Gongs for charity

The New Year's Honours List (Wikipedia definition) was published this morning. I started listing all the awards to do with charitable works then realised it would take me all morning - which in itself was a heartening discovery.

Here are the most obvious ones (the entire list, with many more, is here). Does anyone know which are definitely deserved... or not?

• George Gordon EDINGTON - Chair, N.C.H. For services to Children.
• Brigid, Lady CROFTON - Lately Trustee and Vice-Chair, UNICEF UK. For services to Children and Families Overseas.
• The Reverend Canon Patricia Anne ATKINSON - For services to Street Children in South
  India.
• Mary Elizabeth, Mrs MARSH - Director and Chief Executive, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. For services to Families and Children
• Ms Nina Lizette BAROUGH - Founder and Chief Executive, Walk the Walk Worldwide (Breast Cancer Charity). For services to Healthcare.
• Michael David William GOOLEY - Chair, Trailfinders Travel Agency. For services to the Travel Industry and to Charity.
• Robert Lawrence BANNER - Chair, Rethink Charity. For services to Mental Health.
• Jennifer Susan, Mrs BYERS - Lately Executive Director, Donor Services, Charities Aid Foundation. For services to Charity.
• Garth Michael GUTHRIE - For services to Charity.
• Dr David Gerald HESSAYON - For services to Gardening and to Charity.
• Joseph LISTON - Chief Executive, Jersey Electricity Company. For services to the Electrical Industry and to Charity.
• Alan David BLAIR - Chief Executive, Wessex Heartbeat Charity. For charitable services in Hampshire.
• Irene Helen, Mrs CALLAGHAN - For services to Nursing and to Charity in Angus.
• Paul John FLETCHER - For services to Sport and to Charity.
• Ms June Kunadu SARPONG - For services to Broadcasting and to Charity.
• Leslie VINCE - For services to the Marfan Trust Charity.
• Patricia Eleanor, Mrs WALLS - Chair, Cats Protection Charity. For services to Animal Welfare.
• William Hugh YATES - Lately Deputy Chair, Suzy Lamplugh Trust. For services to Charity.

Admin costs are dead

From today's Intelligent Giving blog:

"ADMIN COSTS ARE DEAD. With the new accounting system recommended by the Charity Commission ("SORP 2005"), which nearly all charities are now observing, it is now impossible to work them out - and we will drop them from our site in the New Year.

The change represents an over-reaction (presumably an uncontested one) by the voluntary sector's lobbyists. Clearly the public wasn't consulted about the new SORP; but the public wants at least *some* clue of how much is spent on support costs. Now it is not being told anything meaningful. Too misleading. You wouldn't understand. Forget it.

It's a pyrrhic victory and a big shame: it won't increase the public's confidence in charities; it will just make people more suspicious."

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