Last month, Navigator delivered a webinar for the third sector, explaining how the new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 enables charities engaged in direct marketing and fundraising to rely on the “soft opt-in” (previously available only to commercial businesses which market products and services to individuals who have either purchased or enquired about purchasing similar products or services).
Charities are now allowed to send electronic messages if:
- the sole purpose is furthering charitable purposes;
- contact details were obtained when recipients expressed interest in or supported those purposes; and
- recipients can easily opt out.
From 1st November, a new Code of Fundraising Practice comes into force. It applies to fundraising activity for charitable, philanthropic or benevolent purposes in the UK and sets out the regulator’s expectations of those engaged in those activities covered by the Code.
Head of Policy at the Fundraising Regulator (FR) has published a short blog article reminding charities of steps to take before these changes take effect and in addition it flags some minor final amendments made to the published wording. These final changes relate to:
- Requirements for ID badges for professional fundraisers (page 52 of Code)
- The definition of processing fees in relation to unstaffed collections (rule 7.5.2)
- The explanatory text relating to the rule on will-writing partners (rule 4.3.3)
For further information about any of the services available from Navigator, contact Sean Morris, Legal Manager at sean.morris@navigatorlaw.co.uk