(Immediate release 20 September 2010)

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities for England and Wales, is today warning people against bogus clothing collections and is reminding them of the Commission’s advice on how to ensure your donations go to a genuine charity.

The Commission has received a number of calls recently from people who have been given misleading leaflets which suggest that the proceeds of a clothing collection will go to charity or charitable causes when in fact they benefit a private business or individual. The Commission is also aware of recent cases where fraudsters have used the name, logo and charity registration number of a genuine charity to appeal for donations and keep the profits.

Most collections for charities are genuine and provide them with an important source of income. People should not be discouraged from donating to collections carried out by genuine charities to raise funds for a legitimate charitable cause. The Commission is issuing the following advice for people who want ensure their donations reach those most in need:

• Most genuine collections will be raising funds for a specific individually named charity. Be wary of misleading leaflets that do not use the words ‘registered charity’ but instead use pictures or wording that give the impression that the appeal is charitable. You should be suspicious of any leaflet that does not state the name of the charity your donations will go to.
• If a collection is for a registered charity, legally this must be stated on any document advertising the collection of clothes or other property on behalf of the charity. Genuine leaflets will usually provide a charity registration number. Most door to door collections will leave at least two days before they collect any donations, allowing you time to check the Charity Commission’s online Register of charities.
• If you are still unsure about whether a collection is genuine for any reason, for example if it looks unprofessionally produced, is badly written or contains spelling mistakes, and you still wish to give, you should try contacting the charity to check that the collection is legitimate. If the leaflet only gives mobile numbers or none at all, it may be a sign that the organisation is not collecting on behalf of a legitimate charity. Registered charities will be happy to provide contact details and confirm whether a collection is on their behalf or not.
• Some advertising leaflets will give the impression they are from a charity but provide a company registration number. This is not the same as a charity registration number and may be a sign that the organisation is operating commercially for profit and is not charitable.
• If a clothing collection will benefit a charity, it is required to have a public collection licence from the local authority. To check whether a collection has a licence before donating any item you should contact your local authority.
• If you remain concerned that your donations may not reach a registered charity, you can give directly to your local charity shop or at an official charity clothes collection point.

To complain about a misleading leaflet appealing for clothing donations, contact your local Trading Standards Service. If you receive a bogus leaflet that falsely uses the details of a genuine charity, the collection may be unlawful and you should report this to the police. In either case, please also notify the Charity Commission so that we can gather information on offenders and work with our partners to combat and raise awareness of fraud.

The Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) is an independent body that has been established to operate the public facing side of the self-regulation of fundraising. The FRSB investigates complaints from the public about the fundraising methods of its member charities and fundraisers if an unsatisfactory response has been received to an initial complaint made directly to the charity by a member of the public.

For further information on this story please contact the press office.

PR 65/10  

Notes to Editors

1. To contact Trading Standards, call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
2. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. See www.charitycommission.gov.uk for further information or call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218.
3. Our mission is: to ensure charities’ legal compliance, enhance charities’ accountability, encourage charities’ effectiveness and impact and to promote the public interest in charity.
4. There are over 4 million visitors a year to the Charity Commission’s website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk

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