MP calls on local faith charities to make the most of new charity guide

Faith-based charities are often at the heart of our communities, doing great work at a time when even more people need their help. But running these charities takes time and effort and those who do so need all the help they can get.

Having attended an inter-faith event at Hermitage Leisure Centre, Whitwick last Friday, David Taylor, MP for North West Leicestershire, is telling all local faith-based charities that a new charity guide can help them in their work. There are many thousands of faith-based charities operating in England and Wales, including those directly concerned with advancing religion and those for whom faith is an important inspiration. Faith in Good Governance, published by the Charity Commission, the independent regulator for charities in England, is designed specifically for the trustees, staff and volunteers of charities set up with a religious purpose.

Developed as a result of requests from a number of faith-based charities, Faith in Good Governance brings together a range of legal advice and good practice of direct relevance to faith-based charities, and includes a number of helpful case studies.

David Taylor MP for North West Leicestershire said “The vital work that so many faith-based charities do in this constituency has become even more important in the face of economic uncertainty. Those who put their heart and soul into running these charities need relevant, targeted advice. I encourage them to get a copy of this practical guide from the Charity Commission’s website to help them maximise their impact.”

Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Charity Commission, said “It is important that trustees have the flexibility and freedom to decide what is the best way to achieve their charity’s aims, but at the same time they need good, useful guidance to help them in their work, which is why we have produced Faith in Good Governance. We hope trustees will find this new resource useful and that it will help faith-based charities become even more effective.”

Faith in Good Governance is available from the Commission’s website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk.

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For further information on this story please contact Sarah Nelson on 020 7674 2333.

Notes to Editors

1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. See www.charitycommission.gov.uk for further information or call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218.

2. Our mission is: to ensure charities’ legal compliance, enhance charities’ accountability, encourage charities’ effectiveness and impact and to promote the public interest in charity.

3. In 2007, the Charity Commission set up The Faith and Social Cohesion Unit (FSCU). This is a dedicated team within the Commission which:
• works to improve the Commission’s and society’s understanding of faith-based charities;
• engages with faith communities to identify and support organisations that could be but are not currently registered with the Commission;
• assists faith-based charities to improve their standards of governance and accountability and thereby increase their effectiveness; and
• works collaboratively to achieve and promote well run and effectively regulated faith-based charities.
The team is initially working with mosques and other Muslim charities. A Project Board including representatives of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Body (MINAB) has been established to direct and evaluate the team’s work and to provide specialist advice. For more information about the FSCU, please see the Commission’s website.
4. Faith based charities form a significant portion of the charitable sector – there are over 30,000 faith-based charities registered in England and Wales.

5. In June 2009 The Charity Commission published its ‘Big Board Talk ‘ - 15 questions all charities need to ask. Go to: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/ccnews29check.asp