CFDG Press Release: NCVO & CFDG set up independent expert group on expenses to be charied by Lindsay Driscoll

Date: 22 June 2009

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and the Charity Finance Directors’ Group (CFDG) have set up an independent expert group on trustee and senior management expenses.

Lindsay Driscoll will chair the group alongside key sector individuals who will be tasked with developing best practice on how voluntary and community organisations report trustees and senior management expenses in the wake of recent press coverage surrounding the issue. The Group will also work closely with the Charity Commission.

Widespread consultation with voluntary and community sector organisations will take place, with everyone being given the opportunity to provide views through written submission over the next two months.  The main aim of the Group will be to publish guidance on the reporting of expenses in the next four months.

Stuart Etherington, CEO, NCVO said: “Following the recent media spotlight members have been contacting us wanting to do the right thing. Many are asking for guidance on best practice in this area. I am delighted that Lindsay Driscoll has agreed to chair the Group because it is crucial that the sector has clear, consistent and agreed guidance on how to report expenses.”

Keith Hickey, CEO, CFDG said: “Public trust and confidence are of paramount importance in the charity sector. It is therefore crucial that careful and detailed consideration is given to this issue so that we can give the best advice to organisations in the sector.”

Lindsay Driscoll, Chair of the Independent Expert Group on Expenses said:
“I am pleased to have been asked to chair this Group looking at the issue of reporting expenses. It is important that voluntary and community organisations get this right to maintain the high levels of public trust that exist in the sector.”

 

For further press information please contact Grant Imlach in NCVO’s Press Office on 0207 520 2468 email: grant.imlach@ncvo-vol.org.uk

 

Notes to Editors

  1. The Independent Expert Group on Expenses will consist of: Lindsay Driscoll who is a former Charity Commissioner, Chair of the Governance Code Group and a consultant at Bates, Wells & Braithwaite Solicitors, Debra Allcock Tyler who is Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change, Don Bawtree who is Charity Unit Partner at BDO Stoy Hayward and Paul Palmer who is Professor of Voluntary Sector Management at Cass Business School.

  2. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) www.ncvo-vol.org.uk is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  NCVO has 7,000 members, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer centres, and development agencies working at a local level. With over 280,000 staff and over 13 million volunteers working for our members, we represent and support almost half the voluntary sector workforce.

  3. The Charity Finance Directors' Group was set up in 1987 and is an umbrella group that specialises in helping charities to manage their finance-related functions. CFDG’s 1,600 plus members are responsible for the finances of charities with a wide variety of income levels. Between them our members manage some £14.7 billion in charity income per year.  For further information about CFDG please contact Kate Hand, on Tel: 020 7785 6419 or email: kate.hand@cfdg.org.uk or visit our website www.cfdg.org.uk