Government policies when a request for support is received from a charity

Authority	Cabinet Office
Date received	2017-10-13
Outcome	Information not held
Outcome date	2017-10-20
Case ID	354323

Summary

The requester asked for written government policies regarding departmental support for charities, but the Cabinet Office confirmed no overarching policy exists. The response indicated that individual departments must adhere to general staff guidance and financial regulations instead.

Key Facts

There is no overarching Departmental or Cabinet Office policy specifically relating to approaches from charities.
Individual departments may have their own local policies or guidance.
Departments are expected to comply with the Anti-bribery Policy, Code of Conduct for Public Servants, and Conflicts of interest guidelines.
Financial practices must adhere to the Government Financial Regulations.
Concerns regarding charities should be directed to the HM Attorney General's Chambers.

Data Disclosed

2017-10-13
2017-10-20
IM106797I
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Data Tables (1)

	https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/offices/attorney-generals-
chambers/contact-us/.

Full Response Text

REFERENCE NUMBER: IM106797I

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your application dated 13 October 2017 for the following information: “I would like to know if the Isle of Man Government has a written policy on the departmental support for charities. I imagine most departments are regularly contacted with requests to support charities or charity events through the use of departmental resources and facilities either for free or at a reduced rate where fees for services normally occur. 1. Is there an overarching policy or guidance given to departments when dealing with these requests of support from charities. (Both local Charities and non Manx Charities.) If so may I please see a copy of the policy or guidance documents. 2. If no policy or guidance is specifically provided what are the expectations on the individual departments when dealing with such requests in order to ensure good corporate governance is complied with. 3. Are there any specific guidelines/obligations to ensure departments do not use government resources to support charities that are less reputable, morally dubious or have aims and objectives that would not meet with the values and fundamental principles of the Isle of Man Government's own code of conduct. I am not asking about the charitable interests or activities of individual public or civil servants (for example the odd email going round asking for support or sponsorship for personal charitable endeavors, tea room raffles etc.) but the times when charities ask for the support of a department, its staff, premises of any other resource. For the purpose of this request by 'departments' I mean all the various departments, statutory boards, designated bodies and all other offices that are encompassed under the Isle of Man Government.” Response to your request

Government Office DOUGLAS Isle of Man IM1 3PN Tel: (+44) 01624 686244 Fax: (+44) 01624 685710 Website www.gov.im/co
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While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. Q1 - There is no overarching Departmental or Cabinet Office policy or guidance specifically
relating to approaches to Government Departments from Charities. Q2 & Q3 - An individual Department may have their own local policy or guidance. Expectations would be that that any such policy would be in line with the various overarching staff guidance that can be found on https://www.gov.im/hr/hrpolicies.xml for example:
 Anti-bribery Policy  Code of Conduct for Public Servants
 Conflicts of interest  Whistleblowing Policy
Whilst also complying with any requirements of financial practices under the Government Financial Regulations, https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/education-and- children/policies-and-procedures-a-to-z/f/financial-regulations/ If you do have concerns around a Charity, or its action, in line with any relevant Charities legislation, please contact the HM Attorney General’s Chambers. They are the joint regulators of the charities registry in the Isle of Man and deal with such complaints or concerns – their contact details can be found at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/offices/attorney-generals- chambers/contact-us/. Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your Freedom of Information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post to the FOI Co-ordinator, Cabinet Office, Government Office, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PN. An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website https://www.gov.im/foireview. If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange for this.
Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to apply for a review of decisions by the Information Commissioner, for a decision on; 1) Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2) Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested. In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision.
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