Policy paper

Terms of reference

Published 11 April 2016

This policy paper was withdrawn on

Out of date. No longer current government activity.

Applies to England and Wales

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fraud-risk-and-resilience-frr-sub-committee/terms-of-reference

1. What are the aims of the sub-committee?

The aims identified by the CSCFG are to assess the current degree of readiness and capability within the charity sector, and to develop practical measures for dissemination/adoption. The aims could distil into the following rolling objectives:

  • to undertake and maintain an assessment of the capability of the charity sector to deter, prevent and detect fraud and corruption
  • to develop products to assist the charity sector to improve its capability and capacity

2. How can the sub-committee meet these aims?

Four business areas may help meet these objectives:

  • Assessment: Identifying gaps in capacity and capability; involving collection of data from existing analyses (eg University of Portsmouth) for comparison against a best-practice framework (eg Cabinet Office Counter-Fraud Standards) on a regular (annual) basis.
  • Identification of best practice: Identifying charities (or public/private sector organisations) using techniques or tools with clear benefits for adoption, as ‘recommended’.
  • Product development: Sponsoring or directly developing tools to meet the gaps identified in the assessment piece.
  • Communication: Utilising appropriate communication channels and enlisting partner support to disseminate/promote the best practice tools developed.
  • Culture and Ethics: Identifying existing cultural barriers and beliefs that may inhibit adoption of best practice and develop tools to promote more robust cultural and ethical frameworks.

3. Who will the members be?

Procuring representation from a relevant cross-section of the CSCFG will help to ensure that:

  • assessment is facilitated by diverse and genuine information streams
  • best practice, product development and communication are representative of as many charities as possible

Agreed members: Alan Bryce (CC), Diana Isiye (Oxfam/Chair), Claire Parris (CC), Andrew O’ Brien/ Heather McLoughlin (CFG) & Laura Hough (Save the Children).

4. How will the sub-committee operate?

The sub-committee will be accountable to the CSCFG, and the chair will report to it at CSCFG meetings as a standing agenda item. Though individual projects may not need CSCFG authorisation, any output will. Members of the FRR may not need to be members of the CSCFG, though the chair must be. The ways of working should be defined and should cover information-sharing, red lines for operation, a risk assessment, membership, any budgetary allocation, etc.

An initial meeting (March 2016) of preliminary members, identified by the Charity Commission, can discuss and propose this ToR to the CSCFG.

Oliver May & Diana Isiye, Counter-Fraud, Oxfam GB

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