A north-east charity boss will help lead a UK-wide review of fundraising activities after the death of a pensioner who was inundated with requests for cash.
David Cunningham, chief executive of the Aberdeen-based ARCHIE Foundation, is one of four senior figures asked to draw up plans to tighten the rules governing charities.
Changes have been recommended in the wake of the death of 92-year-old poppy seller Olive Cooke, who took her own life in May.
The grandmother had previously complained about charities bombarding her with 260 letters a month, suggesting they were taking advantage of her kindness.
However, family members have said she suffered from depression and that aggressive fundraising was not to blame. Her death is the subject of an inquest.
Coverage of the case led to a flood of complaints and prompted Prime Minister David Cameron to order charity regulators to launch a review of their practices.
The Fundraising Standards Board carried out an investigation and now the Institute of Fundraising’s standards committee has set-up four of its own task-forces to make recommendations.
Mr Cunningham will lead one of the four and, along with his colleagues, will look at the frequency and volume of approaches to donors so they do not feel “bombarded” or “pressurised” into giving, as well as ways to make it easier for people to “opt-out”.
The group will also set out specific standards which fundraisers should comply with, and a certification system for telephone charity workers.
Mr Cunningham, who is chairman of the Scottish standards committee of the Institute of Fundraising, said they would report back this summer.
“It’s not good enough for charities to simply go to the minimum standards possible,” he said.
“Charities provide incredibly important and good quality work throughout the UK and their fundraising has to be sustainable. The work we’re doing has to have that as our main focus.
“Charities have a responsibility to still provide these services, that are so relied upon by so many, for years to come.”
Mr Cunningham added: “I’m very happy to be involved and to be part of this small group tasked with this responsibility, but I’m also pleased because it’s a vote of confidence in the work of ARCHIE and charities in the north-east.
“I would be very happy to hear from anybody who has views on it.”