The charity fundraising regulator has launched an investigation into allegations that 92-year-old poppy-seller Olive Cooke was overwhelmed by fundraising requests from charities.
Mrs Cooke was found dead last week in the Avon Gorge in Bristol. Friends and family say she felt tormented by the number of requests for help from a wide range of charities, and those closest to her believe these may have contributed to her distress.
Alistair McLean, chief executive of regulator the Fundraising Standards Board, said: “We are deeply saddened by reports that Mrs Cooke felt overwhelmed by charity fundraising requests. We acknowledge that fundraising is thought to have been one of a number of factors that is said to have caused her some distress in recent months.”
The FRSB has made contact with Olive Cooke’s representatives, said McLean, and is encouraging the public to speak to charities if they have any concerns, or to get in touch with the board so it can address those issues.
The investigation follows the announcement that, in light of Olive Cooke’s death, the Institute of Fundraising – the professional membership body for UK fundraising – will review its code and guidance that outlines what charities should and should not do. FRSB uses the IoF’s code to regulate the sector.
Peter Lewis, chief executive of the IoF said: “Fundraisers know that it is absolutely critical to maintain public trust and confidence in charities, and an important part of this is to fundraise in the right way and to the highest standards.”
The IoF standards committee – which sets the rules for fundraising across the UK – will review what has been learnt following Cooke’s death, said Lewis, “to make sure that our rules and guidance for fundraisers are as robust as they can be.”
McLean added: “We welcome the Institute of Fundraising’s review of the code and guidance in light of the issues raised and have committed to feed into this review. If a charity breaches these standards, we consider it a serious matter and we will work to investigate such issues and to hold charities to account. We also work closely with regulators like the ICO where any potential breaches of data protection law are identified.”
An inquest into Olive Cooke’s death is expected to be opened at Avon coroner’s court this week.
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