Give to established charities working in the Philippines
The Charity Commission urges people wishing to help victims of the Haiyan disaster to donate to established registered charities.
It says charities such as the members of the Disasters Emergency Committee, which has launched a dedicated appeal in response to the typhoon, are experienced in providing emergency help during humanitarian disasters.
The regulator is urging people wishing to help not to attempt to send cash or aid out directly themselves.
Sam Younger, the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission says:
The British public is incredibly generous in response to humanitarian disasters such as that which has befallen the Philippines. Many people will be looking for ways in which they can help the people affected and our advice is to give to experienced, established, registered charities such as the members of the Disasters Emergency Committee. Please think very carefully before attempting to launch your own response and if you are approached for donations, always check whether the charity is registered on the Commission’s online register.
There are laws around collecting money for charity in public which are there to protect donors and make sure that the money raised goes to a genuine charitable cause. The Commission says there are simple, easy steps the public can take to check whether an organisation appealing for donations is a bona fide charity:
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before giving, check the charity’s name and registration number. You can verify this at the Charity Commission’s website
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when approached by collectors, check whether they are wearing a proper ID badge and that any collection tin is sealed
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if in doubt, ask the collector for more information - a genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer questions and explain more about the work of the charity
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genuine fundraising materials should feature the charity’s name, registered name and a landline contact number. Be wary of those that list only a mobile number
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look for the FRSB tick logo indicating that the charity is signed up to fundraising regulation, encouraging you to give with confidence www.givewithconfidence.org.uk
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to check whether a fundraiser is authorised to collect money in a public place (they must have a licence), contact your local authority or, if in London, the police. If it is a private place, check with the owner
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take care when responding to emails or clicking links to a charity’s website to ensure that they are genuine. Instead, search online for your preferred charity to check you have the right web address
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after making these checks, if you think that a collection or appeal is not legitimate, report it as a crime to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and inform the Charity Commission
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if in any doubt, contact your favoured charity direct to make a donation
Ends
PR 50/13
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Notes to Editors
- The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales.
- Our mission is to be the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, acting in the public’s interest, to ensure that: * charities know what they have to do * the public know what charities do * charities are held to account