The Charity Commission has been tracking public confidence in the charitable sector for over a decade. It is currently at its lowest level since monitoring began. Scandals involving the sector have taken their toll, including:
The Cup Trust – a tax scheme that abused GiftAid relief, which highlighted the weakness of the Charity Commission as a regulator;
Olive Cooke – the elderly lady who committed suicide having been targeted by persistent aggressive fundraising;
Kids Company – inadequate financial controls, a dominant founder and trustees who did not exercise proper oversight;
Oxfam – sexual abuse carried out by fieldworkers and a management that appeared to be more concerned about the image of the charity;
RSPCA - excessive remuneration and severance pay awarded to its chief executive.