DCH 145 Association of NHS Charities
Association of NHS Charities
(formerly known
as the Informal Group of Charities Associated with NHS Bodies)
Ms Francene Graham
Committee Assistant
Scrutiny Unit
Room G10
7 Millbank
London SW1P 3JA
21 June 2004
Dear Ms Graham
Comments on Draft Charities Bill
1 The Association of
NHS Charities - which comprises the 44 largest of the 319
NHS-linked charities in England and Wales - was established, amongst
other things, to "….encourage and promote the implementation
of best charity practice…". The Association
is therefore completely supportive of those parts of the draft
Bill which emphasise the need for greater transparency, openness
and impartiality in the management of charities and believes this
should be the goal of the legislators.
2 The Association
is concerned that the Bill should draw no distinction between
grant-making trusts and fundraising trusts and that the same standard
of governance should apply to both. NHS-linked charities pursue
both roles.
3 The Association
supports the proposals in the draft Bill to strengthen the Charity
Commission's role in ensuring compliance with charity law,
in order "…to enhance the accountability of charities
to donors, beneficiaries and the general public…".
4 The proposals in the
draft Bill to encourage mergers between charities are welcomed
by the Association.
Yours sincerely
J W Collinson
Convenor
_________________________________________________________________________
ASSOCIATION OF NHS CHARITIES
Convenor: J W Collinson
Director
King's College
Hospital Charitable Trust email: john collinson@kingsch.nhs.uk
Denmark Hill tel: 020 7346 4058
London SE5 9RS fax: 020 7346 3838
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