If you want to get involved with Charities and help others (people and animals) there are just so many out there and different ways to help, you could get confused. Charities are active in every area of life. Their contribution to society is immense.
However I boiled it down to 3 basic ways, as you don't need to be rich to help others!
You could give your time and efforts to help.- You could donate any old stuff that may be useful to others i.e. old clothes that are out of fashion, but still useful for warmth.
- Finally if you want to you can always just hand over the cash, all charities accept it.
If you want to give time, stuff or money to a charity there are a few simple steps you could take, to ensure your donation is going to the right cause.
Always ask if the organisation is a registered charity. Check to see that a registration number is shown on the charity's literature and collecting tins. If the organisation is not registered it may not really be a charity even though it may be supporting a good cause (some charities do not have to register). On the other hand it may be bogus and therefore should be avoided and reported. You can check whether an organisation is registered by ringing the Commission's Register of Charities on 0870 333 0123 or follow the link at the bottom.- Ask if the person collecting represents the charity itself or if they are from a separate fund-raising organisation. If they are not from the charity a
sk what amount will actually reach the charity and decide for yourself whether you think that's worth giving some money. - See if the collecting box is sealed and if it bears the charity's name
as it's illegal to collect in ordinary buckets and other open containers. - Check if the collector has an official badge as they must show identity permits.
Don't be worried about this as they will be helpful and remember you're giving money up at the end of the day. - If giving by cheque, only make it payable to the charity itself.
Some people think that a great way to get a load of cash is to pretend to be from a charity. Watch out for these people but don't be afraid to donate to ones you know are all above board and then money is gonna reach the correct place!
The Charity Commission is the government department, which exists to help charities use their resources more effectively and to ensure that the public's trust in charities continues to be justified. Unfortunately the Commission both supports and supervises charities, but does not make grants either to charities or individual people. That's up to Us!
