Helen Stephenson CBE
Chief Executive Officer, Charity Commission
I am pleased to welcome you to our new charity fraud website.
Launching today, preventcharityfraud.org.uk is a handy one-stop shop, designed to give charities information, advice and practical tools to fight fraud and stay safe from harm.
This site is part of a joint initiative between the Charity Commission and Fraud Advisory Panel, ahead of this year’s Charity Fraud Awareness Week, which will take place from 18 to 22 October.
Now in its sixth year, Charity Fraud Awareness Week brings together partners from around the world to improve the charity sector’s resilience to fraud and cybercrime. Sadly, we know that the Covid 19 pandemic has only increased the risk of harm, with the challenge of providing vital services and protecting valuable assets being greater than ever. Ultimately, lasting change relies on collective action across the sector, and this is the mission that lies at the heart of Charity Fraud Awareness Week.
Whether you’re a charity manager, trustee, staff member or volunteer, taking action to tackle fraud is easier than you might think. Even small charities can make simple changes which could improve the protection their organisation has against fraud.
I’d also encourage you to sign up to our new Fraud Pledge. This is a great way to show your commitment to tackling fraud and cybercrime in your charity.
As well as taking the fraud pledge, you can get involved in this year’s Charity Fraud Awareness Week campaign by using the Supporters Pack. This pack contains a range of campaign posters and social media assets that you can tailor and promote via your own networks.
The Charity Commission is committed to working with organisations, like Fraud Advisory Panel, to fight fraud: every pound lost to fraud is a pound which cannot be spent on charitable causes. Working together, we can, not only make the charity sector more resilient to fraud and cybercrime, but also demonstrate an important commitment to the basic principles of charity itself – to philanthropy, trust and good will.