Brian Adam, MSP for Aberdeen Donside, has warned constituents who give unwanted goods on their doorstep to charitable causes to be careful when doing so to ensure that the goods reach genuine beneficiaries.
Supporting the Institute of Fundraising (Institute) and Fundraising Standard Boards’ (FRSB) Give with Care campaign he said:
“I am aware that some bogus firms are in operation that collect goods on your doorstep and mislead the public into believing they are being sold for charitable causes.
“These same firms have also been linked with the theft of goods intended for charities. I’d certainly encourage those who do give to carry on but take care to make sure that they are giving to legitimate charities.
“The Institute and FSRB have created some helpful advice and checks to make and I’d encourage everyone to be aware of these”
Mr Adam added:
“Alternatively you can drop your unwanted goods directly into your local charity shop or the Charities Shop run by the Council at 346 George Street.”
The Institute and FRSB have launched its Give with Care campaign with this advice for the donating public:
- Keep giving- beneficiaries need you to donate goods that charities can sell on. Use the following checks before you give to doorstep collectors. Or, if you can, donate directly to your local charity shop.
- Check- legitimate charitable collectors will display a Scottish charity number on their literature- it begins with SC0.
- Check again- you can also look for the FRSB’s “tick” logo showing the charity has signed up to high standards and regular monitoring
- Phone: a legitimate collector would leave a working telephone number for you to check they are collecting in your area
- Double-check: The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator will be able to confirm if a collector is working on behalf of a registered charity- www.oscr.org.uk and 01382 220446
- Some collectors may not be registered charities but still be collecting for legitimate good causes in your area though bogus collectors will often promote vague causes rather than specific charities or local good causes.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Institute of Fundraising
The Institute of Fundraising’s (www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk) mission is to support fundraisers, through leadership, representation, standards setting and education, to deliver excellent fundraising. Members are supported through training, networking, the dissemination of best practice and representation on issues that affect the fundraising environment. The Institute of Fundraising is the largest individual representative body in the voluntary sector with 5000 Individual members and 300 Organisational members.
2. Institute of Fundraising Scotland
The Institute of Fundraising Scotland is the representative body for fundraisers and fundraising in Scotland and part of the UK-wide Institute of Fundraising. In Scotland, the Institute represents some five-hundred individuals covering a broad range of Scottish voluntary and community organisations and provides training, networking and representation on fundraising issues. It acts as an interface with the public, media and sector stakeholders, developing policy in the voluntary sector arena and reacting swiftly to issues affecting the fundraising environment in Scotland.
3. The Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) is the independent self-regulatory body for UK fundraising. Launched in 2007, the FRSB commits members to the highest standards of fundraising practice, encouraging donors to ‘give with confidence’. The scheme logo, displayed by all members, is a public commitment to best fundraising practice, to being honest, legal and open in their fundraising activities. Members abide by The Fundraising Promise and the Institute of Fundraising’s Codes of Fundraising Practice. Visit www.givewithconfidence.org.uk for more information.
