Charity Commission publishes new research into public trust and confidence in charities

Charities' role in society is increasingly seen as essential, according to independent research by Ipsos MORI, conducted on behalf of the Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales. The research shows that there has been an increase in the number of people who feel that charities play an 'essential' role in society (37% compared to 30% in 2010). Overall, 96% of people say charities' role is essential, very important or fairly important.

Overall, public trust and confidence in charities remains high, with a mean score of 6.7 (up from 6.6 in 2010). The research shows that charities are still one of the most trusted groups, with only the police and doctors being more trusted.

The research also shows that the overwhelming majority of people believe charities should provide the public with information on 'how they spend their money' (96%) and on 'how they benefit the public' (94%). The public view on this has remained unchanged over time.

Taken from the Charity Commission's website. Read the full article here.