Advice on charity donations

In the aftermath of Christmas, thoughts often turn to spring cleaning and de-cluttering our lives. Unwanted clothing, toys and electrical equipment can be donated to charity or recycled rather than thrown away. Charity bags are one way of donating goods, but increasingly criminal gangs have hijacked this method. A recent survey found that one in ten charity bags were bogus; goods donated would not go to a legitimate charity but to someone looking to profit from generosity. The cost to charities is estimated to be £50 million a year.

There are easy steps to counter this and ensure that your belongings go to their intended destination. Does the bag or leaflet advertising collection display a registered charity number? It should also state what or who the funds are being raised for. Charity numbers can be checked through the Charity Commission, so if you have any doubts, check through www.charity-commission.gov.uk or by calling 0845 300 0218. Legitimate bags may display the blue tick logo of the Fundraising Standards Board, denoting that the organisation has signed up to industry codes of practice. Finally, if you suspect the bag or leaflet is bogus, report it via www.actionfraud.org.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.