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Data Protection
All individuals are covered by the Data Protection Act and any information taken from staff, clients and volunteers needs to be collected and stored in line with the Act. Its basic principle is that people should know why information is being collected, who it will be disclosed to, how it will be stored and how long it will be stored. (See www.volunteering.org.uk)

Debt Instruments
A Debt Instrument is a document used to record a legal obligation of one party to pay a financial obligation to another in accordance with predetermined terms and conditions.

Defamation
LEGAL. Written or oral statements made by one person to another, and made public ('published'), which tend to bring the character or reputation of that person into disrepute, or to expose them to unreasonable personal embarrassment. Defamation is called 'libel' if it is printed and 'slander' if it is oral. Truth is an absolute defense to defamation, and under some circumstances even untruths may be privileged and immune from liability. (A glossary on legal terms for volunteers is available at http://www.ptialaska.net/~jdewitt/vlh/Supplement/VLHGlossary.html).

Demonstration Project
A project that serves as an example that can be imitated or compared.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (DCMS)
Complete information at http://www.culture.gov.uk.

Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
See http://www.dfes.gov.uk.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
See http://www.defra.gov.uk/.

Department for Transport (DfT)
See http://www.dft.gov.uk/.

Depreciation
The value by which the life of a fixed asset is exhausted during the financial period. the duration of its life must be decided to calculate an annual charge to be made to each year's accounts, that amount being nuilt up to purchase a replacement for the asset at the end of its life. Straight line depreciation involves the same amount being transferred each year, e.g. 25% over 4 years. Reducing balance depreciation takes the percentage off the balance brought forward from the previous year.

DETR
abbr. Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (defunct).

Development Trusts Association (DTA)
The DTA 'promotes the work of development Trusts, advocates on their behalf by commenting on and contributing to public policy developments, briefing and lobbying central and local government, and liasing with a wide range of organisations at regional, national and European level'. (See http://www.dta.org.uk).

Development Trusts Association (DTA)
The national resource and umbrella body promoting and supporting Community Development Trusts. (Contact them at info@dta.org.uk).

DfEE
abbr. Department for Education and Employment (defunct).

DIAL UK
Disability Information and Advice Line Services UK. DIAL UK national organisation for a network of 140 local Disability Information and Advice Line services (DIALs) run by and for disabled people. (See http://www.dialuk.org.uk).

Directory of Social Change (DSC)
They help voluntary and community organisations to thrive through advice on how to raise the money they need, how to manage their resources to maximum effect how to influence the right people what their rights and responsibilities are, and how to plan and develop for the future.
They also speak out on issues affecting the sector through the media, public platforms and membership of government and advisory groups working for and within the sector. (Further information at www.dsc.org.uk).

Disability Rights Commission (DRC)
An independent body, established by Act of Parliament to eliminate discrimination against disabled people and promote equality of opportunity. (Visit their website at www.drc.org.uk).

Donee
See Grantee (also Beneficiary).

Donor
See Grantor

Duty of Care
We all have a ‘duty of care’ to those around us. This duty means that we are all legally bound to do everything reasonable to protect those around us from coming to harm. Organisations have a duty of care (proper training, supervision, insurance etc.) towards anybody who comes in contact with them including staff, clients and volunteers. (See www.volunteering.org.uk).