The Fundraising Regulator has launched its new and improved Fundraising Code of Practice, which will come into effect on 1 October 2019.

The new code was developed following a consultation that ran during autumn 2018.

It aims to make it easier for fundraisers, charities and third party organisations to understand the standards expected of them when fundraising.

The Fundraising Regulator says that the new code is also easier for the public to navigate, so that they know what to expect from ethical fundraising.

Changes to the code include the following:

• Consolidation of the former code, rulebooks and legal appendices so that all of the standards can be found in one code.
• Clearer navigation by restructuring the standards in to three parts so that users can clearly identify which standards apply depending on the type of fundraising they do.
• Clarification of where there are differences in law in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
• Transparent, jargon-free language, following an independent review by the Plain English campaign, which gave the code a Crystal Mark standard.

Complaints will continue to be considered against the version of the code in effect at the time of the incident. This means the new code will be used as the basis for making decisions about any incidents that take place from October onwards.

The Fundraising Regulator is currently working to improve its website so that the code can be easily navigated online.

For more information, visit the Code of Fundraising Practice webpage.