niFundraising

Northern Ireland is potentially missing out on millions of pounds of fundraising income from charity lotteries, ballots and raffles due to out-of-date legislation and the large number of non-compliant and illegal games running across the country research by Neil Irwin of niFundraising has found. In Northern Ireland, 1 in 5 of the adult population of Northern Ireland play raffles, or scratchcards other than National Lottery products yet figures obtained from local councils responsible for registering society lotteries shows proceeds of only £1.3m from games. There are in total only 173 registered society lotteries across all of NI according to council figures but there is a large number of organisations running games that should report to councils that are not registered. There is potentially millions of pounds unaccounted for. “These games are played by the public, so the rules and regulations are there to give them assurance and confidence their money is going to a good cause, t

I have always thought it unusual that in a place were almost every 7 out of 10 people play National Lottery, buy scratchcards or otherwise gamble that the fundraising income from ballots, lotteries and raffles to good causes in Northern Ireland is so apparently low. In Great Britain millions of pounds are raised for charities, not even counting the National Lottery, through small scale, local society lotteries offering people both the chance of supporting charity and of winning a modest prize. Yet - according to local councils across the country there are relatively very few registered society lotteries  in Northern Ireland - as is required by law for a publicly sold game of chance other than at an exempt entertainment such as a gala dinner or school fete. And yet - again also contrary to almost every day experience there are lots of opportunities to buy a raffle, ballot or lottery ticket for a sports club or charity prize draw. The further I looked, the more concerned I have bec

In the UK and Ireland current generations benefit greatly from a heritage of great philanthropy - however that philanthropy is rarely in support of heritage itself. Consider, for example, the support given in the UK and Ireland by a gentleman called Henry Smith of Wandsworth, England. Henry was born in 1549 and died in 1628 but he was the originator of a long and flourishing legacy of giving through what is now the Henry Smith Charity - and that is the principle reason he is remembered today. Henry was an astute businessman and left a detailed Will as to how his estate was to be administered. Indeed Henry spent much of his energy in his final years refining the details of his legacy.  As a result, his philanthropic wishes have been maintained through the centuries with a remarkable degree of consistency and continuity. We will have heard something of the heritage of philanthropy in Belfast this morning - no less evident than in the very existence of the Belfast Charitable Soci

The Department of Finance in a response to a Freedom of Information request has confirmed that not one penny has been spent in Northern Ireland from the £7.3million funds released from dormant accounts. The Department's response also reveals that the scheme has been announced four times by four Finance Ministers; Sammy Wilson, Simon Hamilton, Mervyn Storey and Máirtín Ó Muilleoir since it was enacted in 2008 . Many will ask why the fund was announced but nothing delivered. Many in the charity and social enterprise sector must also wonder why this money has not been prioritised for spending given the urgent needs they face and the huge challenges to raise enough money to keep services going. The response to the Dormant Account Scheme Consultation on Spending Priorities for Northern Ireland which closed 29 October 2009 was not published as the outcome was inconclusive. The public has not been asked since for its opinions on how - or indeed when - funding should be distributed.

I was wondering late last night - if I could give Northern Ireland Government a list of practical actions to improve the financial viability and growth of the charity and not-for-profit sector in this small part of the world what would be on it - so here is a list of 15 actions for a start. Distribute Dormant Accounts now. The money is there - spend it. Set up a Northern Ireland Peace Fund ahead of the end of European Funding in 2020. Not to mention replacement for other important European funding Invest in Gift Aid training for charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs. The money is there to be claimed - the knowledge to claim it is not. Reform the NI Lotteries Act to enable greater use of charity raffles. Having a legal £1 maximum is very restrictive and many raffles are unwittingly run illegally. Do not break the centuries old rates relief for charity shops. Provide challenge funds for the sector to encourage local philanthropy. Provide support to raising money from G

What has happened with the distribution of dormant accounts funds? The last reference I have to the total amount currently in dormant accounts for N.Ireland gives a figure of £7,500,000 but that was over a year ago. My guess is there is now in excess of eight million for giving out but further allocations recently proposed may mean s ignificantly greater funding could be brought into the overall UK pot . Meanwhile, the announcement of spending dormant accounts here is the gift that keeps giving. Since it became law here in 2008, numerous Finance Ministers have proclaimed the wonderful ways in which they will spend the windfall cash - but alas - to my knowledge, not managed to spend one penny of it. (Correct me if I am wrong). It seems that with the ten year anniversary approaching Stormont Ministers have hit on a fantastic PR opportunity. Announce funding - receive the kudos for having done so - but then not spend it. This gives someone else the opportunity in the future to anno