Kirsty Williams AM encourages people to use new charity Register

5.00.00pm GMT Mon 1st Dec 2008

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire is encouraging local people to find out more about the charities they support from a new online Register. The new version of the independent charity regulator's Register, launched last month, aims to increase the transparency and accountability of the charity sector and to help people access information about charities.

The new version of the Charity Commission's online Register makes information on charities more accessible than ever before. It provides colour graphics and details of activities, trustees, key financial information and whether charities file their accounts and returns on time. For charities with incomes over £500,000, new financial profiles show what they receive and how they spend their money.

According to recent Ipsos MORI research for the Charity Commission*, 96% of people believe it is important that charities provide public information on how they spend their money.

Kirsty Williams, said:

"The Charity Commission's new Register makes it far easier for the public to see how charities are using their money. Brecon and Radnorshire is home to many registered charities which are making a real difference to our community. I'd encourage you to take a look at the new Register to find out more about the charities you support."

Last year (June 07-June 08) there were nearly 15 million page views of the online Register, which accounts for more than half of all page views on the Charity Commission website.

Kirsty has shown her support by signing a Statement of Opinion in the Assembly praising the new Register. She encourages people in Brecon and Radnorshire to use it to find out more about the charities they support by visiting the website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk.

End.

Notes to Editors

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

2. Statement of Opinion OPIN-2008- 0087 - Work of the Charity Commission in Wales, can be viewed online at: http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-guide-docs-pub/bus-business-documents/bus-business-documents-state-opinion.htm

3. The Register of Charities provides the definitive list of all charities in England and Wales registered with the Charity Commission. It is populated with information provided by charities in their annual returns. A charity's records are updated overnight for charities using the online Annual Return service and within 10 days for those using the paper return option. The Register has been available online since 1997.

4. *The report, 2008 Charity Commission Study into Public Trust and Confidence in Charities is available with an executive summary on the Charity Commission website at

http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Library/news_thumbs/pdfs/Charities%20survey.pdf

5. The Ipsos MORI research, conducted in February 2008, also found that:

• 85% of the public say they give to charities

• nearly half (47%) say they have donated goods in the last year

• nearly one third (32%) say they have given time.

Screen shots of the new Register are available from Sarah Nelson at the Charity Commission Press Office on 020 7674 2333.