Power and charity, not normally words which sit comfortably together, they almost sound oxymoronic and in the extreme. However, given the recent OXFAM abuse scandals do we now need to demand more transparency in how charities are managed?
Although more and more children are being ‘educated’, about the third sector, there still appears to be a lack of transparency around how our money is being spent. Indeed, many charities have expensive administering cost which reduces the amount of money being given to the vulnerable and underprivileged. Should this not be policed more heavily? Transparency should be a charities number one priority according to charity commission.
Furthermore, like any good relationship - trust is a fundamental ingredient and something many British charity donors are currently struggling with. “The problem is that public trust in charities has fallen because of these “malpractices’,” says William Shawcross, charity commission boss. We are a generous nation, last year alone we donated 9.7 billion pounds with medical causes receiving the largest amount. Charities play an integral role in the lives of so many. At this critical time, the general public feels disillusioned and disappointed with the questionable fundraising tactics and ethics of not all but some high profile charities.
‘You give a poor man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime!’ The beneficial of charitable donations, are not victims to be pitied but those who are human beings who need a helping hand to empower them and support them to get back on new track.
