Charity approaches should be limited, says regulator

The number of approaches charities can make to individuals should be limited, according to the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB).

The regulator made the recommendation after complaints and claims veteran fundraiser Olive Cooke, 92, died after being overwhelmed by charities.

The FRSB said there should also be greater clarity on how to opt out of communication from fundraisers.

It said the public thought charities were asking for donations "too often".

The regulator launched an investigation into charity fundraising practices following the death of Mrs Cooke - one of the UK's longest-serving poppy sellers who had collected money for the Royal British Legion for 76 years.

She was found with multiple injuries after jumping into Avon Gorge in Bristol.

Her family have said since that charity requests were not to blame for her death.

However, the FRSB said 384 complaints were made about the behaviour of charities as part of its probe.

Four in 10 (42%) complaints were related to the the frequency of charity communications, while more than a third (35%) were about approaches being made to elderly or vulnerable people.

The FRSB report recommended that charities should be required to provide clear and easy ways for people to opt out of further communication.

Current guidance for communicating with elderly and vulnerable people should be expanded and the current reference which states that fundraisers can use "reasonable persuasion" should be removed, it said.

Guidance should make clear that permission must be granted by an individual before their personal information can be passed on to third parties, and clarify that charities cannot call people who are registered on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), unless the individual has given clear permission to receive calls, the watchdog said.

The Institute of Fundraising has committed to review its Code of Fundraising Practice and relevant guidance in light of the investigation findings, the regulator added.

Alistair McLean, Chief Executive of the FRSB, said: "Over the past few weeks, we have heard from many people who recognise the vital work that charities do and the pressing need for donations to fund that work, but they also feel that charities are asking too often.

"The collective experience of being approached by many charities simultaneously compounds things further.

"The public wants greater clarity and more control over how their contact details are being used and the amount of times they will be asked to give, " Mr McLean said.