case.

This approach cannot fail to make charity registration an attractive opportunity for fraudsters, con artists and thieves. Not only does the charity regulator fail to investigate complaints appropriately, the regulator will automatically presume the trustees are innocent and believe everything they say without the need for evidence. Meanwhile complainants (despite all the flowery words about listening and valuing) will be treated as the enemy  Our research shows that dishonest managers of some charities take advantage of this gaping hole in regulation and the lack of willingness of the charity commission to intervene.

This situation cannot be allowed to continue so we are here to collect testimony from partners, whistleblower's or members of the public so that we can fight for change for ALL those being exploited as a result of a lack of regulation of UK charities.

In its current form, with its current culture, the charity commission is never going to win the trust of the UK public and charities WILL suffer as a result.  This needs to change.  We need to know that our regulator is regulating and that charity management will be held to account if they are responsible for wrong doing of ANY kind.