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Draft Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Bill
 Foreword
Scotland's charities play a key part in providing public benefit and public
good for the people of Scotland. Charities deliver effective, user-focussed
services. They help cement our local communities by providing a wealth of opportunities
for people to engage together in civic society. They create jobs and skills.
The Scottish public provides enormous support for charity activity, with around
a million individuals volunteering for charities, and an estimated £240 million
donated to Scottish charities by the public each year. The public deserves to
be sure that charities in Scotland are effective, transparent and trustworthy.
I know that for charities to grow and flourish in Scotland, they need a modern,
proportionate regulatory framework. Charities need public confidence in their
work if they are to achieve their full potential, but they also need a regulatory
environment that supports them rather than tying them in red tape.
In September last year I announced that, after listening to the sector and
other stakeholders, I was committed to publishing a draft Bill to provide that
regulatory framework. I also made a commitment that the sector would be fully
involved in the preparation of the draft Bill, and consulted on publication
of the draft.
I would like to thank all those people involved with the sector who have provided
assistance and comments during our preparation of this formal consultation.
The draft Bill published here is motivated by my belief that there is a clear
public interest in the effective regulation of charities in Scotland. I am absolutely
committed to ensuring that the sector's needs are heard as we work towards introducing
the Bill to Parliament. I am committed to ensuring we listen to all important
stakeholders - that we promote the public interest in the regulation of charities,
that we listen to the professions advising the sector, that we listen to staff
and volunteers in charities themselves.
I believe that this draft Bill clearly sets out a comprehensive, consistent
and effective regulatory system for charities in Scotland. It will modernise
and simplify the framework within which they work.
I hope you will agree, and I particularly hope that you will respond to these
proposals to help us get charity regulation right.
MARGARET CURRAN
Minister for Communities
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