The Good Giving Guide

The

Good Giving Guide A Supporter’s Guide to Charities and Campaigning

Annie Kelly &

Emma Maier

First published in 2004 by Fusion Press, a division of Satin Publications Ltd. 101 Southwark Street London SE1 0JF UK [email protected] www.visionpaperbacks.co.uk Publisher: Sheena Dewan © Annie Kelly and Emma Maier 2004 The rights of Annie Kelly and Emma Maier to be identified as the authors of the work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988. Copyright for the badges used on the front cover remains with the original copyright holders. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: 1-904132-55-3 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1 Cover and text design by ok?design Printed and bound in the UK by Mackays of Chatham Ltd, Chatham, Kent

Contents Acknowledgements

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PART ONE How Charities and Campaigning Groups Work and How to Get Involved

1

Introduction

3

1 What Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and Do

6

2 Picking your Charity

13

3 How You Fit In

37

4 Donating Money

45

5 Becoming an Activist

64

6 Volunteering

85

7 Taking Things a Step Further

103

8 Charity Spending: The Truth about Where your Money Goes

112

9 Common Concerns: Exploding the Myths

123

10 The Real World: What to Expect from your Chosen Charity

134

PART TWO Who Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and How to Find Them

141

Introduction

151

11 International Development and Poverty Relief

153

12 Human Rights

164

13 Children and Young People

173

14 Animal Protection

184

15 Heritage and Environment

193

16 Disability

204

17 Health

214

18 Social Welfare

225

19 Major National Charity Appeals

238

Charity Listings

248

Glossary

257

Notes

260

Index

270

About the Authors

279

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A c k n ow l e d g e m e n t s

Thank you to all those who provided support, information and advice: the Giving Campaign, the Charity Commission, the Institute of Fundraising, the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, New Philanthropy Capital, NfpSynergy, Mark Asterita, Naomi Booth, Ken Burnett, Elly Button, James Georgalakis, Peter Gilheaney, Lucinda Gould, Alan Gosschalk, Ben Huxley, Jenny Kelly, Linda Laurence, Adrian Sargeant, Joe Saxton, Liz Sutton, Mark Sweney, Jason Tanner, Susan Wainwright, Andrew Watt, Penny Wild, Rachel Vokes and Bruce Wylie. Thank you also to the charities and individuals that provided anecdotes and information for case studies, to the organisations that provided badges for use on the front cover, to those who took part in our survey and finally to our friends, families and colleagues for their support and encouragement. Any errors or omissions remain the responsibility of the authors, and views expressed in the book are solely those of the authors. Information given in the book is as current as reasonably possible at publication.

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Part One How Charities and Campaigning Groups Work and How to Get Involved

I n t ro d u c t i o n

Most of us have a cause we strongly believe in, or feel moved to support others in difficult times. Millions act on these impulses by supporting the charities and campaigning groups set up to bring hope and fight against inequality, destruction and disease. But it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by what seem like ceaseless appeals for help; for our money and time. Hundreds of different charity appeals drop through our letterboxes, appear on our TV screens and cry out from billboards every year. When faced with horrific stories of cancer, war, child abuse, global warming, prejudice or torture, it is difficult to believe you can ever do enough or if anything ever makes a difference. Many people subsequently claim they feel overwhelmed and may privately admit to ‘compassion fatigue’. It is not uncommon for people to question how charities and campaigning groups spend donors’ money and whether they are making enough impact. And new fundraising techniques can make people feel guilty and openly resentful, leading for instance to street fundraisers being given the name ‘chuggers’. This book aims to cut through this confusion, offering the advice and information you need to best support your values and resources, it also shows just what an impact your help can make. By spending some time thinking about why you’re giving and what impact you’d like to make, you can avoid the guilt associated with saying ‘no’ to a charity fundraiser or discarding leaflets. The Good Giving Guide is the first comprehensive guide that covers the whole spectrum of ways to support good causes – from volunteering and campaigning to donating money. It explains the different options in detail and gives advice on how to get started. It describes how charities, NGOs and pressure groups operate, and tackles many of the common concerns that were voiced in our survey, such as avoiding bogus collectors and checking how much money gets to the cause. It also shows you how to

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The Good Giving Guide make your donations as effective as possible by taking advantage of tax breaks and choosing efficient ways to give. Charities have evolved immeasurably throughout the decades. Modern charities and campaigning groups are sophisticated organisations that not only provide services but also proactively research and implement long-term solutions, campaign and lobby on behalf of their beneficiaries and play an important role in advising governments and corporations. These organisations also empower people to take a stand and take action. They work for social change and get help to millions in need of support, relying heavily if not entirely on public donors, activists and volunteers. By finding ways to give that make you happy about how and why you’re helping a charity or campaigning group you will be playing an important part of contributing a society that works to change the world for the better.

How the book works There are tens of thousands of deserving charities and campaigning groups in the UK, and it would be impossible to print an approved list of who to support or to recommend any particular group, as it’s very much a personal choice. This book advises and points to resources that will help you find a charity or campaigning group that reflects your personal beliefs. The first part of The Good Giving Guide helps you understand what charities and campaigning groups are, what they have achieved, how they operate and ways to get involved. This includes how to go about choosing which charity to support or, if you are already a charity supporter, making the most of your relationship with the charity. Part Two provides an overview of charities and campaigning groups through a cross-section of groups working for good causes in the UK. As well as profiling many of the best-known organisations, The Good Giving Guide also features over a hundred inspiring community groups and smaller activist networks and charities. It offers all the relevant contact information relating to each cause that will help new supporters find the right opportunity. This way we hope to give an idea of the enormous scope and scale of the not-for-profit sector in the UK.

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Introduction The book has been written both for those who want to read it from cover to cover and for people who would prefer to dip and out, reading the parts that are most relevant at any given time. All of the organisations mentioned appear in the chapter Charity Listings at the back of the book.

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Chapter 1 What Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and Do The desire to help others is at the core of what makes us human. In early times the word charity, which derives from the Latin word ‘caritas’, was used to mean ‘love of one’s fellow human beings’. Over time our inherent desire to help others has been institutionalised and taken the form of organisations of people working together for the good of others. Now, charities and groups campaigning for some form of change shape an important part of the society we live in. Over time, popular views of what charities exist to do have become slightly skewed. To many, charities now mean being asked for money. We are constantly bombarded with messages to help this child, save this forest and cure this disease. It’s not surprising compassion fatigue often sets in. But charities and campaigning groups are not just big begging bowls. Instead they are powerful forces for change, providing hope to those that need it most, fighting inequality, bringing about social justice and exposing persecution and corruption. Without them the world would be a very different place.

The difference charities have made in the UK It’s almost impossible to convey the massive impact that charities and campaigning groups have had on the world around us. Many provide services that are integral to our way of life, such as rescue services, hospices, healthcare and counselling. So much so that we often don’t realise the services are provided by charities, assuming that they are the domains of the state. • Charities spend an estimated £20.4 billion1 on good causes every year in the UK. More than 40 per cent of personal social services, such as home care and respite programmes, are currently run by charities.2 • Voluntary housing associations provide more housing than councils.

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What Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and Do Charities could be the ones providing us with a bed if the local hospital is full. If we go into care, our residential home may well be run by a charity or community group. We could contract a disease and be cured by a vaccine discovered through a charity’s medical research programme. If you or a family member gets addicted to drugs, it’s likely that a charity would be running the rehabilitation programme. If you are a victim of crime, you may get counselling or support from an organisation such as Victim Support. If you’re in need of someone to talk to, a Samaritans volunteer is at the other end of the phone.

Putting it bluntly Without the work of charities and campaigning groups, in one year millions of people wouldn’t have benefited from: • £313 million on cancer services. • £238 million on helping people with mental health problems. • £366 million for children in need. • £133 million caring and campaigning for the rights of elderly people. • £371 million tackling the problems of people with physical disabilities. • £139 million on services and care for people with terminal illnesses. • £71 million on helping deaf and hard-of-hearing people. • £13 million on raising awareness and campaigning on HIV/AIDS issues. Source: Charities Aid Foundation3

What is a charity? A charity is an organisation that is independent of both Government and business, works for some kind of a wider public benefit and is non-profit making. To give an idea of scale, there is a core of 153,000 charities4 in the UK with a combined expenditure of £20.4 billion.5 But this group is only part of a much larger number of organisations that has a similar ethos. This larger group includes small community groups, national charities,

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The Good Giving Guide

What is the voluntary sector? Not-for-profit organisations are collectively known as ‘the voluntary sector’, a term that refers to the practice of unpaid voluntary action which underpins the history and working philosophy of charities and campaigning groups to this day. Many different types of organisation make up the voluntary sector:

Registered charity An organisation recognised as a charity by the Charity Commission (in England and Wales), or the Inland Revenue (in Northern Ireland and Scotland). The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator will soon take over responsibility for recognising charities in Scotland.

Campaigning organisation A broad term for any group that exists predominately to campaign.

NGO The term non-governmental organisation was coined after the Second World War by the United Nations, which has since defined it as ‘any international organisation which is not established by a governmental entity or international agreement’.6 However, the term NGO is now used much more broadly.

international campaigning organisations and other groups that work for the benefit of society. Many of these groups are not actually charities in the legal sense. A number of organisations that are commonly thought of as charitable, such as Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth and Liberty, the civil rights group, are not charities. Conversely, some organisations that you might not expect to be charities, including some public schools and private hospitals, are such. To become a registered charity, an organisation has to apply to the relevant regulatory body for its country (for example, the Charity Commission in England and Wales) and must satisfy certain criteria. Some organisations choose to become a charity because charitable status makes the altruistic nature of the organisation clear for all to see7 and

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What Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and Do

Pressure or interest group An organised social group that aims to influence government action or policy in relation to a particular cause area without seeking any formal control of the government.

Not-for-profit organisations/non-profit organisations This is an umbrella term for all of the above and is used to refer to any organisation, charitable or not, that does not seek to make and distribute profits.

Grant-making trusts or foundations These are organisations that give money to other charities and non-profits to allow them to do their altruistic work. Some trusts raise money publicly, for example Comic Relief. Others have a large investment, known as an endowment, and they use the income from this investment to make grants. There are a growing number of local community foundations, where local residents raise money and then distribute it to charity.

Social enterprise A social enterprise is a business that works for the good of the community. They generally seek to make a social or environmental difference, for example by creating jobs or making and promoting environmentally friendly products.

also brings tax breaks. These were worth an impressive £2.8 billion8 to the UK charities in 2002–3. However, charitable status also restricts the political and campaigning activities that an organisation can take part in, so many organisations decide not to become a charity. Groups that have a political aim, for example either party political or seeking to alter law or Government policy, are not allowed to be charitable. The law governing charities both in Scotland and in England and Wales is currently being modernised, and changes will include updating the criteria that organisations must meet to become a registered charity. When the law is passed, some of the groups that are not currently considered charitable may choose to become charities. If this happens, supporters will be able to donate tax efficiently for the first time, securing an extra 28 per cent on their donation at no extra cost to themselves (see Chapter 4).

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The Good Giving Guide Regardless of whether they are charities, these organisations have many similarities. It is not the case that charities are more deserving than organisations without charitable status. As a group, they are usually referred to as the voluntary or charity sector. Individually, they may be referred to as a pressure group, interest group, NGO or a community group, to name but a few. Larger non-profits, including charities, usually have some kind of formal legal structure. The most popular option is to be set up as a company limited by guarantee, which means that the organisation does not make a profit. This means that many charities have both a registered charity number and a registered company number. This is perfectly legitimate and is nothing to worry about. Smaller organisations often don’t have such a structure and may well be a simple informal gathering of members. Given the important ways that charities and non-profits contribute to society, it is not surprising that many people choose to support them in this role, either by giving time or money. However, the sheer number of organisations can be daunting for experienced and first-time supporters alike. The following chapters provide a pathway for choosing a charity and getting involved in a way that suits you.

What charities have achieved globally Laws changed and created • Humanitarian Law: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the initiator and guardian of humanitarian law. In 1864 it helped draft the Geneva Convention, the treaty on international humanitarian law. The Geneva Convention now states that countries must allow the ICRC to visit prisoners of war and search for missing persons.9 • Animal rights: The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) championed the first-ever animal welfare bill in 1910. It was the first time that it became illegal to deliberately mistreat an animal.10 • Domestic violence: Charities and campaigning groups have been instrumental in making domestic violence socially unacceptable and improving legislation designed to help women. The 1996 Family Law Act and the 1997 Harassment Act have improved legal protection for women within both civil and criminal law.11 • Human rights: Amnesty International lobbied for the 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture to be implemented. It also campaigned

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What Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and Do for the abolition of the death penalty in the UK. It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.12 • Children’s rights: The first Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act was passed in 1884 largely as a result of five years of lobbying by the NSPCC. Before this parents had absolute power over their children and the law would only intervene if abuse resulted in death.13

Medical research • Research into cancer: Cancer Research UK spends £191 million a year on scientific research, employing more than 3,000 scientists to work on finding a cure for cancer. The charity has also conducted revolutionary research into the treatment of testicular cancer. In the last decade, medical research has helped cancer death rates drop by 12 per cent. • Medical research centres: Breakthrough Breast Cancer set up the first dedicated research centre committed to finding a cure for breast cancer in 1999. • Developing vaccines: Action Medical Research helped develop the first polio vaccine in 1962 and rubella vaccine in 1970. • Specialist services: The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) developed the first ever hearing aid.

Fighting prejudice and social exclusion / changing social attitudes • Helping rough sleepers: Homelessness charities have been instrumental in helping nearly eradicate rough sleeping in the UK. Their work raising awareness of the rights of rough sleepers, their campaign to treat homeless people equally and their political lobbying helped convince the Government to launch its Rough Sleepers Initiative in 1990. Rough sleeping figures have now dropped to an all-time low. • Animal rights: In 1993 campaigning group the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) forced L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics company, to sign a permanent worldwide ban on animal testing.14 • Disabled people: In 2003 Capability Scotland launched its Vote2003 campaign demanding that disabled people be included in the democratic process of voting. The charity discovered that many disabled people were unable to get to a ballot box.15

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The Good Giving Guide Service provision • Lives saved: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) volunteers have saved more than 136,000 lives since it was founded in 1824.16 • Support given: The Samaritans answers nearly 3 million phone calls from desperate people every year. Volunteers each dedicate an average of 21 working days to manning the charity’s emotional support line in the course of a year. • Specialist services provided: Victim Support now has a Witness Support service in every court in the country. This service provides witnesses with much needed emotional support and counselling. • Health provision: Macmillan Cancer Relief funds more than 2,000 specialist nurses to provide one-to-one care, not provided for by the NHS, to cancer patients.

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Chapter 2 P i c k i n g yo u r C h a r i t y Charities and campaigning groups use incredibly evocative situations and stories of human suffering to appeal to strong emotions such as compassion, anger and fear and then provide a solution: by giving you are doing something to stop this. But when every morning brings a fresh deluge of appeal letters or you’re skirting round the fourth charity street fundraiser in 50 yards it can start to feel less like a worthy call for support and more like harassment. Nobody should support a charity purely because they feel guilty. Giving money because a charity has made you feel bad won’t bring you any closer to understanding anything about the cause or the charity you’ve just helped to fund. Charity and campaigning should be more than a financial expression of unease about the state of the world. Cutting through the direct mail and drilling right down to what and who you want to support is the basis of real and genuine engagement with the world at large. It also allows you to let go of the guilt. If you’ve made a considered decision about how you want to contribute to charity then it will allow you to take a more measured approach to what other supplementary giving you’d like to take part in and allow you the mental space to say ‘no’. Understanding exactly what charities and campaigning groups contribute to society will also help overturn the paternalistic notion that these organisations exist only to distribute aid to the poor and destitute. This is nonsense. On top of providing programmes and services, charities influence governments, regenerate communities, create policy and take important issues into the public arena. More people should use charities and campaigning groups as a way to carry out their own social agenda; picking a group or organisation whose objectives match your own and proactively helping them to make these aims reality is often more effective than taking action by yourself. Not only is it more efficient, but your involvement will help challenge the institutionalised inertia that prevents more people become involved with trying to change the world for the better. Charities and campaigning groups can’t do anything without external support. They rely on persuading donors, campaigners, volunteers and

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The Good Giving Guide activists to rally to their cause and provide the people power to actually make something happen. Making a considered decision about how you want to get involved will ensure that your participation is meaningful; both to yourself and the world at large. By doing this you are turning charitable giving into a positive action instead of one motivated by guilt or kick-started by an emotional appeal for something you know little about.

Know what you’re giving to If you want to become fully engaged with supporting a good cause, then you have to understand exactly what you’re giving to. People who give impulsively through a knee-jerk emotional reaction to an appeal or an event don’t automatically become committed long-term supporters to that cause, as the process of giving has purged them of whatever guilt or shock they were feeling at the time. Investing a bit of time to learn about a social problem allows you to clarify your views. It will also give you the space to form stronger opinions and views on the best way to tackle an issue. For example, if you want to help people with disabilities, finding out about the problems and discrimination disabled people face all over the world and trying to build a picture of the kind of support out there may help you decide what to do. It could lead you to choose between joining a local group that helps disabled people lead active lives, supporting a campaign for better social services or donating to a charity that lobbies for better employment prospects on behalf of the disabled. In doing this you’ll also be able to make a more informed choice about how to support the group you choose to work with.

Cancer, kids and animals What motivates people to give to a good cause? Giving money, and particularly time, to a charitable organisation is an intensely personal decision.

‘I give to Marie Curie because family members have benefited from their nurses while suffering from cancer,’ female, 30 ‘I support SCOPE because I have a son with cerebral palsy,’ male, 31

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Picking your Charity ‘I support the RSPCA and NSPCC because I find it easy through the salary deduction scheme at work. I chose charities that affect or may affect me and my family, that is for potentially selfish reasons,’ male, 31 ‘I support Sight Savers because saving someone’s sight has such a huge impact on their lives,’ female, 32 ‘I support the Samaritans; as a child, I made prank calls, so I wanted to give back some money,’ female, 29 ‘I give to the RNLI because I spend a lot of time on, in, or near the sea,’ male, 27 ‘I give to Scope; my parents did sponsored hikes for Scope,’ male, 25 ‘I give to Medecins Sans Frontieres; they are always the last to pull out of a war zone! The people working for MSF are truly inspirational,’ male, 271 However, the top three charitable causes – medical research, children and animals – are consistently proven to be the causes most people give to. More than 50 per cent of people who give to charity give to these three causes, drawing in just over 40 per cent of donations.2 When it comes to medical research, largely research into cancer, it’s quite easy to see why this draws the most public support. One in three people are likely to be affected by cancer in their lifetime,3 and medical charities can often become a channel through which people feel they can take action against disease or illness. Donating to children and animals is a different matter. Being vulnerable groups unable to defend or provide for themselves, children and animals rely on charities to fight for their rights, provide food, medical assistance and shelter, and protect them against either violent environments or adults. These causes also sit well with people’s traditional perceptions of charity; giving to those less fortunate who are unable to provide for themselves. After all, you can’t get less vulnerable than a sick child or frightened animal.

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The Good Giving Guide ‘I support the RSPCA because animals can’t fight back, so the RSPCA fights for them. I support Cancer Research because you can’t fight cancer and I give to the NCPCC because kids can’t fight back; some adults are just bullies,’ male, 244 Perhaps one of the reasons that these three causes remain consistently popular is that they are also supported by a huge media interest and celebrity endorsement. Celebrities are far more likely to agree to support a children’s charity than a group dealing with alcoholics, homeless people or drug users because it’s higher profile and more of a universal cause; you won’t find many people disagreeing that child abuse is wrong, whereas people have more complicated attitudes towards other charitable causes.

‘I support the RNLI, Red Cross and PDSA – all worthwhile, non-contentious charities,’ male, 415 Charities dealing with people on the peripheries of society – the mentally ill, disabled, impoverished, addicted or diseased – and those dealing with less tangible issues, such as the environment, have a bigger problem raising funds. They simply don’t have the income or the marketing budgets to get their message out to the wider public. And even when they do, they can’t be as assured of financial returns. Many potential givers are unsure of the role of charities and campaigning groups in protecting and serving these groups, just as they are unsure of how responsible they are for providing help. Often it’s those whose lives have been directly touched by these issues who are more likely to give.

Most popular charitable causes The table opposite shows the popularity of various causes. Medical research and organisations supporting children or young people consistently draw the widest public support in terms of numbers and cash. The popularity of charitable causes has remained static over the last few decades. In short, medical research charities and those working with children or animals have received a disproportionate amont of donations. This is partly because many people are unaware of the wealth of causes out there and partly because these issues tend to be uncontroversial.

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Picking your Charity Cause per cent donors per cent given Medical research 24 17 Children +20.5 14 Animal 11 9.5 Other medical/health 10.5 10 Religious organisations 10 13 Overseas relief 9 10 Blind people 7 4 Disabled people 6 3 Rescue services 5 3 Elderly people 5 3 Education 5 4 Homeless people 5 3 Disaster relief 2 2 The environment 2 1.5 Deaf people 2 1 Heritage 1 1 Museums, music, art etc 0.5 0.6 Other 4 2 Source: National Council for Voluntary Organisations/ Charities Aid Foundation6

Personal audit By asking yourself a set of fairly straightforward questions, you can clarify your own priorities and plot a pathway to deciding how you would like to contribute to a cause you care about. Some of these questions may seem obvious, but it is precisely because they appear intuitive that we often don’t actually ask them. They are definitely worth further thought; deciding the kind of organisation you want to get involved with can also help you assess how you would most like to give and how far you’re prepared to get involved.

Organisational issues • Do you want to tackle the cause or the symptoms of the problem? • Would you rather support a large organisation or a smaller group? • Do you think that it is more effective to work within the system or campaign against it? • Do you think that charities should take Government money?

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The Good Giving Guide • Are you happy for your charity to be involved in corporate partnerships? • If so are there any companies that you think charities should avoid working with?

Personal values • Do you have particular concerns about the working practices of the charity or campaigning group you support? For example, would you prefer to support an environmentally-friendly charity? Or are you opposed to animal testing? • How much time are you willing to give? • Would you prefer to support a charity that invests its assets ethically? • Would you prefer to support a charity that represents a particular religion or is it important to you that any charity you support is secular? Tackling the cause or symptoms of the problem

How you want to help is as important as the cause you give to. You will need to decide at what point you want your money or time to intervene and make a difference to a person or a cause and whether you want to tackle the root cause or the symptoms of this problem. For instance, if you want to help save the planet by supporting an environmental organisation, how do you want to do it? • Do you want to support an organisation that tackles the longer-term causes of global warning, such as tighter laws on carbon emissions or fights to outlaw illegal logging? • Or do you care more about helping those suffering from the effects in this lifetime, for example by supporting a charity protecting endangered species or campaigning for the rights of people living on endangered land? It isn’t always immediately obvious which organisations to choose, because as charities grow in size and capacity many take a more holistic approach to a cause. This allows them to combine long-term policy and campaigning work with reactive care or support services. One slightly clearer area is the health sector, where people can choose to support either scientific research to help prevent or alleviate future illness or the provision of care and palliative services to the sick,

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Picking your Charity for instance hospice care or support for patients and their families, to help alleviate the suffering that people are experiencing now. But in many cases, such as international development and poverty relief, debates rage about the role of the charities and their long- and short-term strategies. A good example is in the field of international development and poverty relief: donors may choose to support immediate action to help people who are hungry now, or longer-term initiatives to help those people to set up sustainable farming methods using climate resistant crops so that they can feed themselves in the future.

‘I support Christian Aid because it enables people to help themselves long term rather than just a handout. It enables self-sufficiency and therefore self-respect,’ female, 648 We are compelled to give to those who are immediately suffering, but the root causes and the long-term fall-out of the problem can be more challenging. It’s a universal truth that children shouldn’t be abused. However, it is more difficult to make the link between this and the causes and outcomes of abuse such as social exclusion, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health problems. So although millions are drawn to the NSPCC’s incredible Full Stop campaign, which aims to eliminate all child abuse, fewer people are likely to support an organisation that deals with the problems generated when child-abuse victims grow up to be antisocial teenagers or develop abusive tendencies themselves. Child abuse, as with most areas that charities and campaigners work in, will never be solved unless both the cause and the symptoms are addressed. Campaigning with or against the system

In 2001 WWF-UK decided to pull all of its shares out of oil giant BP in protest at the company’s ‘slipping ethical standards’ and poor treatment of staff.9 The shares were worth £200,000; a pittance in relation to BP’s overall worth (£178.7 billion in 200210). But the move caused shockwaves because of the ethical implications, namely that one of the world’s best-known environmental charities no longer felt it could be associated with BP. It sent similar shockwaves through the charity sector; many voluntary and campaigning organisations couldn’t believe that WWFUK had ever invested in an oil company, perceived by many to be the antithesis of everything it stood for.

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The Good Giving Guide The BP example is an interesting one because it shows the sharp contrast between organisations seemingly working for the same cause but who have completely contrasting attitudes to corporate engagement. WWFUK’s stance is that it’s best to campaign from within to affect change.11 It argues that holding shares in BP allowed it access to shareholders’ meetings where it could put pressure on the board over its environmental record. WWF-UK believes that you can bring about more constructive and long-term change by engaging with the people you want to influence rather than standing on the sidelines yelling and waving placards. And, it says, if the worst happens, you can always change tack and abandon the insider tactics in favour of protesting from the outside. What happened with BP is a case in point; the impact of WWF-UK revoking its connection with BP had a greater impact than just another environmental group running yet another anti-oil company campaign. Nonetheless, a sizeable number of organisations reject this approach, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Christian Aid and Amnesty International. Such organisations refuse to link up with any such body, often dismissing companies’ corporate social responsibility campaigns as ‘greenwash’.12 Groups like these believe it is most effective to operate outside the system, and keeping their ethical credibility intact by preserving their independence and the respect of their supporters and the public at large. The issue applies equally to the political arena. Charities and campaigning groups regularly have to choose between working closely with Government and politicians to offer advice and support and help find solutions, or campaigning against them from the outside. In the case of the WWF-UK BP partnership, the issue was amplified because of the financial implications. WWF-UK had profited from a lucrative fundraising partnership with BP, who certainly wasn’t shy about publicising its links with the charity.13 This does raise questions about the moral responsibility of charities to remain outside the corporate or Governmental influence. WWF-UK also tested the boundaries in 1999 when it struck a bargain with the HSBC. The bank agreed to reduce its environmental impact, but in return WWF had to give assurances that it would not campaign in a way that could jeopardise HSBC’s business practices.14 Deciding whether to use insider or outsider tactics is a practical as well as an ideological question. If the issue in question is a long way down the political agenda or has very little support in the corridors of

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Picking your Charity power, it can be very difficult to work within the system. An organisation may first need to apply pressure from the outside in order to raise the profile of the cause. A good example of this is the ‘Fathers 4 Justice’ movement, which fights for equal rights for fathers in custody battles. Frustrated by the Government’s refusal to change legislation to give fathers more legal weight, the group has carried out a series of high-profile media stunts, including an activist dressed as Spiderman scaling a crane and the infamous purple paint-bomb attack on MPs in the House of Commons, which generated blanket media coverage and drew public attention to the group and its demands. But sometimes very positive things come out of corporate engagement. A number of corporates, including Anglo and de Beers, have been very proactive in tackling the issue of AIDS in developing countries, particularly in providing antiretroviral drugs to employees. Their work is helping to demonstrate the feasibility of providing widespread antiretrovirals, and they have sought advice from NGOs as to how to go about this. People with AIDS are being treated, Anglo retains its workforce and NGOs are able to use their corporate relationship to influence decisionmakers further afield.15 As a supporter, it’s up to you to decide what your stance is. But it’s worth considering that both corporate engagement and placard waving have their place. In fact, both work in conjunction to help put pressure on corporations and governments to take action. Should charities get into bed with business?

So how closely should charities get to corporates? As a result of the everincreasing grip of globalisation, multinational corporations have undoubtedly become huge power-holders in the modern world, combining massive resources with huge financial clout. The role of charities in working for the poor, oppressed and vulnerable often brings them into direct contact with corporates and their impact on people, animals or the environment. Often it’s charities and campaigning groups who shout the loudest over corporate action, bringing unethical practices to the fore; championing the rights of underpaid workers, tax-burdened developing countries and exposing illegal logging, forest clearing and other environmental abuse. Charities and campaigning groups are often a painful thorn in the corporate side, as Nestlé will no doubt attest. In 2003 Oxfam forced the food

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The Good Giving Guide giant into a humiliating climb-down over its demands that the Ethiopian Government pay £3.7 million in compensation for a company nationalised by a previous military government.16 The Burma Campaign, which fights against human rights abuse in Burma, has so far forced 39 clothing companies and numerous other businesses, including PricewaterhouseCoopers and British American Tobacco, to withdraw from the country after sustained campaigning.17 Often link-ups with charities and campaigning groups are coveted by businesses as a way to add ethical credence to their brand name. While these partnerships are good news for the corporate world, they can be risky business for voluntary organisations. The Royal British Legion received extensive media criticism when arms manufacturer BAE Systems sponsored Poppy Day in 2001.18 The Youth Sport Trust was also attacked by the media after signing a deal with Cadbury that encouraged school children to collect tokens from chocolate wrappers to be exchanged for school sports equipment.19 Sceptics argue that the business often gets more out of such agreements than the charity. A recent survey showed that the public believe 24 per cent of charities’ incomes comes from the private sector.20 The actual figure is just 4.3 per cent.21 This finding suggests that charities do not always appreciate the true market value of their logos and branding. In 2000, car manufacturer Peugeot ran an advert depicting lifeboat rescue teams seemingly rushing to respond to an emergency on a rainsoaked shore, which turns out to be a ferry bearing a shiny new fleet of Peugeots to the waiting crowd. The ad benefited from all the values that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution teams stand for – honour, bravery and compassion – to endorse their new car. In return the charity got ‘an undisclosed donation’ and just one Peugeot for their next fundraising raffle.22 These issues are leading some charities to reject overtures by corporates. Breakthrough Breast Cancer has a strict policy that outlaws any tieins with unethical corporates, which lead to it rejecting a £350,000 donation from wine merchants Hardy’s because of the link between alcohol and breast cancer.23 It also reportedly turned down a whopping £1 million donation from Nestlé because of concerns about the food giant’s promotion of powdered baby milk in developing countries; medical research has shown that breastfeeding can guard against breast cancer.24 But Breakthrough is lucky. It has huge fundraising support from a host of other corporate partners, including Marks & Spencer, Burberry

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Picking your Charity and Rimmel, whose support of its fundraising campaigns has helped it become the biggest breast cancer charity in the UK. However, for many charities and voluntary groups, relationships with corporates can be congenial and hugely beneficial to their work. The scrabble to become a corporation’s ‘Charity of the Year’ is fiercely competitive, and tie-ins with businesses have brought charities into direct contact with thousands of new supporters in the form of employees who get switched on to the charity through close-working partnerships. If you feel strongly that good causes should stay separate from business, then it is worth finding out your chosen charity’s stance on corporate engagement. Charities should make it clear to their donors exactly where they stand, so you don’t discover that you’re supporting a cause that has linked with a business you feel is inappropriate and ethically unsound.

Social and ethical investment The question of whether a charity should invest in the arms trade may seem fairly clear cut. But Campaign Against Arms Trade’s yearly Clean Investment Campaign lists some of the UK’s best-known and loved charities that hold shares in major UK-based arms and munitions companies.25 It’s difficult not to feel dismayed; the thought that part of your donation could be invested in a company that makes weapons of mass destruction is troubling, especially since many people give to make the world a better not a more dangerous place. This is partly because many of us believe that charities should set an example in ethical business; research shows that more than 30 per cent of people feel that charities, above all other organisations, should invest their funds in an ethically responsible way.26

‘I would like to know who charities work with, where they have their money invested and more about their sources of revenue – how green/ethical are charities really?’ male, 2727 But charities, like businesses, have a responsibility to their stakeholders. The standard defence of charities appearing on the Clean Investment Campaign list is that they have a duty to get the best return possible on their supporter’s donation. The Charity Commission also demands that

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The Good Giving Guide charities have a spread of investments, which can restrict how and where they invest their collateral. However, a 2002 Government report concluded that investing ethically has a neutral impact, in other words ethical investments do no better or no worse than other investments28 and the Charity Commission has also said that ethical investment policies are perfectly possible under its rules. Charities such as Cancer Research UK point out that their ethical investment policy reflects the nature of their work; so they would never invest in tobacco companies. Whatever the charity’s reason is for holding seemingly unethical shares, it’s up to you to decide how important the issue is. However it’s easy to jump to conclusions: some campaigning groups, such as the Burma Campaign, deliberately buy small numbers of shares in companies that they are campaigning against. Owning a share is the ticket to the company’s annual general meeting and, once inside, campaigning groups have got a captive audience and a rare opportunity to apply pressure right at the top of the company and to influence other shareholders.

Environment and social policies Just because an organisation is a charity doesn’t automatically mean it recycles. Many supporters of environmental causes recognise that to fully promote environmental responsibility you need to do more than support a conservation charity. These supporters often lobby companies to become more environmentally friendly, and there is no reason that they should not put the same pressure on charities and non-profits. Donors concerned about the environmental impact of any organisation that they support should find out whether that organisation has or is developing an environmental policy and whether it measures its impact in this area. A policy may include references to the use of sustainable energy, provision for office recycling, the use of public transport by employees wherever possible, use of recycled paper and similar issues. If you believe that charities should be accountable for the way they run their operations as well as the way they spend their money, then the way they treat their staff could also be an issue. Traditionally charities have not had a brilliant reputation as employers; people who work for a charity don’t do it for the money. But there is a case for arguing that any organisation whose role it is to relieve social deprivation should at least pay its staff a reasonable living wage. Checking up on this can be tricky, but one

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Picking your Charity way is to check whether the organisation has a recognition agreement with a trade union. The East London Communities Organisation (Telco) has been running a national Living Wage Campaign for the last two years and is a good resource in this area.29 Different causes also throw up distinct issues. For example, some medical research charities use animal testing, so if you’ve got strong views on this issue it’s important to check before you start donating. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has compiled an inventory of the names and addresses of the UK charities that do and do not test on animals as well as a list of those that do not currently test on animals but have not ruled out doing so in the future.30 Likewise, many charities grew from religious institutions and will still be aligned to a particular church or religious group. Some organisations make their affiliation obvious in their name, but others don’t.

Independence from Government Not-for-profits and charities are sometimes described as the ‘third sector’, working independently from either public or the private spheres. This notion of impartiality and independence is absolutely central to charities because it allows them to remain free of outside influence so that they can access those most in need whatever their political, social or racial circumstance.

Politics If this impartiality is threatened, many charities are left unable to fulfil their role. In 2001 the Daily Mail newspaper ran a lead column in which it called on readers to stop supporting the British Red Cross.31 Its crime? Supporting its French counterparts by delivering much-needed food aid to the Sangatte refugee camp in France. The camp, funded by the French Government, was run by the French Red Cross to provide food and shelter to people who would otherwise be homeless. Before the camp opened, people were sleeping rough on Calais’ parks and beaches. The Mail’s piece was a direct attempt by the newspaper to get the charity to base its delivery of aid on political considerations rather than on the basis of need.32 The aid sector as a whole has a particularly precarious path to tread in terms of its relationship with governments. In international situations access to isolated areas of need can be dependent on the support of warring military factions, and agencies have to be seen to be clean of any outside influence.

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The Good Giving Guide There are times when this is thrown into question. During the Iraq war in 2003, Save the Children US was accused of being ‘vulnerable to political pressure from a Republican White House’ because of the high level of funding that it received from the US Government.33 In the same year, the Red Cross base in Baghdad was bombed. The attack was the first in the organisation’s 140-year history, and it is generally thought that bombers perceived foreign humanitarian workers as part of the ‘enemy’.34 For this reason, aid agencies generally refuse money from Governments who are directly involved in conflict.

Campaigning freedom It is not just aid agencies that are affected. Financial and physical independence from Government is also important for protest groups and charities, which need to be able to remain steadfast campaigners for legal reform and justice. This issue can be a thorny one for some of the larger charities that receive a high proportion of Government funding to provide public services. Recent research showed that 37 per cent of total income to the voluntary sector now comes from the public sector, which makes Government money one of the biggest sources of funding.35 This figure is only likely to grow because the Government has made it clear that it would like to see more charities providing services such as housing, nursing services, drug rehabilitation programmes and specialist health services. Many care charities are also involved in campaigning, so the big question here is whether they can accept Government money and still retain a strong campaigning voice. Or will they become too scared of losing funding to kick up a fuss over policies they don’t agree with? Charities providing controversial or peripheral services, such as drug rehabilitation clinics, addiction centres or youth offender schemes, often don’t have a choice about accepting Government money. Many find it impossible to raise enough money from the public and would not survive without Government money. Nevertheless, many of these organisations have continued to campaign successfully despite their funding situation. Taking out lots of small contracts with different Government departments, maintaining control over the services they provide and forming campaigning alliances with other voluntary groups all help to reinforce their independent status both to the Government funders and the public at large.

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Picking your Charity Providing public services Charity supporters are sometimes resistant to the idea of charities operating public services.

‘I prefer to help charities that rely on donations only and not Government subsidies,’ female, 26 ‘Are they funding an area which should be paid for by the Government?’ male, 25 ‘I previously gave to cancer research, but cancelled direct debit when tightening my belt. Shouldn’t the Government pay for that with tax revenue?’ male, 2736 But the idea that social care is the sole responsibility of Government is a relatively new concept. The welfare state only came into existence after the Second World War and before that the only help given to those who fell on hard times came from charitable organisations. After the welfare state came into existence it soon became clear that the state was unable to cope with the social care demands of a nation struggling to recover from war.37 So charities grew and developed to fit their new role supplementing state services, and the situation has remained the same ever since. This is not to say that charities should replace state provision in any way, or to condone the inability of the welfare state to cope with many key issues. However, in an imperfect system, charities are often the only ones to pick up the pieces. In practical terms, Government and voluntary sector partnership can help develop services and improve delivery systems. There are many examples of both parties working together to deliver better services: Marie Curie and Royal Liverpool University Hospital jointly developed the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient, an incredibly important set of clinical and psychosocial protocols for people in the last few days of life, which is now being rolled out nationally. Neither party could have developed this initiative without the other.

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The Good Giving Guide

The size and scope of the organisation – David or Goliath? In a world where the brand is king, there is an ever-increasing gulf developing between the large ‘super-charities’ and the tens of thousands of smaller voluntary organisations. The term charity describes everything from multi-million pound organisations such as the British Heart Foundation or Save the Children right down to a local community group run from someone’s front room. Larger organisations tend to dominate our attention because, unlike smaller organisations, they can afford to run national ad campaigns and have the profile to attract media attention. However, 82 per cent of charities operate at a local or community level.38 One of the strengths of the charity sector is its sheer diversity, which provides many different approaches to solving problems. This diversity comes from the large number of smaller organisations, and it is important to keep these groups and the work that they do in mind when considering which organisation to give to, rather than simply defaulting to a national high-profile charity. The size of charity that you pick will depend on whether the cause you support is national or local. Larger charities are likely to be better funded and resourced with healthy working relationships with other prominent organisations. But a smaller organisation is likely to have better local links and knowledge as well as more direct contact with the people it helps. Some larger charities, such as the major care charities or international development organisations, will also provide funding to smaller groups working directly with local communities. Who you give to depends on what you’re trying to achieve. Some sectors, such as the health sector, benefit from economies of scale. So if you want to be part of a global change, such as finding a cure for cancer or a vaccine for AIDS, larger organisations have the necessary financial clout, influence and geographical reach. Social groups tend to work closer to the ground. If you’re more concerned with seeing an immediate impact and helping at a grassroots level then a smaller community group may be a more effective way of following your charitable aims. Some people are concerned that their donation alone will not make much of a difference and like to know that it will be added to a substantial pot of other donations that, combined, will pay for something significant. For these people, giving to a larger organisation may be more rewarding.

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Picking your Charity Others like to know exactly how and where their money is spent. For these people, a larger organisation may be less suitable because smaller donations can get ‘lost’ in a larger general fund. A smaller organisation would provide a better alternative because it is often more able to keep track of one particular gift because it processes fewer donations. Gifts to smaller organisations are likely to be worth proportionately more because they receive fewer donations.

‘I prefer to help local charities, where you can give time, rather than money,’ female, 27 ‘I like to think that the charities I donate to make a difference on a local scale as well as nationally or bigger,’ male, 24 ‘I give to local charities; I generally feel they are doing something that benefits people around me,’ female, 2339

Getting to grips with global gripes It’s difficult to conquer the feeling that nothing you do will make a difference; feeling stunned into inertia by the scale of the problems facing the world is a difficult deadlock to break. But a combination of becoming more informed and taking small, manageable actions is a good way of becoming more engaged with the issue you care about. Inaction solves nothing, and by taking even the smallest steps towards solving a problem you will be helping.

Homelessness Facts: • There around 380,000 single homeless people in Britain. • One in three homeless ‘sofa surfers’ have mental-health problems. • The average hostel resident has been homeless for seven-anda-half years. • One in four ex-homeless people can’t sustain a tenancy once they are resettled.

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The Good Giving Guide

Things you can do now: 1 Write to your MP to urge them to make homelessness a central issue in their constituency. 2 Volunteer for a homelessness charity. This will not only help you understand the issue in more depth but also directly allow you to have meaningful contact with homeless people in their area. There are many organisations, locally and nationally, that are in need of volunteers. 3 Make a donation to a homelessness charity to make sure that they are able to continue to find the best solutions to help people find a permanent route out of homelessness. Organisations that can help (see Chapter 18): Crisis Shelter St Mungos

Global Poverty Facts: • 1.3 billion people worldwide are impoverished, representing one out of every five people on Earth. • 800 million people are in danger of starvation. • About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hungerrelated causes. Three quarters of the deaths are children under the age of five. Things you can do now: 1 Become an ethical consumer. Buy products with the Fairtrade Mark to ensure that local farmers, often in developing countries, are benefiting from your purchase through fair pay and work conditions. Avoid products you know are made by companies who exploit their workers. 2 Sign up to Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign (www.maketrade fair.com). Oxfam needs millions of signatures on its petition to persuade politicians to introduce fair trading agreements to help developing countries build a brighter future. 3 Visit the ActionAid website to learn about how government policies are affecting the distribution of aid (www.actionaid.org.uk).

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Picking your Charity

Organisations that can help (see Chapter 11): ActionAid Christian Aid One World

HIV/AIDS Facts: • 36 million people worldwide are now living with HIV or AIDS. • HIV is the fastest growing serious medical condition in the UK and there are at least 50,000 people living with HIV here today. • AIDS is the worst humanitarian crisis the world is facing due to its catastrophic repercussions on global economic, social and health issues. Things you can do now: 1 Wear a red ribbon, the international symbol of the fight against HIV/AIDS. It helps raise awareness and keep the issue in the public consciousness. 2 Lobby your local primary care trust to ask them what they’re doing for people with HIV in your local area. 3 Protect yourself against AIDS. Eliminating your own risk for contracting AIDS is a critical first step to ending the epidemic. 4 Email the World Health Organisation via www.stopaidscampaign. org.uk to get it to commit to the ‘3x5’ target to get life-saving AIDS drugs to 3 million people by 2005. Organisations that can help (see Chapter 17): The National Aids Trust The Terrence Higgins Trust Hope HIV

Environment Facts: • Energy production and use account for nearly 80 percent of air pollution. • In Alaska, the ice is melting so fast that an area the size of the Netherlands disappears every year. • By 2030, global energy consumption is projected to be two-thirds higher than today due to population growth, continued urbanisation and economic expansion.

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The Good Giving Guide

Things you can do now: 1 Make your house energy efficient. The average home produces twice as much greenhouse gas pollution as the average car. 2 Switch to an ecological energy supplier. Friends of the Earth has an online guide that will help you through this process. 3 Use public transport or start using a car share scheme. 4 Join Greenpeace’s Save or Delete campaign (www.save ordelete.com) to help protect the world’s ancient forests. Send an online message to UK Environment Minister Elliot Morley urging him to end the trade in illegal timber. Organisations that can help (see Chapter 15): Friends of the Earth Greenpeace Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society Earthwatch

Domestic Violence Facts: • One in three women has been beaten or abused in her lifetime. • In 2001 there were 635,000 incidents of domestic violence in England and Wales. 81 percent of victims were women. • Every week two women are killed through domestic violence. In 2001 45 percent of rapes reported to the British Crime Survey were perpetrated by current partners. Things you can do now: 1 Sign up to Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women campaign www.amnesty.org.uk/svaw. 2 Log on to www.vday.org, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls, and sign their online petition. 3 Learn more about how to raise abused women’s standard of life. Visit www.campaignforeducation.org, a campaign to provide public, basic education for all, especially girls and women. Organisations that can help (see Chapter 18): Women’s Aid Refuge Amnesty International UK Mothers’ Union

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Picking your Charity

Finding a charity Larger national and regional organisations If you have a charity in mind that you think might fit your needs, the easiest way to make up your mind is by referring to its website. Most of the large charities have comprehensive websites, which can easily be found by typing the charity’s name into a search engine. However, for most people the best starting point will be a general list of charities working in the particular cause that they are interested in. There are several websites and directories available to help. Websites

• The Charity Commission maintains an electronic register of charities in England and Wales. The register includes the organisation’s name, acronym, charitable objects and in some cases annual accounts. www.charitycommission.gov.uk

• Work With Us provides a full list of Scottish charities at www.workwithus.org/findus. This information will also eventually be available on the website of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. • Charity Choice and Charities Direct are two web portals that give a useful and comprehensive breakdown of charities according to the cause areas that they work in. They both provide contact details for the charities and a summary of their financial performance. www.charitychoice.co.uk and www.charitiesdirect.com • Guidestar UK is a ‘free public library’ giving information about all the charities operating in England and Wales. The site, which is expected to be fully up and running by April 2005, will include basic financial information. Charities will also be invited to add extra information themselves to give a fuller picture of what they do. www.guidestar.org.uk • Charitynet is a dedicated charity information site, designed to benefit anyone with an interest in philanthropy, wherever they are in the world. The website lists many charities and non-profits. www.charitynet.org • Charity Portal is a database with more than 2,100 charity records. www.charityportal.org.uk

• Idealist is an international project based in America. The site lists more than 40,000 non-profit and community organisations in 165 countries, which you can search or browse by name, location or mission. www.idealist.org • Justgiving and Givenow are the two most popular internet donation portals. Between them, they include a comprehensive list of charities

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The Good Giving Guide working in particular cause areas. The sites also have facilities that allow supporters to donate money to the charity online. www.justgiving.com and www.givenow.org Books

• The Major Charities: An Independent Guide by Luke Fitzherbert and Kathryn Becher, provides an interesting introduction to the major charities that are supported largely by the public. The book, which is published by the Directory of Social Change, includes an alphabetical list of case studies on 165 major charities as well as 30 group entries and a listing of the top 500 fundraising charities. The book (priced £18.95) is available from bookshops. • The National Council for Voluntary Organisations produces the Voluntary Agencies Directory annually. The directory provides an alphabetical listing of more than 2,000 organisations. Each entry gives the charity’s contact details and main aims and objectives. It also contains a useful index that categorises charities according to the cause areas that they work in. The book (priced £30.00) is available from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk. Helpful organisations

• Many cause areas have a specific membership or umbrella body representing their interests. These bodies may be able to help you find charities and non-profits working in their cause area. For example, the Occupational Benevolent Funds Alliance (www.joblinks.org.uk) represents benevolent funds such as the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. These groups are too numerous to list, but details of many are given in the second half of this book. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ umbrellas directory is also a comprehensive source. Visit www.askncvo.org.uk and search for ‘umbrellas directory’. • New Philanthropy Capital provides a service to help individual donors decide where to donate their gift in order to make the greatest impact. It also researches how best to contribute to specific causes. Findings are published in a series of reports focusing on specific cause areas, such as HIV/AIDS and children with special educational needs. www.philanthropycapital.org

• The Funding Network is basically a club of potential donors. The group holds fundraising days and invites speakers from charities to come along and present their charity. www.thefundingnetwork.co.uk

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Picking your Charity • For those looking for specific volunteering opportunities, there is a reference section in the volunteering chapter of this book, which gives useful contact details.

Local and community groups It’s harder to find a smaller group because often they don’t have the resources to promote themselves. However, there are some organisations available to help, and some simple steps that you can take to help identify groups near you. Without moving from your chair

• Your local Council for Voluntary Service will have details of many projects and organisations in your area. Contact details can be found in the phone book. The National Association of Councils for Voluntary Services (NACVS) can also help. www.nacvs.org.uk • Rural Community Councils (RCCs) are county-based charities working to promote the welfare of local communities through voluntary effort. They work on issues such as rural services, transport, housing, schools, health and community care, village halls, poverty and self-help initiatives. Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), the membership body for RCCs, holds contact details for 38 groups across England. www.acre.org.uk • Most regions have voluntary sector networks that can put you in touch with groups in your area. A directory of regional voluntary sector networks is included in the National Council for Voluntary Organisations’s regional contacts listing. Visit www.askncvo.org.uk and search for ‘regional contacts’. • Community Matters is a national federation for community associations. www.communitymatters.org.uk • Community Development Exchange (CDX) is the UK-wide membership organisation for community development. The ‘Networking’ section of the CDX website provides community development links by region, including details of some community groups and also other resources to help you find community groups. www.cdx.org.uk • The Community Development Foundation represents independent community foundations (local charities that raise money and use it to make grants to other organisations). www.cdf.org.uk • Community Action Network is the UK’s leading organisation for the development and promotion of social entrepreneurs. It has more than

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The Good Giving Guide 700 members in the UK. Most of these are social entrepreneurs who are involved in start-up or established projects. CAN’s website provides a members directory split up by region. www.can-online.org.uk • The Scarman Trust is a national charity giving funding and practical assistance to social entrepreneurs who wish to start an initiative to benefit their community. The trust works with more than 750 projects run by individuals and groups. The site provides links to projects via its ‘regions’ section. www.thescarmantrust.org Getting out and about

• Check local newspapers and community newsletters; these often cover the activities of locally based groups. Local radio stations also often have a community slot to promote the activities of local groups. • Visit community-gathering points, such as the community centre, sports centre, church or religious meeting place or library. Local groups meet or advertise their meetings here. • Look in local shop windows and notice boards for information about meetings. Also try advertisements in schools and supermarkets. • Check your local telephone directory. • Try approaching people who work in the community, such as teachers, councillors, shopkeepers or the local vicar, priest, imam or rabbi.

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Chapter 3 H ow Yo u Fi t I n There are many ways that you can get involved with charities, but the most popular three are: donating your money, becoming an activist or volunteering your time and skills. This chapter focuses on these three methods, but Chapter 7 also looks at why some charity supporters choose to become a charity worker or a trustee.

Donating money Many charity supporters think that giving their money is the best way to make a difference. Charities are experts in their field and many donors feel that it’s best to give money and let the professionals do their job. Others want to make a difference, but don’t have time to actively participate in campaigning, so choose to do their bit by giving what they can. Some also feel that they don’t want to become too personally and emotionally involved in the issues, and prefer to keep the cause at an arm’s length by giving money instead of time.

Why charities and campaigning groups need your money That charities need your money won’t come as a great shock; charities themselves tell the public this over and over again. But there are a variety of reasons why public donations are so important to these groups: To remain strong campaigners for change

Organisations that are mostly funded by individual supporters are able to reinforce the idea that they exist as popular movements for change and that they respond to a collective desire to take action on something. Groups with a greater number of individual supporters also have more clout because they represent more people. To be independent from political or corporate influence

Money from grant-making organisations, Government or companies can come with strings attached because these parties often have an

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The Good Giving Guide

Penny Wild, 24, Oxfam donor Like most people, I had heard of Oxfam and had a rough idea of the kind of work they do. But although I supported the charity’s core aims, I had never really thought of donating or getting involved. Then, one day when I was out shopping, I was stopped by a street-fundraiser. My initial reaction was to try and walk past, but the guy that approached me was so enthusiastic that I stopped to listen. He explained all about the work that Oxfam does and how I could help by giving a small amount each month. I was still at university at the time and couldn’t afford to give much, but I signed up to give £3 a month by direct debit. Shortly after I signed up, Oxfam started sending me their monthly bulletin, which keeps me informed about what the charity is spending my money on and contains interesting articles and case studies on local projects. Other than that, Oxfam leaves me to make my own decisions: they don’t pester me to get involved in any other way. It really suits me, as I like to do my bit but I lead a very hectic life and am too busy to get involved in any campaigns at the moment. It’s now three years since I signed up, and I’m so happy with things that I recently agreed to up my monthly donation.

agenda that they wish to further when giving money to a charity. Public donations, on the other hand, provide a much more flexible alternative. To run their programmes and services

Smaller charities and campaigning groups often live a hand-to-mouth existence and rely on public donations to be able to run. Charities that receive significant Government funding often also need to supplement their state funding with public donations. Leonard Cheshire, one of the UK’s largest disability charities, gets 13 per cent of its £115 million income from public donations.1 Without this income it wouldn’t be able to campaign on issues that affect disabled people and provide services such as employment training – services that make a real difference to the lives of disabled people.

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How You Fit In To offer specialised services

Income from public donations can be spent on whatever programme or service the charity feels is needed by a particular community. Public donations allow charities to provide specialised and supplementary services, such as telephone helplines and emotional support services, that would not be funded by Government or other grant-makers. To retain credibility with their beneficiaries

By receiving funding from a group of donors instead of a politician or a commercial company, charities are able to access the hardest-to-reach communities who may respond to a charity rather than a state-funded programme.

Activism Those who feel passionately about a particular issue, such as protecting the environment, often want to stand up and be counted and feel that making their voice heard is more valuable than giving money. This can involve anything from emailing your MP, to staging public protests or forming a local activism group. In a survey conducted for this book, 37 per cent of respondents said they had been involved with some kind of charity or non-profit campaign.

How activists help As well as providing a way to actively further a cause that you care passionately about, activism also helps you contribute in other ways: Fighting institutionalised inertia

Activism has the potential to empower people, offering them a real chance to shrug off feelings of frustration and helplessness and affect change. Previous generations went out on the streets to protest against the Vietnam War and nuclear weapons, and fight for everything from women’s rights to racial equality. Although public protests are one of the most obvious ways to demonstrate your feelings, there are also many other ways to get involved.

‘It is too easy to throw money at things. I like to help by donating time and seeing the results of my actions,’ female, 39

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The Good Giving Guide ‘I think too many people put the world’s problems to the back of their minds. They think that if they don’t think about it, it isn’t happening,’ female, 312 Representing the under-represented

MPs and the Government are elected to represent the people and make decisions on their behalf. However, politicians are beholden to the voting majority or, in many cases, the largest minority. So issues that are unpopular or irrelevant to the majority can slip down the political agenda. Marginalised groups, such as homeless people, refugees and those with mental illness, and more intangible issues such as the environment, global poverty and gender issues, can be left unrepresented. For these groups and their supporters, activism is an important way of securing representation.

David Castle, 34, Amnesty International activist My parents bought me Amnesty International membership for a 14th birthday present, and I’ve been giving them monthly donations ever since without really thinking about it. It didn’t cross my mind to get involved in any other way until I went to university and studied some human rights history as part of my degree, and after that I started to take a bit of a closer look at some of the work that Amnesty was doing. I began to feel so passionately about human rights abuses that I wanted to feel that I was helping in some way, so I contacted Amnesty about becoming one of their activists. As well as taking part in all of their email and letter-writing campaigns, I am now involved in a local Amnesty activist group. We are in regular contact with the activism team at Amnesty’s headquarters, who send us details of campaigns and suggestions on how we can help. This can be anything from lobbying local MPs, to organising community fundraising events to joining in protests or marches. On my own I wouldn’t feel that I was making a difference, but working through an organisation does make you feel like you’re part of a wider movement, and you do get the sense that the work you’re doing is actually achieving something.

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How You Fit In Holding Government to account

Activism is a way for citizens to have their say on issues that are ignored or sidelined by politicians and to call the Government to account in between elections. This was demonstrated by the 2000 fuel demonstrations, where normal people blockaded petrol stations and forced a Government U-turn on raising the price of petrol, is a good example. Increasing frustration with traditional political activities has led to a resurgence in activism and campaigning.3 Activism can never replace traditional political actions, such as voting, but it is an important way to complement them.

‘We can only make a difference by voicing concerns and applying public pressure to our governments to instigate change,’ female, 284 Holding the corporate world to account

National and multinational companies are becoming evermore powerful and many now have a massive influence on the environment and social issues. Many activists choose to target corporations directly, rather than relying on government to change laws to contain companies’ actions. The movement to eradicate animal testing by cosmetics companies in the 1980s and 1990s by animal rights campaigners shows the impact that these groups can have on creating corporate taboos and influencing consumer opinion.

Volunteering Thousands of people choose to give up some of their spare time without payment to help a charity as a volunteer, and this approach can appeal to those who want to make a more tangible and immediate difference. Far from being confined to weeding the church garden or running a soup kitchen, volunteering schemes now allow supporters to give their time in a way that suits them. This could mean becoming a mentor to a local child, designing a charity’s website or helping build a community centre.

The benefits of volunteering There are many reasons that people choose to volunteer, some of which are altruistic, others more rooted in personal interests and ambitions. Common reasons for volunteering include:

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Finding love for free YouthNet, an online youth charity, is one of many that are starting to run volunteering projects that try to combine an enjoyable day out with doing something good for others. In 2003 the charity ran a volunteer dating project, Do-it Dating, which was set up to match singletons with a compatible partner for a day of environmental work. YouthNet asked anyone looking for love to register their details on its volunteering website, www.do-it.org, and then tried to match them with a suitable partner to form a volunteer team alongside other prospective couples. The volunteers had a great time and the project was a real success. YouthNet says that the project works because people have got a much better chance of bonding over a day in the sun than they do shouting over loud music in the middle of a crowded bar.

Helping a cause you care about

Volunteering is one of the most effective ways that you can make an impact on lives around you and one of the most personal ways of getting involved with a cause that you care about. Every cause depends on human interaction of some form. Conservation charities need people to protect and preserve local environments, care organisations can’t operate effectively without volunteers willing to invest some of their time in helping make life easier for the sick or the old. Some people are motivated by making a contribution to the local community. For these people, the activity or cause they volunteer for may be less important. Getting to know people in the local area

Volunteering usually entails working closely with others and by its nature is a sociable activity. In fact, more volunteers are introduced to their activity by a friend or someone they know than by any other method.5 Volunteers often come into contact with like-minded people in their area and form close friendships; quite a feat when many of us don’t even know who lives next door. To learn new skills and develop existing ones

Volunteering doesn’t need to be a wholly selfless and altruistic act. Many get involved in volunteering to learn and develop skills that can be applied

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How You Fit In to other areas of their life. In such cases everybody is in a win-win situation; organisations or individuals benefit from the volunteers’ specialist knowledge and volunteers take something away from the experience that can also contribute to other areas of their life. To improve employability and job prospects

Volunteering demonstrates motivation, tenacity, commitment and sensitivity to your environment, which looks good on your CV. It can prove especially useful for those looking to break into a career that requires experience; you’ll always be able to find a volunteering opportunity that gives you the chance to get hands-on experience, whatever field you’re looking to go into. People with an established career also find that volunteering offers them the chance to look at old problems from a new perspective and can gain renewed enthusiasm. Volunteering as a route into a career in the voluntary sector

Careers in the voluntary sector are becoming increasingly popular, so competition for jobs can be fierce. Those wanting to get a job in popular areas such as campaigning, events and communications will almost certainly have the upper hand if they do some voluntary work first. It proves commitment to the cause and helps potential applicants develop skills that will make them more attractive candidates. It also places you in pole position if a job becomes available where you are volunteering and helps you develop a good insight into how charities and non-profits work. Escaping the rat race – volunteering as a career break

One-third of people are bored at work, feel undervalued and aren’t faced with enough challenges to keep them motivated.6 Career breaks are becoming increasingly popular ways to take a breather and get some perspective. Some take three- or six-month sabbaticals and go away to take up a completely unrelated volunteering opportunity abroad, such as a conservation project. Others commit to a longer spell abroad with an organisation such as Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), which offers two-year volunteering opportunities for professionals. Often, volunteers’ existing skills can be used in a totally new cultural and working environment.

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Volunteering can be good for your health There are some pretty unusual volunteering opportunities available, and many of these can have unique benefits. BTCV’s Green Gym scheme was designed as an alternative to sports and the local gym. It gives volunteers the opportunity to improve their physical fitness by involvement in practical conservation activities such as planting hedges, creating wildlife gardens or improving footpaths. The first Green Gym was piloted in Oxfordshire in 1997, but now there are many more across the country. They offer weekly sessions of conservation activities, which local people can join for one hour or more. Sessions are taken by experienced coordinators, who provide training in practical skills and lead warm-up and cool-down exercises. The Green Gym is more than a novel idea. Independent researchers from the Oxford Centre for Healthcare Research and Development at Oxford Brookes University found that taking part in an hour-long Green Gym session burns almost a third more calories than a step aerobics class.7 So not only do volunteers get to make new friends and help the environment, they also improve their own health. www.btcv.org

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Chapter 4 D o n at i n g M o n e y Giving your money is the most popular way to make a contribution to a good cause. Charities and campaigning groups have the expertise, experience and contacts to make sure that donations are spent in an effective way and will work towards more long-term social aims that tackle the cause as well as the symptoms of a problem. Donating money can help you make a direct difference to something you care about. Contributing towards an organisation’s rent costs or staff wages is also vitally important and enables the charity to continue providing valuable services. Without staff, offices, basic infrastructures and fundraising programmes, no charity would ever be able to run sustainable long-term projects or become an efficiently run organisation.

Giving to charity The British are a nation of generous givers: in 2003 more than two-thirds of the adult population gave over £7.3 billion to charities.1 A survey carried out in 2000 revealed that 67 per cent of the British population believe that they have a personal responsibility to give to charities, and 68 per cent said they were not influenced by how much other people gave but preferred to make their own decisions about how to contribute.2

Giving to a campaigning group Many campaigning groups deliberately choose not to become a charity because they don’t want any external restrictions imposed on their campaigning activities. Campaigning groups act more as collectives of individuals and do not face the same legal requirements placed on charities about how they audit and spend donations. If you give to campaigning groups, your donation is not eligible for the tax breaks open to registered charities. Some campaigning groups, such as Amnesty International, operate a charitable wing to raise money for certain areas of their work. If you give to a campaigning group’s charitable arm, your donation will be eligible

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The Good Giving Guide for tax breaks. However, the donation can only be spent specifically on the organisation’s charitable work, and not on more political activities that are not deemed to be charitable. If you support a campaigning group you may have a choice between becoming a member of the group, which usually involves paying an annual fee, or making a donation to the charitable arm.

Where charities get their money from

37 percent state funding 36.6 percent public donations 15.5 percent charity’s existing funds and investments 6.6 percent money from other non-profits (grantgiving trusts and foundations) 4.3 percent corporate money* *Average figures for all charities of all sizes from 2001–2

Source: National Council for Voluntary Organisations3

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How you can donate to a good cause There are many different ways of giving to charity. Some people prefer to give spontaneously to different charities as and when they feel like it, either because they don’t feel a particular affiliation to one cause or because they only feel comfortable with giving money occasionally and when it feels appropriate. Others find it easier to make a regular monthly contribution. Options include: • Dropping money into a collection tin. • One-off credit card or cash donations, for example giving to Comic Relief or in response to a media appeal. • Donating at a charity event such as a gala dinner. • Buying from a charity shop. • Giving unwanted items to a charity shop. • Donating gifts in kind, such as unwanted computers or surplus goods from your business. • Giving to a church or religious collection. • Buying through a charity catalogue/buying charity Christmas cards. • Giving regularly by direct debit or standing order, or via a Payroll Giving scheme. • Leaving a legacy (a gift to a charity in your will). • Membership schemes, such as the National Trust, where members pay a fee and in return receive benefits such as reduced entry fees. • Taking part in fundraising events, such as Cancer Research UK’s sponsored Race for Life. There are an almost infinite number of fundraising options open and most charities are happy to help with ideas and advice. • Sponsoring other people taking part in fundraising events.

How people give to charity Ways of giving

1 Collection tin 2 Door to door collection 3 Buying charity raffle/ lottery ticket 4 Buying in a charity shop 5 Shop counter collection

% of people who give by this method

% of overall amount given to charity

20.9 15.6 13.8

2.9 3.5 5.2

11.8 10.3

7.4 1.5

Source: Charities Aid Foundation4

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Ways of giving – our ‘loose change’ culture The most popular way of giving to charity is still the ubiquitous charity collection tin. In a recent survey, more than 20 per cent of those who said they donated to charity gave in this way.5 Despite the popularity of collecting tins, they are actually one of the least efficient ways to give to charity. The actual amount charities receive from rattling tins makes up just 2 per cent of all money donated to charity every year.6 Not only this, but coins are difficult and expensive to process, and voluntary groups can never predict how much they will bring in. Other spontaneous giving methods, such as door-to-door collections and charity raffle tickets, are also still very popular. People are starting to donate via methods such as direct debit, thanks to a concerted drive from not-for-profits. However, more sustainable giving is needed to ensure that groups can work resourcefully and ensure as much money gets to the cause as possible. If everyone calculated how much they put in collection tins and took out a direct debit for the same amount, charities would be better off.

How to make your money go further The main worry that most new donors have is that charities waste their money or that not enough is getting to the cause. On the whole, charities are pretty good at getting your money to the cause but, like most areas of life, there are inevitably always improvements to be made. Donors themselves have a role to play here. You can help charities become more costefficient at processing donations, and thereby ensure that your donation is being used in the most effective way.

Direct debit Giving by direct debit or by setting up a regular standing order is the best way that you can give to charities. Not only does it cost less for charities to process the money, but it also gives them a fixed income and a way of planning ahead. If a large proportion of their voluntary income comes from regular givers, they can draw up realistic targets and make sure that they’re not living over their means.

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Donating Money

What charities could do with your money • A £2 donation to Oxfam could buy one hen in Honduras, providing a family with a supply of eggs and a means of earning money. www.oxfam.org.uk • A £10 donation to the British Red Cross could buy a first aid kit for Emergency Response teams to use in the UK. www.redcross.org.uk

• £20 to World Vision buys a vaccination kit with sufficient needles and syringes for 50 injections; essential equipment in places without basic medical supplies. www.worldvision.org.uk • A £25 donation to Children in Crisis could provide a primary school child with drugs prevention education in the UK. www.childrenincrisis.org.uk

• A £25 donation to Scottish charity the Aberlour Child Care Trust could help provide the meal, hot shower and 24-hour care and support that a child who has just run from violence and abuse needs. www.aberlour.org.uk • A £25 donation to the World Land Trust could save one acre of wildlife habitat for ever. You can choose which one of several conservation projects to donate to. www.worldlandtrust.org • A £50 donation to Crisis could provide shelter to a homeless person for one month during the winter. www.crisis.org.uk • £50 to Mencap could help recruit two volunteers to work with people with a learning disability. www.mencap.org.uk • £100 to Women’s Aid would provide help and support for up to 12 women experiencing domestic violence who call the Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline. www.womensaid.org.uk

Running one-off appeals or trying to process large amounts of loose change collected in charity tins is expensive, time-consuming and irregular. If you want to make sure more of your money is getting to the cause, calculate how much you put into collecting tins every month and set up a direct debit for the same amount to a charity working for a cause you support. Your donation will undoubtedly have more impact. You can also give as little as £2 a month by direct debit and you can increase or decrease or cancel the donation entirely by contacting your bank.

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The Good Giving Guide

Sponsorship schemes Sponsorship programmes are one of the most popular forms of regular direct debit giving. The idea started with a child sponsorship scheme. A donor gives a monthly gift to help improve the life of a child in a poorer country and in return is kept updated with the child’s progress. In some cases the scheme is generic, so several or all donors receive information about the same child. In other cases there is a genuine relationship between the donor and the child. When the idea was first used, money from the donor was spent helping individual children, but now it is more likely that it will be spent improving life for the whole community, which is more sustainable. The sponsorship concept has now been developed and expanded to other causes. The YMCA runs a scheme called Roomsponsor, where donors give a gift to help fund a room in one of the YMCA’s hostels for vulnerable homeless young people. Sponsors exchange letters with the young people that stay in that room. There are also numerous animal sponsorship schemes, ranging from badgers to elephants. Examples include Battersea Dogs Home’s Kennel Sponsor programme, HorseWorld’s animal sponsorship package and Edinburgh Zoo’s scheme.

Tax-efficient giving Tax-efficient giving has been set up by the Government to encourage people to give more by offering personal tax breaks and allowing charities to reclaim some of the tax already paid.

GiftAid The GiftAid scheme means that for every pound donated, the charity gets an extra 28 per cent from the Inland Revenue by allowing charities to claim back the basic-rate income tax paid by the donor. So, in cash terms, if you give £10 to a charity, the charity can claim an extra £2.80 from the tax man. All the charity needs is your name, address and signature. Most charities collect these details using a GiftAid declaration form included on their fundraising appeals and direct mail forms. If you sign up to

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Donating Money a charity via a street-fundraiser, they should ask you whether you want to opt in to the GiftAid scheme. The only requirement is that you need to have paid enough income tax to cover the amount reclaimed by the charity. So a donor giving £100 needs to have paid at least £28 income or capital gains tax in the current financial year. If you are a higher-rate taxpayer, you get something back as well. If you fall into a higher tax band and decide to use GiftAid, you can reclaim 18 per cent tax relief on your donation to a charity. This means that if you give £100, the charity can reclaim an extra £28 and you can reclaim a further £23. A £100 donation will be worth £128 to your chosen charity, and will cost you only £77. GiftAid is one of the simplest and most effective forms of tax-efficient giving. But even though charities are now pulling in an extra £500 million a year through GiftAid, they are still missing out on £900 million in unclaimed tax7 as only 25 per cent of charity donors currently use the GiftAid scheme.

GiftAid Basic-rate taxpayer Higher-rate taxpayer Donation to charity £10 £10 Amount reclaimed by £2.80 £2.80 charity from Inland Revenue Total amount received by charity £12.80 £12.80 Cost to donor to give £10 £7.70 £12.80 to charity Amount reclaimed by donor in £2.30 tax return Source: The Giving Campaign

Payroll Giving Payroll Giving schemes are one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of giving to charities. If your workplace offers Payroll Giving it means that you won’t pay tax on your donation because the money comes out of your monthly salary before the tax goes out. If you’re a basic taxpayer and decide to give £20 to a charity through a Payroll Giving scheme, it will only cost you £15.60. If you’re a higher-rate taxpayer, then it’s an even better way to give, because you only pay £12 for a £20 donation to charity.

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The Good Giving Guide Anyone who is paid through PAYE can use Payroll Giving to donate to charity. All you have to do is complete a form provided by your company, which allows you to nominate a charity or charities you want to support and the amount you want to donate. Unfortunately, not all companies make the scheme available to staff. When you think that £86 million was raised this way last year, the untapped potential of Payroll Giving is huge. More enthusiastic staff need to put pressure on their employers to get a scheme in place. Your employer can find out more about how to set one up at www.allaboutgiving.org/give asyouearn/uk/corporate.cfm. Information is also available from the Inland Revenue; see www.inlandrevenue.org.uk. You can encourage colleagues to get donating by stressing that it will cost them far less to give through the workplace than anywhere else.

Donating shares Tax relief is available to UK taxpayers donating shares and securities listed on the UK Stock Market, the Alternative Investment Market and recognised stock exchanges overseas. It is also available for units in a UK unit trust, shares in a UK open-ended investment company (OEIC) and some similar foreign investments. You can claim tax relief equal to the market value of the shares on the day you make the gift, together with any associated costs such as brokers’ fees. Furthermore, capital gains tax (CGT) on any increase in the value of the shares since you bought them will not apply. However, if your shares have gone down in value, you should be aware that you

Share giving – How do I do it?8 You need to: 1 Contact the charity you wish to give shares to; they may help arrange the transaction. 2 Transfer the gift to the charity. 3 Keep evidence of the gift, the date it was made and the charity’s acceptance. 4 Claim the appropriate tax relief. 5 Be aware that if you receive any benefit as a result of making the gift, this will reduce your tax relief.

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Donating Money will not be able to use this loss to offset any other CGT liability you may have.9 If the charity isn’t in a position to handle the process for you, and this is more likely with smaller charities, don’t worry. It’s quite straightforward and there is plenty of advice available from organisations such as Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), ShareGift or Community Foundation Network. Donating your tax rebate

In a recent innovation, the Inland Revenue has started a scheme whereby self-employed people who find that they have paid too much tax in one financial year are now able to donate all or part of their tax rebate to any participating charity. Information is available from the Inland Revenue website at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk. How existing donors can make their money go further

• If you’re already donating make sure you’re using GiftAid. Contact your charity and ask them to send a form through for you to provide your name and address. • Make sure you’re giving by direct debit. Work out the amount you want to donate every year and take out a direct debit so a bit gets given every month. It will help the charity become more efficient. • If you’re taking part in a sponsored event, fundraise online. Use a service such as www.bmycharity.com to set up a customised web page and email to friends and family. The charity will automatically get GiftAid on every donation and the money will be debited straight from donors’ bank accounts. • Give to emergency appeals. Not-for-profits responding to emergencies are often reliant on supporters to provide emergency funds, as there is no time to run a public campaign. • Ask your employer to set up a Payroll Giving scheme. It’s easy to do and will encourage others to get involved.

Supplementary giving In addition to the mainstream ways of donating to charity, there are also a number of ways that you can supplement your regular giving. Unlike the methods suggested above, they are not necessarily the most effective way to support your cause, so should not form the mainstay of

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The Good Giving Guide your giving strategy. But they often help a charity at little or no extra cost to you, which makes them a great bolt-on to your other giving.

Affinity credit cards Affinity credit cards are taking off as a way to support charities. Almost every major charity now has its own credit card issued by banks such as the Bank of Scotland, The Co-op and MBNA. As a general rule, charity credit cards give the chosen charity an agreed donation for every new card owner and then an ongoing percentage of all purchases made with the card. Christian Aid receives £15 for every account opened, plus a further £2.50 if the account is used within six months. The charity equates this to protecting 90 children in India from the threat of childhood diseases for every card issued. The charity also gains from the exposure that the charity gets every time it is used.10 Charities generally only get around 25p for every £100 spent, which means you’ll have to do a lot of spending before your charity really gains. Not only that, but the average interest rate on charity credit cards is around 15–22 per cent, with some card issuers also charging annual fees. A worthy form of supplementary giving, but a direct donation made with GiftAid will go much further.

Charity financial products Leading ethical bank Triodos offers several ‘charity accounts’, which allow customers to donate a proportion of their interest to charity. Charity Bank, which is itself a charity, offers a similar service. Customers can choose to donate part or all of their interest to charity. Waived interest is used to lower the interest charged to charity borrowers. Several large financial companies, including Halifax and Prudential, have been involved in a project to research the expansion of charity financial products into mainstream banking. The financial services industry has expressed interest in the idea, and it is expected that many new products will soon be available from mainstream banks and building societies, including charity ISAs, Ernie bonds (National Saving bonds where investments are entered into a monthly prize draw), investment bonds and even mortgages.11

Online initiatives The launch of www.hungersite.com in 1999 spawned a generation of click-to-donate-for-free websites. The principle behind these sites is that

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Donating Money supporters go to the site each day and click to view a corporate donor’s advert. The corporate donor then makes a small donation to the charity for each click.12 To date, visitors to hungersite.com have clicked to give more than 14,000 metric tons of food to the hungry. Another popular online initiative is referral marketing. Shoppers visit an online mall listing hundreds of internet retailers. The retailers pay the mall a referral fee for each paying customer arriving via the mall. The mall then splits the referral fee with participating charities, who in turn promote the mall to their supporters.13 Sites include www.free2give.com and www.itsgoodtogive.com. More internet initiatives are springing up all the time. One recent example is www.casinoforcharities.com, which claims to be the first online casino in the UK to donate a proportion of its profits to charity. The site, which offers traditional casino games such as blackjack, roulette and craps, distributes 10 per cent of it profits to charities registered with the initiative to help them pay for core costs such as postage, rent and utility bills.

Cause-related marketing Cause-related marketing is jargon for a product or service that you can buy that is endorsed or sponsored by a charity. This can be anything from British Gas donating a percentage of gas bills to Help The Aged, to Hardy’s Wine Company making a donation to Breast Cancer Campaign and printing the charity’s logo on its wine bottles. It’s a growing business. In 2002 more than £50 million was raised for charities and good causes through 81 different cause-related marketing partnerships.14 According to one survey, 81 per cent of consumers say that they are more likely to buy a product that is associated with a cause they care about, price and quality being equal.15 Buying a charity-endorsed product will mean that a percentage, however small, ends up going to a good cause.

Charity shopping Charity shops selling donated second-hand goods have been common for decades. They raise nearly £100 million for charity each year16 and many people have either donated to or bought from a charity shop. However, there are also other options for the shopping enthusiast. Many charities have a mail order or online catalogue selling items such as Christmas cards and gifts and even items that are linked with their cause,

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The Good Giving Guide such as books and journals or items made by their beneficiaries. The charity shopping portal www.charitygifts.com provides links to numerous well-know charity catalogues. Charities are increasingly trying to boost donations by moving into other areas of trading and selling.17 This ranges from providing consultancy services, to renting out spare meeting rooms, to selling services such as insurance to their members. Oxfam has been particularly entrepreneurial. It has recently been involved in setting up Progreso, a chain of fair trade coffee shops as well as setting up a music download website (www.bignoisemusic.com). Charity Christmas cards are somewhat of an institution, but have caused some controversy. The charity usually licenses its logo out to a commercial card company and gets paid a percentage of the retail price for each product sold. If the deal is with a very large company, a charity might accept a cut as little as two per cent, because the volume of sales is likely to be so high that the deal is extremely lucrative anyway. However,

Unusual gift ideas Charities are catching on to the idea that people love to give unusual presents. The Good Gifts Catalogue provides some quirky ideas for the person that has everything. Ideas include ‘school in a trunk’, a box containing a comprehensive pack of teaching materials and equipment for children caught in emergency zones; a ‘bedroom kit’, to help a homeless person settle in to a new bedsit; and ‘revive a granny’, a trip to the hairdressers for an elderly lady to help boost her self-esteem. Recipients receive a colourful card telling them about their gift (www.goodgifts.org). World Vision (www.greatgifts.org.uk) and Send a Cow (www.sendacow.org.uk) provide similar catalogues. Engaged couples can also ask their friends and relatives to make a donation to charity instead of buying a traditional wedding present. Non-profit company the Alternative Wedding List Ltd has set up a charity gift registry (www.thealternativewedding list.co.uk). The site – which benefits Help the Aged, Save the Children, Sight Savers International and Marie Curie Cancer Care – offers gifts such as winter clothing for disadvantaged children, training for Marie Curie nurses and a panic button for an older person.

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Donating Money a growing number of charities feel that companies should pay a fair percentage, regardless of the predicted volume of sales. They have formed a coalition to boycott deals where the charity cut is less than 10 per cent of the retail price. It is sometimes possible to tell how much of the retail price will go to the charity by checking the small print on the back of the card box.

Digital donating Using the internet and mobile phones to support charity Internet fundraising has been a runaway success. In 2001, Comic Relief raised a staggering £1.75 million in online donations in just six hours. In May 2000, Oxfam raised £160,000 with a week-long auction of Pete Townshend’s guitar18 and in 2004, runners taking part in the London Marathon raised £2.4 million online before the race had even begun.19 Most of the larger charities and many smaller charities now have websites, many of which include a section where you can make a donation or pledge a monthly direct debit. This can be an extremely convenient way to give because it is so quick and effective. The internet can also help in other ways. Sponsored fundraising events are a popular way to support charity, but collecting all your donations after taking part in a sponsored event can be a nightmare. Online fundraising is good way to get around this. There are now a handful of online fundraising companies, such as www.justgiving.com and www.bmycharity.com, which provide a free service that allows you to create your own personalised sponsorship web page in a matter of minutes. Friends and family can visit the site and input their bank details and the amount they want to give, and sponsorship money is automatically deposited when you cross the finish line. GiftAid will also be added on if you tick the relevant box. Not all of these websites are run by charities; some are for-profit businesses, which take a cut from your donation. They should make this clear on the website. Other new technologies are also on the increase. A handful of charities have started to use mobile phone text messaging as a way of collecting donations. They simply publicise a special number and supporters make a donation by sending a text message. The donation is deducted directly from the supporter’s mobile phone bill or pay-as-you-go credit.

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The Good Giving Guide Is it safe? Donating via the internet can actually be safer than other methods because you don’t have to give your credit card details to a third party. When a donor enters their credit card details online, their details are immediately encrypted and stored in an unreadable form on secure servers with restricted access. Many internet giving sites are developed in conjunction with major banks and financial institutions, which ensure that they are as secure as possible. Smaller charities that cannot afford to develop their own systems normally use the services of a specialist internet payment system, such as Worldpay or the Charities Aid Foundation’s giving services, to ensure that donations are safe. It is always wise to be vigilant when donating online, and there are some simple steps that you can take to reassure yourself that your donation will arrive safely with the charity. Many sites with a donations facility use specialist security services, such as those provided by Verisign or Worldpay, or are accredited by security organisations such as Trust UK. These organisations may provide some kind of security certificate that can be viewed online. When you enter an online payment page, you should also see ‘https:’ rather than the standard ‘http:’. This means the page is secure. Text-giving is also a very secure process and is equally as safe as other purchases made using a mobile phone, such as buying ring tones, screensavers and games. A donation can only be taken when the phone user expressly authorise it by sending a text message to the charity’s appeal number. It is not possible for a third party to collect more money than was originally committed or send unsolicited messages. Since you don’t have to give a credit card number to make the donation, there is no danger of anyone being able to see or copy it down.20

Things to consider before you donate How much to give? Ultimately, the size of your gift is decided by your disposable income and the other competing demands on it. However, there are also further considerations and few people make up their minds solely based on what they can afford. The size of your donation alone does not determine the effectiveness of it; if you have chosen your cause and your charity carefully to reflect your priorities, even a small donation can be very effective.

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Donating Money There are no hard and fast rules about how much to give; the most important thing is that you are comfortable with the decision you make. You might want to consider: • Size of the organisation: large national organisations appeal to people from all over the country and tend to have several different funding streams, while smaller organisations are more reliant on public support.21 Local and regional organisations draw from a much smaller pool of potential donors, so whether and how much you choose to give have a greater impact on the overall outcome. Your gift may mean that the charity is able to finish a specific project, or it might help the organisation through a difficult time. You may vary the size of your gift to reflect these situations. • Frequency of gift: a one-off gift is likely to be for a specific project or an emergency and in these situations you might consider giving a larger amount to reflect the charity’s need. For regular gifts, you have to look at what you can afford to give each month.22 • Other charitable obligations: when committing to a new regular donation, it is also important to balance this with any existing charitable commitments. • Inflation: once you have committed to a regular gift, it is easy to put the value of the gift out of mind. However, regular payments do not take inflation into account, so over time the real worth of your gift declines.

Deciding where your gift goes When you give and specify which project or activity you want your money to fund, the charity may only spend the money as you have stipulated. Conversely, if you do not state how that money should be spent, the charity is free to use the money with its discretion to fund whichever activity most needs it.23 This distinction can be very useful. For example, if you give to an animal charity that combines animal welfare and campaigning, you can stipulate that your donation should only go to fund animal welfare if this happens to be your main concern. Although this allows donors to be flexible, restricting the use of your donation can be detrimental to your charity in the long run. If a charity received many restricted donations for specific projects, it may find itself unable to pay for other vital needs. Some charities, such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, will only accept unrestricted gifts that can be used on

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The Good Giving Guide whatever need is greatest at the time. Even if part of your donation goes on covering rent, staff wages or other operational costs instead of directly to the cause, it’s still helping the charity do its job.24 Many charities and campaigning groups, especially international aid and development organisations, will run specific appeals based around responding to a specific emergency or disaster. As a donor, if you give to an appeal asking you to help flood victims in Mozambique, the charity will only spend your money on their response to that particular emergency.

Checking that your charity or campaigning group is genuine Genuine cases of charity corruption are shocking, but they are also very rare. Look beneath the surface of headlines screaming ‘Charity Fraudster’ and you’ll probably find the majority are about people who have nothing to do with registered and legitimate charities or campaigning bodies. Most will be about conmen – people out on the streets rattling tins for fictional charities, or claiming to raise money for a real charity without the charity’s knowledge or consent – and only a few actually implicate the people running registered charitable organisations. Problems are more likely to stem from poor management or administration, which can usually be rectified, rather than from deliberate fraud. There are ways to ensure that the charity you support is being run correctly and that the person asking you to donate is genuine: • Get in touch with the organisation directly: All registered charities are accountable to their donors and supporters. You can check with the charity regulator to confirm that an organisation is a proper registered charity, and get a telephone number or website address if you want to access further information. By getting in touch with the organisation you can also find out what it has achieved in the last few years and what its future plans are. • Ask what a donation will used for: You have every right to ask how a charity will use your donation and who will benefit. This way you can reassure yourself that your money is being spent effectively, and that it’s the right organisation to support. • Ask the organisation to send a copy of its annual report: All charities have to publish their end of year accounts and outline exactly what

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Donating Money they spent their money on. The annual report will describe the organisation’s work and summarise all income, including donations, and show its official charitable registration number. Most campaigning groups and unregistered charities also have to submit annual accounts and reports to Companies House. They should be happy to send you a copy on request. • For charities, contact the Charity Commission in England and Wales to check the charity registration number or discuss any concerns, either via the Commission’s telephone helpline on 0870 333 0123, or by searching the online charity register at www.charity-commission.gov.uk. In Scotland you should contact the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator on 01382 220 446 or www.oscr.org.uk. In Northern Ireland check with the Department for Social Development on 028 90 829000 or www.dsdni.gov.uk. Spotting bogus charity collectors

Genuine fundraisers will be happy to answer questions and won’t mind you checking them out. If you are approached by a charity collector, the Charity Commission recommends that you take some simple checks to ensure that the collector is genuine. Collectors should: • Be able to produce a valid local authority or police licence: A small minority of charities currently have a Home Office exemption order that permits them to carry out street collections without a licence. For further details on exemptions please call 020 7273 4599. • Wear an ID badge: Donors should look out for any ID that looks altered, photocopied or homemade. • Have a sealed collection container with the charity’s registration number and name on it: Does it match the details on their ID badge? Collectors should also be able to tell you how to contact the charity direct. • Be able to prove that they have the charity’s permission to collect: Collectors from professional fundraising companies must, by law, declare how much of the donation they will be paid, and they should be able to produce a copy of a written agreement with the charity. Thankyou letters and receipts from charities don’t count as permission to collect. • Above all, don’t feel pressurised: Send your donation to the charity direct. This may mean going to a little more trouble, but at least you can be sure that your donation will get to where it’s intended.25

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The Good Giving Guide Charity collection sacks

Donating unwanted items to charities for their shops is a very popular way to give. Charities have strived to make it easier for supporters by dropping collection sacks at people’s front doors and returning to pick up any donations a few days later. Unfortunately, the Office of Fair Trading has reported that some unscrupulous people are taking advantage of this system by masquerading as charities and collecting donated items from members of the public before selling them on at a profit. The Association of Charity Shops estimates that charities lose out on more than £1 million of donations as a result of these bogus collectors. Sacks distributed by genuine charities should clearly show the charity’s registration number, and many also carry the Association of Charity Shops kitemark. To avoid falling victim be vigilant and, if you are suspicious, take your donated items directly to the shop.

Resources Fundraising practices The Institute of Fundraising sets codes of practice for fundraisers. These are available on the Institute’s website at: www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk.

Tax-efficient giving advice Inland Revenue www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

t: 0845 302 0203

Remember A Charity www.rememberacharity.org.uk

t: 0808 1 80 20 80

ShareGift www.sharegift.org

t: 020 7337 0501

Charities Aid Foundation www.cafonline.org.uk

t: 01732 520000

Community Foundation Network www.communityfoundations.org.uk

t: 020 7713 9326

Share giving

The best way to get into share giving is to approach the charity you want to benefit. Many will offer to arrange the transaction or will offer advice and guidance on what to do. If the charity doesn’t have a system like this in place, then you can contact Share Gift (www.sharegift.org.uk), Charities Aid Foundation (www.allaboutgiving.org/shares), the Community

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Donating Money Foundation Network (www.communityfoundations.org.uk) or the Orr Mackintosh Foundation (www.sharegift.org.uk), who can help you with the process or sell the shares for you. Legacies

Some charities are able to advise on how to go about leaving a legacy. Charity Choice also offers an online will-drafting service that allows users to pledge a legacy to any of 10,000 charities registered with the service. See www.charitychoice.co.uk/willbequest.htm. Donating a computer to charity www.computer-aid.org www.computersforcharities.co.uk www.itforcharities.co.uk www.donateapc.org.uk

Printer cartridges/mobile phone recycling for charity www.cartridges4charity.co.uk www.recyclingappeal.com www.esel.co.uk www.officegreen.co.uk

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Chapter 5 B e co m i n g a n A c t i v i s t Collective action is one of the most powerful things in the world. It has brought down dictatorships, stopped wars and changed the course of history. It was activists that fought for the abolition of slavery, campaigned for votes for women and struggled for equal rights in 1960s America. Closer to home, activism has been instrumental in the abolition of the Poll Tax, the banning of ozone-depleting CFC aerosols and the adoption of the Human Rights Act. These successes, and countless others, have been down to ordinary people. Activism proves that, by working together, individuals can make a difference. Being an activist simply means taking some action to bring about social, political or environmental change.1 Activism covers a huge range of activities and many people are already campaigners or activists without even realising it. If you’ve ever picked Fairtrade over other label coffees, signed a petition, forwarded a protest email or worn a campaign ribbon, you’ve been involved in a form of activism. Many people find that working alongside like-minded people by joining a campaign run by a charity or campaigning group is an effective way to get motivated and inspired. Scores of charities run varied, interesting and worthwhile campaigns, but you don’t need to stick to established organisations. In fact, given that registered charities are restricted in the amount and type of campaigning activity that they are allowed to get involved in, you are likely to find that more opportunities exist with other types of non-profit and less formal voluntary groups. There are also plenty of activities that you can undertake individually. It doesn’t matter how little time you have, there’s always something you can do to help fight for a cause.

Involvement in civic participation at least once in the last 12 months by activity Activity Signing a petition Contacting a public official who works for a local council

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Participation (per cent) 58 38

Becoming an Activist Activity Contacting a local councillor Attending a public meeting or rally Contacting an MP Contacting a public official who works for part of central Government Taking part in a public demonstration of protest

Participation (per cent) 24 18 13 7 4

Source: 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey2

How you can get involved in campaigning and activism Over the years the term activist has become associated with either extreme or intimidating behaviour; May Day Marchers tearing up central London, people chaining themselves to railings and going on hunger strike or putting themselves in the way of danger to prove a point. This is not an accurate representation of the way that most activists work. The 2000 May Day March in London highlights this: only a tiny minority of marchers were violent, but it was the violence that we read about in our newspapers and watched on TV. Consistent use of negative terms by politicians, journalists and corporates – such as protest, anti and eco-warriors – reinforces this sense of extremism and violence. Far from being radical mavericks, most activists campaign in a peaceful law-abiding way. In practice, activism includes a huge range of actions, many of which can be integrated into your existing lifestyle. For an activist group to be successful it must have access to a full range of different techniques. Groups often have clusters of activists who each specialise in a different area so you’ll normally be able to pick and choose how you’d like to get involved.

Negotiation Many activists begin by trying to negotiate with the power holder that they are attempting to influence, whether this be the Government, a local authority or a company. Negotiation can also be used at the end of a campaign to iron out the last few details. There are different ways of going about this:

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The Good Giving Guide Letter writing

Letter writing allows activists to state their case in a thorough and logical manner, provide evidence to support their point of view and try to persuade the MP, local councillor or company representative to enter into dialogue and ideally to change their practices. It can be done as an individual activity or as a coordinated assault where many people bombard the targeted recipient with letters. There are also groups, such as Fax Your MP, which provide guidelines about the best way to approach this. Individual personalised letters are much more effective than pro forma ones, which power holders may dismiss as engineered by the campaign group. Petitions

Petitions are one of the most effective ways to demonstrate a mass desire

Activist tactics – how you can make a difference In a few minutes: • • • • • •

Wear a campaigning group’s t-shirt, badge or ribbon. Display a poster or sticker in a house, office or car window. Fill in an email petition. Buy Fairtrade products. Boycott unethical products or services. Tell friends, family and colleagues about an issue and suggest what they can do about it.

In your lunchbreak: • • • •

Write a letter to your MEP, MP, local council or a company. Write a letter to a magazine or newspaper. Switch to green electricity. Find out more about an issue by searching on a charity or campaigning group website. • Find out about activist groups in your area.

More than half an hour: • • • • •

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Read up on how you can make a difference. Join an activist group or web community. Attend a march or demonstration. Take part in a stunt to draw attention to an issue. Set up your own local activist group.

Becoming an Activist for change. It’s a good way to target politicians, who are interested in courting potential voters, and companies, who want people to continue buying their products. Petitions also raise awareness of an issue by galvanising new supporters. Partnerships

Larger activist groups employ tactics such as sponsoring MPs, lobbying parliament and giving evidence to committees as part of an expert delegation. Where the target of the tactic is a company, groups also sometimes enter into partnerships to try to influence the company’s behaviour or advise businesses about particular issues, such as setting up a corporate social responsibility policy or introducing recycling procedures. Campaigning groups will also collaborate with one another when they have common interests. The NSPCC and RSPCA spearheaded a joint campaign to draw attention to the link between child abuse and animal abuse.

Consumer activism This is one of the fastest growing campaigning channels and has the capacity to hit companies with unethical practices right where it hurts: the balance sheet. The financial power of the consumer is huge: consumers spend £5 billion a year on cosmetics alone.3 Often we – the shopping public – underestimate the power we have on dictating what does and doesn’t end up on our shelves. Essentially consumer activism involves either ethical shopping – where consumers buy a product or service, such as Fairtrade coffee, to express support for the values of the manufacturer or supplier – or boycotting products or services to show disapproval. Being aware of the ethical implications of what we buy and making consumer choices about how we spend our money is a very subtle but effective form of activism. We can do our bit for the environment, fight for equal pay for workers in developing countries and lobby for fair trade for developing countries through making adjustments to our day-to-day living and by being aware of the products we put in our trolley. All the signs point to the fact that ethical purchasing does make a difference. Boycotts cost big brands over £2 billion a year.4 Consumption of Fairtrade food has doubled since 2000 and the British now drink 1.7

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The Good Giving Guide million cups of Fairtrade tea, coffee and cocoa every day.5 More than 140 brands now carry the Fairtrade mark, which clearly demonstrates that companies are responding to demand and recognising the kudos of having an ethical stamp on their products. Even Nestlé, a company constantly criticised by development organisations, is reportedly considering launching a more ethically responsible range of products through its Nescafé brand.6 Making small adjustments in other areas may seem insignificant, but are vital first steps for anyone wanting to change the world. Switching to a green energy supplier such as Ecotricity or Eco Energy, buying locally instead of at big-name supermarkets, choosing ethical beauty or fashion brands, or choosing an ethical pension or bank all help ethical products to cross into the mainstream. If enough people engage with these products, they will eventually put sufficient pressure on major brands to adopt more eco-friendly approaches to business, or risk customers turning away for good. Boycotts of certain brands or companies have also proved effective and have resulted in some of the most high-profile campaigns against companies in recent history. The Stop Esso campaign, Baby Milk Action against Nestlé and the phenomenal success of the boycotts against fur and animal-tested cosmetics in the 1980s are testament to the power of the credit card. While this tactic is very popular, it has to be used carefully. Some commentators have criticised the mass boycott of clothing manufacturers that use child labour in developing countries. In the past some boycotts have led to companies simply pulling their business out of a region without making any provisions for ex-workers. This often left the exchild labourers destitute and many were forced to turn to other alternatives, such as prostitution, just to survive. However, this problem has now been recognised and many activist organisations work to tackle the problem from two directions to try to prevent such catastrophes. Activist group No Sweat campaigns for workers’ rights but also pressures companies to find a real solution that helps workers rather than just closing down factories at a moment’s notice. It is also important for consumer activists to keep piling on the pressure. Consumer activism considerably reduced animal-tested cosmetics and the use of animal fur in fashion in the early 1990s. But a decade later some animal testing has returned and fur has made a re-appearance on the catwalk.

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Becoming an Activist Online activism The internet has allowed activism to enter the mainstream. Most charities and campaigning groups now have a website, and many use this opportunity to publish information about their cause. They also use the internet to inspire, empower and involve people and to create new ways for them to take action. People can sit at their desks and forward an online petition, switch to a green energy supplier or get advice on more environmentally-friendly products. Friends of the Earth has launched a web page that advises people about how to access safety information about pesticide use near their home.7 Many well-known campaigning groups such as Stop Esso and Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign are predominantly web based. Subscription email newsletters and news groups, which are like online notice boards where users can post requests, notices and responses, help activists to keep up to date with developing issues. Internet activism, or e-activism, includes a whole diverse range of different activities. At a basic level the majority of activists, even those who are only familiar with the most fundamental computer functions, are able to take part in simple actions such as online petitions and email chain letters. At the other end of the scale, computer experts can use complex computer programming and specialist skills to do much more. Campaigning websites

Campaigning websites can be very effective. One of the first groups to really embrace this idea was McSpotlight, the group campaigning around the so-called McLibel trial. McDonald’s sued two little-known activists for libel, claiming that a leaflet printed by the activists had defamed them. The activists counter-sued, claiming that McDonald’s had libelled them in a statement released to rebuke the original leaflet. The trial eventually became one of the longest running in history. The McSpotlight website was started because initially campaigners could not get any media coverage, largely because many national newspapers and TV stations had been threatened with legal action by McDonald’s.8 Once the site was officially launched in London, it was covered in numerous documentary programmes and upwards of 15 newspapers and magazines worldwide, including the front-page slot in America’s then largest selling paper, USA Today. When the final McLibel verdict was announced, it was published on the website within ten minutes of being delivered by the judge. The news was read by 2.2 million people.9

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The Good Giving Guide Ultimately, the trial, which McDonald’s had pursued to counteract a leaflet that was distributed to a few thousand people in London, resulted in the information being common currency in most democratic countries around the globe. Campaigning websites are still a great communication tool for activist groups and a source of information for individual activists. If you are setting up your own group, learning a few basic web publishing skills or commandeering the services of a web-savvy friend to help set up a website might be a real benefit. Email bombing

Email bombing is where a large number of activists get together and launch a coordinated and systematic attack. The group bombards the target with a sufficient number of emails to completely crash their email service. This tactic can be particularly effective when the target is a corporate nerve centre or Government office.10 Virtual sit-ins

This involves generating enough visits to a target website that the site crashes or freezes, preventing the website owner from getting their message across and, in the case of online retailers, preventing them from making money. However, some more expert groups also achieve the same result by cracking into a website illegally. The World Trade Organisation is among the organisations that have been targeted.11 Hacktivism

The real computer experts have gone a step further by breaking through computer security systems for political purposes.12 This type of activity has become know as hacktivism – a combination of hacker and activism. One of the first hacktivist groups was the Electronic Disturbance Theater, which hacked into the websites of the Mexican Government and president during the peasant rebellion in southern Mexico in the 1990s, and replaced the homepages with a picture of the historic revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata.13 Clearly many of these activities can only be carried out by people with an in-depth knowledge of how computer systems work. However, as more and more computer-literate activists come on to the scene, the use of these sorts of tactics is likely to grow.

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Becoming an Activist Public action If negotiation fails, activists may revert to public action to raise awareness of the issue and pressure the targeted individual or group. Wearing the cause on your sleeve

At its very simplest level, public action can involve actions such as wearing a campaigning group’s lapel badge or ribbon or displaying a window sticker. These small steps can provide a very public statement about what the activist believes. By wearing the red AIDS ribbon, the green NSPCC badge, a Stop the War sticker or a Drop the Debt t-shirt, the activist is showing solidarity with other supporters. The activist is also publicising the cause to those who may be unaware of it and applying pressure to those in power. Using the media

Lobbying the media with open letters and press releases is also an effective use of public action, often forcing the subject of your campaign to make some kind of response. The media can be a valuable tool by which to spread your message and galvanise support. Oxfam’s successful campaign to get Nestlé to drop its demands for £3.7 million in debt repayment interest from the Ethiopian Government in 2002 was largely conducted through a very interested media. A PR campaign can include stunts, such as climbing a local monument to hang a banner, or other actions that might interest the media, such a conducting an opinion poll on a particular issue. Disability charity Scope recently got a lot of media coverage after releasing results from an opinion poll showing that 36 per cent of people couldn’t name a famous disabled person.14 Marches and demonstrations

Marches and demonstration are clearly very effective, providing a lot of people are involved. For this reason, campaigning groups with similar interests often combine to organise a march. For example, the various anti-road building demonstrations that have taken place have included local residents groups, environmental campaigners and other affected parties such as ramblers and bird watchers. Marches and demonstrations often have a carnival-like feel, which is a deliberate action by organisers to ensure that the protest doesn’t look threatening and to make sure that it is fun for those taking part. If you

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The Good Giving Guide are thinking of organising a demonstration or march, remember to check out the idea with police and the local council first, because largescale gatherings are subject to legal restrictions to increase safety and minimise inconvenience.15

‘I went on an anti-vivisection march and signed up for campaigns because I felt strongly for the cause – shame I wore a suede belt!’ female, 2816

Demonstrations that went down in history 1966 – An anti-Vietnam demonstration in London turns violent. Anti-Vietnam demonstrations across the world were instrumental in turning public opinion against the war and forcing the US to reconsider its intervention in South-East Asia. 1983 – More than 200,000 march in the CND’s anti-nuclear weapons demonstration. 1990 – The Poll Tax protests, where more than 300,000 people demonstrated against the Government’s plans for a new ‘poll tax’ rating system, helped bring down the Thatcher Government. 2000 – The anti-capitalist May Day March in London turns violent when thousands of protestors fight running battles with police and smash up a branch of McDonald’s. 2002 – More than 500,000 people congregate in London for the Countryside Alliance’s Liberty & Livelihood demonstration protesting against the Government’s ‘anti-rural’ plans such as a proposed ban on blood sports. 2003 – An estimated 1.5 million anti-war protesters take part in the UK’s largest-ever political demonstration, against the war in Iraq.

Direct action Direct action is one step on from public action. Rather than taking action to draw attention to the problem, the action is designed to actually stop or interfere with the problem that the activist is confronting. Examples include obstructing the path of bulldozers that are involved in an unwanted road-building project17 or ripping up genetically modified crops. In these cases keeping the public onside is vital.18

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Becoming an Activist Direct action is often a last resort when negotiation or public action have failed. Effectively, it involves the activist taking matters into their own hands, and for this reason direct action tactics can sometimes be illegal. Activists have to plan their actions very carefully and make sure that they are fully aware of the potential risks before taking part. Non-violent direct action

Most types of direct action explicitly seek to be non-violent. Inspired by the protests and philosophies of iconic civil rights leaders such as Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr, non-violent action is one of the moral lynchpins of many activist movements. Peaceful collective action separates reasoned protest from social anarchy. By avoiding violence, activists are able to take the moral high ground and avoid accusations of hijacking an issue as an excuse to cause trouble. It also attracts supporters. The general public tends to be more sympathetic to non-violent protests, especially since the official reaction of breaking up mass protests can end in some sort of violence, be it water cannons, tear gas or truncheons.19 The definition of non-violence varies,20 but most people understand non-violence to mean avoiding the initiation or threat of violence and refusing to respond to provocation violently.21 Members of the protest group the Wombles wear padded gear during demonstrations to allow them to take police blows. This avoids the risk of activists having to take any action in self-defence that might be construed as violent. The Wombles group promotes anarchist ideas, libertarian solidarity, autonomous self-organisation and humour. It is a membership organisation and does not have leaders. Rather, it holds open meetings where anyone can go along to discuss ideas, possible tactics and decision-making. It works to promote a world without classes and ethnic, sexual or gender divisions. See www.wombles.org.uk.

‘Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.’ Martin Luther King Jr, Letter From a Birmingham Jail, 1963

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The Good Giving Guide Civil disobedience Many acts of direct action actually constitute civil disobedience, because they are illegal. The concept of civil disobedience was first pioneered back in 1849 by American author Henry David Thoreau, who argued that citizens have a duty to oppose unjust laws.22 Essentially, civil disobedience is a non-violent but illegal action committed in public to try to bring about a change in the law or Government policy.23 Civil disobedience can be ‘positive’ (doing something forbidden by the law), or ‘negative’ (refusing to do something required by law). It can also be direct, where activists break the very law that they are hoping to change, or indirect, where a different law is broken. For example, withholding tax payments in protest of public spending on nuclear weapons would be indirect civil disobedience. Although civil disobedience sounds extreme and politicians are unable to promote or endorse any kind of law breaking, it is recognised as a legitimate form of expression by many eminent political scientists. In fact, although not explicitly referring to civil disobedience, Fiona Mactaggart, the Government minister responsible for charities, recently urged citizens to do ‘bad’ things for the good of society. Speaking at a conference, she said, ‘We don’t want the model of the well-trained citizen, but people who are prepared to do uncomfortable and bad things to engage with their communities.’24 Sabotage

Civil disobedience can include actions such as sabotage, where activists cause some kind of damage to create disruption. In the 1980s, the antinuclear movement used such tactics to show its opposition to the introduction of cruise missiles into the UK. During the height of the anti-GM crop movement, protestors donned protective suits, entered known testing sites and ripped up crops. They wrapped up crops in biohazard tape and followed strict procedures to prevent contamination after leaving the site. This form of sabotage has now become known as ‘ecotage’.25 Trespass and obstruction

‘Sit-downs’ or obstructions are another popular technique. They are usually illegal because they involve trespass, or obstruction of a public highway.26 In the past, activist groups have used tactics such as breaking into and occupying army bases to campaign against military action or

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Becoming an Activist nuclear arms, blocking roads to prevent the movement of military convoys or road-building machinery. In 1994, when plans to bring in new laws to strengthen disabled people’s rights were dropped, disabled protestors gathered outside the House of Commons, some chaining themselves to buses. Non-payment of taxes

Non-payment of taxes or fines has long been a popular direct action tactic. One of the most dramatic success stories in modern history is the campaign against the Poll Tax in the early 1990s. Whole swathes of the population simply refused to pay the tax or the fines that followed nonpayment. By 1991, non-payment had hit 34 per cent.27 Local authorities ended up spending more on court actions than the original bills were worth, and in the end the Government abandoned the tax in a spectacular U-turn. Peace tax campaign group Conscience campaigns for the legal right for those with a conscientious objection to war to have the military part of their taxes spent on peace-building initiatives. Conscience has produced a Peace Tax Return, which mimics the official Inland Revenue tax return and can be used by those wishing to withhold tax to explain their actions to the Government.

Legal activism Legal activism is a growing tactic. Activists are increasingly referring to domestic, European and international law to make a point during campaigns. This often means pointing out inconsistencies between existing Government or corporate practice and European or international standards. However, it is important for activists to read up on the subject first and perhaps get legal advice before asserting that their target is breaking or bending a law or policy. More established and experienced activist groups also take things a step further by taking legal action against a Government department or company. On the whole, legal action is long, drawn out, tiring and, above all, very expensive. For this reason, only the larger and more established groups tend to take legal action, and it is not something that the individual activist is likely to encounter. For those activists that are involved in civil disobedience, legal action is somewhat of an occupational hazard. Activists embarking on potentially illegal activity should make sure that they are aware of the law and

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The Good Giving Guide the possible implications before going ahead. Many activist groups produce briefings for activists. Civil rights group Liberty has published some guidance on your rights should you get arrested and be taken into police custody.

What type is for you? Very few activists will want to use every one of the tactics listed above, and for most the task is to decide which ones best fit their own beliefs and lifestyle. This is a very personal decision, but it may help to ask yourself the following questions: • How much time do you have? • Would you prefer to negotiate and apply pressure within the confines of the existing situation or attack it from the outside? • Do you like to work socially as part of a group or do you prefer to work alone? • Would you ever be prepared to break the law to make a point? • Are you the sort of person to stand up and be counted or do you prefer to stay anonymous? What type of activist are you?

Answer our quick questionnaire to find out. 1 What is the main way that you choose to get active? a I wear an AIDS or Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon but, other than that, not much. I keep meaning to find the time … b I fill in an email petition or write a letter and I sometimes buy The Big Issue c I buy Fairtrade/organic and/or choose carefully where I buy my clothes and toiletries d I take part in a local action group or go on marches/demos 2 When do you get active? a Very rarely. I try to fit something in if time allows b In my lunch break/when I get a few minutes/in response to someone asking me to do something c While on a shopping spree d I plan it into my routine and usually do something every week

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Becoming an Activist 3 Have you ever been on a march or demo? a Never b Once or twice c I’ve thought about it, but aren’t they a bit hardcore? d Several – I’m practically a veteran! 4 How do you travel? a Car b I do think about using public transport, but don’t often get around to it c Whatever is easiest d Public transport or bike where ever possible 5 You’ve run out of coffee/tea/chocolate, what do you buy? a Nescafé/PG Tips/a Kit-Kat b Whatever is there – I should really opt for Fairtrade c I’ll definitely buy Fairtrade if the shop’s got it d Fairtrade or nothing 6 What type of electricity do you use? a The standard local supplier b I’m thinking about switching over to green, but there are so many to choose from now I’m not sure which one is best c I’ve switched to a green supplier d I’m with a green supplier, but I’m thinking about getting solar panels installed If you answered mainly a – Virgin activist Your heart is in the right place, but you haven’t quite managed to turn your intentions into action. Try easing yourself in gently by visiting some campaigning websites to find out more and looking into ethical shopping. b – Armchair activist You’ve made a good start by fitting some activities into your everyday life. Think about trying ethical shopping – consumer demand for Fairtrade products and ethical alternatives has meant that there are shelves full of products that can replace mainstream brands.

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The Good Giving Guide c – Consumer activist You are well aware of the power of the pound and use your credit card to make your views felt. Think about branching out into other types of activism. Try letter writing or attending a local activist group to see how it suits your lifestyle. d – May Day Marcher You’re not afraid to stand up and be counted and if an issue is really important to you, you are prepared to go out and make your voice heard. Try starting up a campaign of your own. Active campaigners can seem a bit daunting to first-timers, but you’ll usually find organisations and local people who are interested in getting a campaign off the ground, particularly if it has some impact on your local community.

Find the best opportunity for you Many activists like to join a well-known group that can provide support, suggestions for action and advice. However, many people who get involved in campaigning see themselves primarily as activists and not supporters of a particular group. This is partly because activism is a very flexible activity. It is also because many activist groups are transient: they come in to being to address a particular concern and close down when their business is done. Many groups are little more than loose associations of activists. The activists themselves move from group to group or form new alliances as they achieve their goals and as their interests change. As a potential activist, this situation means that you can cast your net very wide when looking for activist opportunities.

Joining a national campaign Large groups tend to have specialised research wings and are experts in their chosen field. Many large groups have online communities for activists to join and can provide campaigning resources and ideas via their websites, newsletters and online forums. National campaigns can be particularly useful for those who don’t have a lot of time to spare and prefer to take action individually rather than committing to being part of a group.

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Becoming an Activist

Major campaigns Make Trade Fair Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign aims to change world trade rules so that trade can make a real difference in the fight against global poverty. The campaign’s main goals include ending the IMF-World Bank terms that force poor countries to open their markets regardless of the impact on poor people. It also aims to improve market access for poor countries and end the cycle of subsidised agricultural over-production and export dumping by rich countries. The campaign website contains research reports, campaign merchandise and real-life case studies alongside a whole toolkit of resources to help campaigners. www.maketradefair.com StopEsso StopEsso was launched on 8 May 2001 after the US Government rejected the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty on global warming. The campaign was organised by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and People & Planet, who believe that no other company has done more than Esso to sabotage Kyoto, misinform US policymakers and confuse the US public. The campaign is supported by countless other charities, politicians, companies and celebrities. The campaign website gives background information, scientific updates and suggestions for action. www.stopesso.com Jubilee Debt Campaign The Jubilee Debt Campaign is a coalition of national, regional and local organisations committed to the cancellation of the un-payable debt of the poorest countries through fair and transparent means. It is a successor to Jubilee 2000 UK. The campaign website provides resources, information about local groups and ideas for activists. www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk

Becoming part of an existing network or regional activism group Getting together with other like-minded people in the community can be incredibly empowering and helps forge the sense of being part of something that has the capacity to make a real difference at both a local and national level.

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The Good Giving Guide There are hundreds of networks that join together groups of people who want to do something about a local issue. Networks embody the essence of grassroots activism and allow people to feel part of a general movement for change. Some networks have grown organically from alliances of locally-based campaigning groups and work in a specific geographical region, such as the Cambridgeshire Community Network, which links together local groups working on different issues. These groups are more likely to tackle local issues. Other networks exist as part of a national movement. Some networks, such as the Women’s Environmental Network, are made up of largely autonomous local groups that set their own agenda within the broader ethos of the national movement. Activist networks

Women’s Environmental Network – www.wen.org.uk No Sweat – www.nosweat.org.uk Campaign Against Arms Trade – www.caat.org.uk Burma Campaign – www.burmacampaign.org.uk Other national groups, such as Greenpeace, have local branches that work closely to the agenda set by the national organisation and take action on behalf of the national group. The national group usually provides campaign materials and advice.

Starting your own group If you’re concerned about something that’s happening in your neighbourhood, or feel strongly about a cause that you feel isn’t being given due attention by an existing organisation, you could think about starting your own group. These groups usually start in response to an area of need in a certain area, for example people getting concerned about rising crime or working for disadvantaged children in the community. There are also thousands of support groups for people with specific health or social issues. Many of these are set up by people who have been personally affected by something such as unemployment, eating disorders or a particular disease or disability and who understand from personal experience the difficulties people in these situations face. Other groups could be started by people going through divorce or those battling alcohol addiction. If organised properly, these groups have the potential to provide much-needed support, explore different ways of helping those in need, share practical information and campaign for better local services.

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Becoming an Activist In order to start a group you have to make sure that your issue is something substantial enough to rally support from others. Finding likeminded people to rally to your banner is obviously the first step. People are the most important resource in any campaign, and a well-structured, coherent and organised campaigning group is an influential local voice. You need to find people who are willing to get involved and play a role in the campaign, with clearly defined responsibilities. You’ll also have to be prepared to meet regularly, decided on shared aims and objectives and source funding. Becoming a branch of an existing organisation versus starting your own group

Whether you decide to go for an existing group or to start up your own depends partly on what other groups exist in your area and also your own personality. Each option has its own merits. National bodies will provide you with resources and practical services such as training, help from professionals and sometimes funding. They are a good source of information about your chosen issue and will provide advice and contacts to allow you to get your message out. Being part of a national organisation can also lend vital credibility to your campaign. Established local and regional groups have the advantage of existing members, resources and facilities as well as less tangible benefits such as an established group dynamic and relationships with other local groups and power holders. Fundraising will also come into it. You may be expected to raise funds locally for national campaigns that your mother charity or campaigning group is running. However, if you start your own group, you set the agenda and don’t have to fit into another organisation’s framework. Setting up your own group can be a valuable experience and can clarify your thinking on a particular issue. It also means that you only have to fundraise as and when you need to cover the costs of your own projects.

Activism resources Books and magazines • The Better World Handbook: From Good Intentions to Everyday Actions by Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler, Brett Johnson and Brian Klocke is a guide for the average person wanting to make a positive difference in the world. Sample sections available online at www.betterworldhandbook.com.

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The Good Giving Guide • 52 Weeks to Change Your World by Allan Shepherd and Caroline Oakley is a pocket-sized book offering 52 positive and practical actions to improve readers’ day-to-day lives and reduce their environmental impact. The book is published by The Centre for Alternative Technology and is available from its website at www.cat.org.uk or from book stores. • Go M-A-D: Go Make a Difference – 365 Daily Ways to Save the Planet is published by the Ecologist magazine and provides an inspiring list of ways that individuals can make a difference. A follow-up book, Go M.A.D.! (Go Make a Difference 2): Over 500 Daily Ways to Save the Planet!, edited by Jo Bourne and Emma Jones, has also been published. • The Ethical Company Organisation is a project set up to report on companies’ impact on the environment, animals and people. Research findings on more than 700 consumer brands are published in an annual book called The Good Shopping Guide. The project is a useful source for activists considering boycotting as a protest method. www.thegoodshoppingguide.co.uk

• The Campus Organising Guide for Peace and Justice Groups by Rich Cowan is aimed at university students but has a much wider application. The guide contains advice on setting up and running a campaign as well as suggestions for campaigning techniques. Hard copies are available and it is also available online at: www.ibiblio.org/netchange/cco/. • Ethical Matters is a magazine for the socially aware reader. The magazine includes a section dedicated to activism as well as a regular column on campaigns and actions. www.ethicalmatters.co.uk • The Ethical Consumer is an alternative consumer magazine, published six times a year. Each issue contains practical guides to a range of products, from banks and building societies to yoghurt. It covers a range of issues, from the social and environmental impacts of a product to the ethical records of the companies that make them. www.ethi calconsumer.org • Ethical Shopping: Where to Shop, What to Buy and How to Make a Difference by William Young and Richard Welford is a useful handbook for consumer activists. It gives advice about how to buy ethically and influence company purchasing policy, where to get further information and how to campaign on these issues. It also includes a listing of ethical products and services. www.fusionpress.co.uk • Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth by Donnachadh McCarthy provides 500 simple ways to become more environmentally friendly. About 70 per cent of the tips cost nothing or save you money and the

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Becoming an Activist author equates the cost of the remaining suggestions to the price everyday items such as a packet of crisps, a bottle of wine or a washing machine. www.fusionpress.co.uk

Web resources • Get Ethical, which was set up by Red Pepper and The Big Issue magazines, is an online source for ethical products. Get Ethical is a shopping site but it also provides links and information on environmental and social justice issues and much more. Get Ethical screens all the retailers hosted on its site and it actively supports social business and social enterprises in the UK. www.getethical.com • Fax Your MP allows users to identify their MP and fill in an internet form that makes up the body of the fax letter. The site then faxes the letter on behalf of the user. The site has a reminder function that contacts the user two weeks after the fax was sent to see if a reply has arrived. The site also provides useful tips and advice for campaigners. Many campaigners would prefer to use email, but only two-thirds of all MPs allow constituents to contact them via email and many of those do not respond to emails. Where an MP is known to respond to email, users are given the option to email instead of fax. www.faxyourmp.com • Road Alert! is a news and information source for road protestors. It covers campaigns all around the UK and gives updates. See www.road alert.org.uk. The group has also produced a comprehensive handbook. www.eco-action.org/rr/

• Indymedia UK is a network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations. It offers grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of social and political issues. The site contains a wealth of information about activism on a range of topics, from animal liberation to Zapatista. www.indymedia.org.uk • Eco-action provides information about ecological direct action and links to many organisations working in the field. See www.eco-action.org. • The Activist Network provides a wide range of information on a huge variety of topics linked to campaigning. www.activistnetwork.org.uk • The Free Range Network is a ‘disorganisation’ – a group of people who work together because they have common interests. The network aims to pool resources, but without the additional ‘organisational baggage’ of a conventional group structure. www.fraw.org.uk/index.shtml • Edge Hill College of Higher Education Social Movements Group studies social movements and activist activities. The group’s website has a

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The Good Giving Guide useful links page that gives contact details for activist groups. www.edgehill.ac.uk/research/smg/

• Internet search engine Yahoo! provides a listing of useful websites for activists. http://uk.dir.yahoo.com/Government/Politics/Activism_Resources/ • Undercurrents News Network is a non-profit alternative outlet for documentary makers, animators and video activists. It aims to help those supporting positive social change, human rights, animal welfare and environmental justice to reach a wider audience. The site sells the The Video Activist Handbook and The Activists Media Toolkit (www.under currents.org) as well as providing a guide to video activism. www.undercu rrents.org/howto.htm

Setting up a campaigning or activist group • iCan is a BBC website designed to help people in the UK start doing something about issues that they care about in their area. www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ican

• Just Do Something has a useful section on getting active, which gives details on how to set up a campaign, project or charity. www.just dosomething.net/xsp/xsc.asp?uri=/home/start/campaign

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Chapter 6 Vo l u n t e e r i n g Volunteers are the lifeblood of the majority of not-for-profit groups. There are about 22 million unpaid volunteers in the UK, providing an estimated £14 billion worth of services.1 Volunteers provide cohesion to local communities, cement over the cracks in social and welfare programmes and provide valuable public services. Without them many charities and campaigning bodies would not survive. Volunteering is the most direct way that you can have an impact in your local community. We live in a society where any sense of community, especially in cities, is fast becoming obsolete. A study by Community Services Volunteers (CSV) showed that the large majority of people only felt a personal duty towards their family and friends. Only 17 per cent felt a duty towards their country and 9 per cent their local town or area.2 Volunteers can help change this from their own front doorstep. By donating some of your time you can discover whether you enjoy directly engaging with the cause you want to support. Your actions will also encourage others to follow suit and work for a renewed sense of community. Because volunteering is so central to charities and campaign groups, you can contribute to almost any chosen cause by donating your time. A survey by the Home Office shows that sport and exercise is the most popular area for people to get involved in.

Participation in formal volunteering in England and Wales at least once in the last 12 months by field of interest Field of interest Participation (per cent) Sports/exercise 34 Children’s education/schools 30 Hobbies/recreation/arts/social clubs 25 Religion 23 Youth/children’s activities (outside school) 18 Health/disability/social welfare 16 Local community or neighbourhood groups 15

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The Good Giving Guide Field of interest Environment/animals Education for adults The elderly Safety/first aid Trade union activity Citizens’ groups Justice/human rights Politics

Participation (per cent) 12 11 11 6 5 5 4 4 Source: 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey.3

Because of the huge range of options, volunteers can get involved in a wide variety of different activities or tasks, from running an event to helping with the photocopying.

Participation in formal volunteering in England and Wales at least once in the last 12 months by activity Activity Participation (per cent) Raising or handling money 56 Organising or helping to run an activity or event 54 Giving other practical help 35 Leading a group/being a member of a committee 34 Giving advice/information/counselling 29 Providing transport/driving 26 Visiting/befriending people 22 Secretarial/admin or clerical work 18 Representing 16 Campaigning 12 Any other help 7 Source: 2001 Home Office Citizenship Survey.4

Volunteering – the options One-off community volunteering A rise in one-off volunteering opportunities has meant that people have the chance to take a ‘try before you buy’ approach to volunteering. The popularity of this approach is demonstrated by the runaway success of CSV’s ‘Make A Difference Day’, which asks people to give up one day to do something that will make a difference whether it’s in the local

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Volunteering community or on a national scale. In 2003, upwards of 88,000 people took part, more than 25,000 of whom where newcomers to volunteering.5 Activities ranged from picking up litter to painting schools or homeless shelters to running training workshops. Many of the large charities and volunteering agencies will provide opportunities for people to get involved with an event or campaign. This means that you can take part as and when it suits you, without having to feel like you’re letting anyone down or reneging on a promise. This kind of volunteering can also mean taking on a specific project for a local group or charity – such as agreeing to build a website, write a newsletter or run a weekend activity – something that will be of longterm benefit to the group, but that doesn’t entail you having to find the time on a regular basis.

Regular volunteering in your community Although this requires a bit more commitment, becoming a regular volunteer can take up as much or as little of your time as you want it to. As long as you manage the expectations of the group or charity and are honest about how much time you’re happy to commit, then an arrangement can usually be reached. It’s good to give a regular volunteer placement serious consideration before you agree to get involved, especially if someone is relying on you to help get a job done and it would cause difficulties if you decided to walk away. There are three main ways to approach community volunteering. You can use it as a way to give support to a particular charity or campaigning group, such as contacting a local branch of Help The Aged or Oxfam and asking what they need. You can also support a particular cause: if you want to use some of your time helping homeless people you could find a local shelter or street project that needs volunteers. Or you can decide what kind of activity you’d like to take part in, such as working outdoors or sport and find a volunteer position that involves this. Often volunteering opportunities depend on the needs of your local community or the charity or campaigning group you choose to volunteer for. Charities and campaigning groups are often desperate for help with administration, so volunteering at a local office or branch is one way to fill a gap and provide an extra pair of hands that the organisation would otherwise have to do without.

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Red Cross emergency response volunteers Emergency response volunteers allow the British Red Cross to meet the needs of people involved in emergency situations, be it a car crash, a flood or an accident. The value of these specially trained Red Cross volunteers became apparent in the wake of the 2004 terrorist bombings in Madrid. Thousands of Spanish Red Cross emergency response volunteers helped the emergency services cope with the carnage. They provided emotional support for survivors and relatives, tended to the wounded and answered calls to the charity’s helpline from desperate families trying to track down their loved ones. Emergency response volunteers must first undergo training in a basic Red Cross skill, for example befriending or first aid, and will then learn how to apply this skill in an emergency or a traumatic situation. Because the charity can never predict when an emergency will occur, volunteers are on call to respond when and if they are needed. But the amount of time these volunteers need to commit on a regular basis is flexible and can meet the lifestyle of the individual volunteer.

Mentoring

Broadly speaking, mentoring is a one-to-one relationship in which an individual (the mentor) voluntarily supports, assists and guides another person (the mentee) to help them overcome problems or achieve a set of personal goals.6 Mentoring strips volunteering back to basics: providing a voluntary service that will help people get back on their feet. It allows people in difficulty to get one-to-one attention and can act as a complement to more formal social care or services the mentee might be receiving. Mentoring in a classroom can help improve a child’s reading age by a year in a term or help prevent a person at risk of offending turn to a life of crime. People respond to personal attention, and although it’s not always easy, the intrinsic worth of a good mentoring relationship is untold. When most people think of mentoring they immediately envisage a relationship between a younger person and an older person who doles out advice and support. But mentoring can take many different forms and can involve a relationship between two adults, two young people or an elderly person and a teenager.

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Volunteering Because it’s a personal relationship, it’s often something that is developed over time, so it’s difficult to define how long people become mentors for. There’s also no set way that this relationship unfolds; whatever group you work through will usually provide a range of activities designed to help the whole bonding process, which will vary according to the experiences, personality and background of both mentor and mentee. The personal benefits of becoming a mentor include exposure to different environments and learning new skills – for example, counselling, social work and motivational skills – that can be transferred to other areas of your life. The personal experience should not be underplayed: mentoring can revitalise your interest in the local community and open up your mind to different backgrounds and experiences. The value obtained through making a positive impact on someone’s life can be immense.

How to become a mentor Formal mentoring programmes are often quite structured. Mentors and mentees are selected through a careful matching process that usually includes interviews and assessments. Mentoring organisations will usually provide free training and, if you choose to work in the youth justice field, you will probably also receive formal and accredited training from the Youth Justice Board that you can then put towards social work qualifications.7

Mentoring Organisations Big Brothers Big Sisters – www.bbbsi.org Mentors Forum – www.aat.co.uk/mentoring National Mentoring Network – www.nmn.org.uk

School governors

School governors are the largest volunteer force in the UK. There are more than 350,000 school governors in England: approximately 1 per cent of the adult population.8 But many positions are vacant. Becoming a school governor is a good move for anyone who wants to contribute to children’s education, as governors work with head teachers and school staff to ensure high standards of education are met. You don’t need any

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The Good Giving Guide special qualifications but must be over 18. The School Governor’s One-stop Shop, which can be found at www.sgoss.org.uk, is a good place to start. Time banks

These are a relatively new concept, but are really growing in popularity. Essentially, the members of the time bank volunteer to help out other members of the community by completing specific tasks, for example mowing the lawn, or helping with the shopping. For every hour spent volunteering, the member can claim an hour of time back from another volunteer. www.timebanks.co.uk Employee volunteering

Some firms encourage their employees to get involved in volunteering. Either they have an agreement with a specific volunteering agency that helps employees find opportunities or they have a partnership with a specific charity. Depending on the scheme, employees might make a regular weekly commitment, or get involved in a one-off project such as redecorating a youth club. Volunteering can be done out of work hours, but some firms also allow employees to complete some activities during the work day. www.employeevolunteering.org.uk Online volunteers

This is an increasingly popular form of volunteering for those with limited time and resources. Online volunteers can help organisations manage and edit their websites, prepare funding proposals or press releases or do online research or manage community forums. There are also some more unusual opportunities, such as acting as a warden on a chat-room or internet forum for young people. There is an official Online Volunteering service managed by the United Nations Volunteers programme that connects volunteers to UN organisations around the world who help translate documents, gather data and offer professional expertise. More information can be found at www.onlinevolunteering.org .

Full-time and residential placements These types of placements will only appeal to people who want to dedicate a longer period of time to volunteering. Full-time placements are becoming increasingly popular, especially for those taking a gap year

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Community volunteering: things to consider • How much time can you give? • What skills and experience do you have to offer? • What type of project do you want to do and what do you want to get out of it? • Will you be given guidelines on how to carry out your role? • Will you receive training to help you carry out your volunteering? • Will you be reimbursed for any expenses you incur as part of your role? • Has the organisation got relevant insurance cover? • Are you working with children or vulnerable adults? If so, will you require a police record check? Will this affect the date that you are able to start volunteering?

between school and university or taking a career break. It’s also becoming increasingly popular for people in their 50s and 60s to get involved with long-term volunteering schemes. Older age groups are already very committed to community volunteering – research shows that 45 per cent of people aged 65–74, and 35 per cent of those over 75, give time regularly across a whole spectrum of activities9 – but more interest within this age group is now being taken in overseas placements. Full-time volunteering in the UK

To most people, full-time volunteering conjures up images of exotic overseas projects that offer the opportunity to combine travelling with helping a good cause. However, there are actually many opportunities here in the UK. There are thousands who need help across the nation, and organisations struggle to fill full-time volunteering placements. Volunteering here in the UK will help you improve your knowledge of social care and welfare services as well as providing much-needed support for people who have fallen through the gaps of our society. If you want to do conservation work, the most popular form of volunteering overseas, there are many projects here that will help regenerate green spaces and protect the countryside across the country. Many volunteer bureaus run residential volunteer placements and will pay all your expenses as well as providing a small allowance, food and

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Some ideas BTCV – The environmental charity’s Natural Break programme provides volunteers with full-time working holidays where volunteers spend a week in the British countryside learning new conservation skills. www.btcv.org.uk CSV – Provides up to 1,000 projects helping to care for elderly and disabled people across the UK; much-needed and valuable work. www.csv.org.uk Independent Living Alternatives – helps physically disabled people lead more active lives. www.i-l-a.fsnet.co.uk/i-l-a.fsnet.co.uk

accommodation. Volunteers living away from home can also receive housing benefit, council tax benefit and income for housing costs for up to 13 weeks.

Full-time volunteering overseas Whether it’s counting turtles in Costa Rica, teaching English in India or repairing forest tracks in Asia, volunteering overseas lets you combine travel with doing your bit. There are about 100 charities and agencies in Britain that place volunteers abroad.10 The sheer breadth of the placements on offer is staggering, and can be quite confusing for someone who’s not 100 per cent sure what they want to do. Terms and conditions will vary from project to project: sometimes you’ll get paid or get your expenses covered, but other projects will expect you to stump up a considerable amount to take part. This often depends on how expensive the project is to run and how popular it is. Someone working on a marine conservation project in Belize may have to pay thousands for the privilege whereas someone teaching English in Bangladesh may not. If you see overseas volunteering as a career break there are obvious benefits of going with a charity like Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), which although requiring a lot more time commitment at least ensures that you’ll be reaching those most in need. Volunteer agencies

There are quite a few volunteering agencies, or broker organisations, that provide people with volunteering opportunities abroad. Some of these, like

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Lucy Hughes did a six-month full-time volunteer placement in South London caring for Peter, a physically disabled man I was on my gap year working as a temp in an office in Cambridge. I was feeling really dissatisfied; all my friends were off at university and I didn’t see any point to what I was doing. I saw an ad from Lambeth Support and Housing Assistance for Disabled People in the back of a Big Issue magazine and it really struck a chord. They were looking for volunteers in South London to help provide care to disabled people living in their housing schemes. I’d never done anything like this before, but it really appealed. I thought it was a way I could make something positive out of my gap year and also get to live in a different place and meet new people. I also felt good about putting my time to use here in the UK. Lambeth SHAD provided accommodation and £50 a week to cover living expenses. I basically acted as Peter’s arms and legs throughout the day, doing anything that needed doing and generally spending time with him. My time at SHAD made me completely reassess my opinion of disabled people. Peter was in no way a victim. It was a really satisfying way of spending six months of my time.

VSO, are charities. Many are for-profit organisations that often charge a hefty fee, usually about £2,000, for sorting out the placement and providing support while you’re out there. You will also usually have to pay for your plane ticket and possibly some accommodation and supplementary travel. The vast majority of organisations are focused on the needs of the local communities. However, volunteers have become a lucrative business and a small minority of agencies have started to concentrate more on the needs of their clients, the potential volunteers. As a result, some overseas volunteering packages are more focused on enticing volunteers than helping local communities. For this reason it is worth checking that the volunteer project you are considering is genuinely needed: it is not unheard of for volunteers to arrive at their project only to find that there are three very similar ones operating within a few miles.

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The Good Giving Guide There are pros and cons of going with an agency. On the one hand they give volunteers security and someone to turn to if things go wrong. However, you should be aware that agencies don’t always donate a portion of your fee to the project you’re volunteering for: agencies often provide local projects with a steady stream of volunteers but keep the financial spoils to themselves. Volunteering England recommends that volunteers take the time to check out broker organisations thoroughly before handing over any money or leaving the country. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to ask to speak to volunteers who have been on the projects in the past11. Volunteering England also recommends that volunteers spend some time

Companies offering volunteering opportunities • Outreach International offers a range of gap year projects of three to nine months’ duration in Mexico, Ecuador and Cambodia. www.outreachinternational.co.uk • Teaching & Projects Abroad provides a range of opportunities for gap years or career breaks all over the world. Projects include teaching English or other subjects, journalism, medicine, dentistry, community action, veterinary medicine, archaeology, conservation and law. www.teaching-abroad.co.uk • i-to-i For a fee, i-to-i arranges overseas work placements for people of all ages (18–80), nationalities and backgrounds. Opportunities include teaching, conservation, care work, construction, media, business, heritage, tourism, museum and health projects in 24 countries worldwide. Many of the projects that i-to-i work with are extremely under-resourced, so to complement the work of their volunteers, i-to-i has established a charity called ‘The Helping Hand Foundation’ to provide direct financial assistance to the most disadvantaged among them. Donations are made biannually and a portion of every volunteer’s placement fee goes towards the fund. www.i-to-i.com • World Challenge Expeditions is an educational organisation working exclusively with schools, colleges and students. It offers conservation and ecological projects, which can last from a matter of hours to a number of years, to young people aged 9–24, either individually or as part of a school or college group. www.world-challenge.co.uk

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Volunteering researching the country they will be visiting and check out the political situation, climate and any other relevant details. Being prepared helps volunteers to make the most of their experience. Try to make sure the work is really needed and you don’t end up sitting on a beach with 20 other volunteers all counting the same turtle.

Overseas volunteering: points to consider before you decide on a project • Think about how long you want to go for and how long you can realistically commit to. Projects vary from a few weeks to two years or more. • What type of project do you want to do and what do you want to get out of it? It is important to be realistic about what is involved so that you end up doing something that you really enjoy and that suits your interests. • Spend time researching the local culture and traditions of the country you’re travelling to and make an effort to learn the local language. You’ll get a lot more out of the experience and find it easier to meet local people.

Questions to ask of the project • Does your fee include a donation to the local project? Does the project have a genuine need for volunteers? • Do you need particular skills or experience in order to qualify to take part? • Make sure you check practical details such as whether travel, accommodation, food and pocket money are included. • Are places limited? Is it important to book early once you have decided to go? • Look at insurance very carefully. Will you need your own travel insurance? Does their insurance cover you for the kind of work that you will be doing? What would happen if you needed to get back to the UK? • Do you need to raise money for the trip? If so how much and will the organisation help with fundraising ideas and general support? You could try contacting the local branch of the Lions, Rotary Club or Round Table. Locally-based companies are also worth trying. Other popular ideas include fundraising events (such as a dinner or comedy night), sponsored activities (such as a walk or swim) or tabletop sales.

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The Good Giving Guide • Will you need special equipment and/or inoculations before you go? • Do you need to complete any training or language lessons before you leave or once you arrive? If so are these included with the project? • Will you need to write up a report for the organisation when you return? If so, do you need to take notes or photos during the project? • If you’re going through an agency ask for contact details of people who have already done a placement. It’s useful to talk to them about the reality and day-to-day routine of volunteer work.

Common concerns Will I be left out of pocket? Many projects will cover your expenses, including the costs of travelling and meals and refreshments. Unfortunately some organisations can’t afford to so this, so check before you start your volunteering.

How much time will it take? That’s up to you. You can find volunteering that only takes an hour a month, and more organisations are starting to recognise that offering shorter-term volunteering will appeal to people with busy lives. Volunteering can also be done at any time of the week, in the evenings or at weekends. Examples of out-of-hours volunteering include mentoring, conservation and sporting activities.

What will they ask me? Although few charities or organisations have formal interviewing procedures, most volunteers are asked to come in for an informal chat where they will probably be asked about past experience, what sort of voluntary work they’re interested in and what new skills they’d like to learn. If the volunteering position has some responsibility, such as handling money or dealing with confidential information, then there might be a more formal procedure.

What if I don’t like it? Then leave. There’s no obligation for you to stay, but you should tell someone if you’re thinking of leaving and give feedback on why you’re leaving, which will help the organisation get better at handling volunteers.

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Experience Mexico When Rachel Vokes visited Mexico as a volunteer in 2003, she found the experience really rewarding. She spent three months working on a conservation project designed to stabilise the turtle population in the area where the project was based near to Rincon de Guayabitos. During her time in Mexico, Rachel witnessed the difference that the project made, but she also saw how they struggled for funding. Turtles are protected by law in Mexico because of declining numbers, but only federal conservation camps, which are in short supply, receive any Government funding. All other projects must fund themselves, and several camps have been forced to close in recent years due to shortfalls. When Rachel spoke to the project leader about the future of the project she was surprised to learn that none of the fee paid by her and her fellow volunteers was passed down to the project. Rachel decided that she wanted to do something to help this situation and, after discussing the issues with the project leader, she agreed to set up her own volunteer organisation. Her organisation would help local projects in the Rincon de Guayabitos region by supplying both volunteers and funding. Within a few months of returning to the UK, Rachel had set up Experience Mexico, her own non-profit volunteer agency. Experience Mexico now offers volunteering opportunities at five projects in west Mexico, including the original turtle project, and also provides places on a Spanish language course. It is committed to operating in an open and transparent way, and it provides volunteers with a full breakdown of how their fee is spent. Experience Mexico is able to match the prices charged by other volunteer organisations, but unlike the others it also supports local projects. For example, for the turtle project Experience Mexico donates 20 per cent of volunteers’ fees directly to local camps, and volunteers are also given the chance to suggest how and when their donation is invested. www.experiencemexico.co.uk

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The Good Giving Guide Will I get training? Again, this depends on the kind of work you’re doing. You should get instructions on how to use tools or kit that could only take half an hour. If you’re doing counselling or welfare work then you should expect a longer period of more formal training.

Can I volunteer if I’m on benefits? Yes, it has no impact on your benefits.

Finding an opportunity to suit you With so many volunteering opportunities, it can be a bit daunting trying to find the ideal one for you. However, there are plenty of organisations available to help. The following section aims to help you decide which one to approach and how to find the best opportunity for you.

Go to a charity directly If you already support a charity or know of one in your local area that works on the cause you want to support, you can approach the charity about volunteering opportunities. Many larger charities have a dedicated volunteering section on their website. Some examples include: • • • • •

St John Ambulance – www.sja.org.uk/volunteering British Red Cross – www.redcross.org.uk WRVS – www.wrvs.org.uk National Trust – www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteering BTCV – www.btcv.org

Many of these charities use their volunteers to engage local communities with their work. If you’d prefer to offer your time to a smaller local charity or group, you probably won’t get the resources and support that volunteers working for larger charities enjoy. But you will find that you’re a very valuable extra pair of hands, and that your contribution will be more noticeable.

Going to a broker organisation A broker organisation is any agency, bureau or specialist volunteering charity that can tell you about volunteering opportunities available to you. Some are national, some are local and there are also a few that are

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Volunteering internet based. Some broker organisations focus on a specific type of volunteer, for example young people or retired people, others specialise in a particular type of volunteering, such as overseas projects or community volunteering. The volunteer development agency or bureau in your town is a good starting point when looking for an activity or project in your local area. These organisations exist to match those interested in volunteering with a suitable charity or local group. The agencies and bureaux are represented by Volunteering England, Volunteer Development Scotland, the Volunteer Development Agency (Northern Ireland) and the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

Advertise your services The Charity Choice website provides a service that allows potential volunteers to advertise their services. Charities and non-profits then browse and respond to the ones that appeal to them. Volunteers can specify the type of charity/cause that they are interested in, the type of area that they would like to help out in (for example fundraising or human resources), the town they live in and the times when they are free. www.goodwillgallery.co.uk/charityvolunteers.htm

Diversity in volunteering Anyone should be able to volunteer, but experience shows that this is not always the case. People with disabilities and retired people, for example, have sometimes experienced difficulties in accessing volunteering opportunities. For this reason, several organisations have set up initiatives or projects to prevent discrimination and promote access to volunteering among different groups. • Disabled volunteers: Skill, the National Bureau for Students With Disabilities, has produced a guide for disabled people who are interested in volunteering and want to know more. ‘Into Volunteering’ contains profiles of disabled volunteers discussing their own experiences, as well as contact information and useful advice on how to get started. The booklet is available at www.skill.org.uk. • Older volunteers: CSV’s RSVP programme and the Experience Corps both target the over 50s, and several charities run their own senior volunteering programmes, such as the National Trust’s Third-Age scheme. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteering

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The Good Giving Guide • Gay and lesbian volunteers: VolunQueer is an online volunteer bureau that has been set up to address the needs of lesbian and gay volunteers in London. www.volunqueer.org.uk • Black and minority ethnic group volunteers: The Government has established a code of practice to help promote black and minority ethnic group volunteering, and many of the large volunteering agencies now have specialist units to deal with any problems. There are also local initiatives, such as the Black & Minority Ethnic Volunteering Development Project in Calderdale, North England, which was established in October 2002 to increase the diversity of the voluntary sector in the area. www.cvac.org.uk/html/bmevolunteers.html

Volunteering resources Organisations • Volunteering England provides a useful directory of local volunteer development agencies, which can tell you about opportunities in your areas. www.volunteering.org.uk • Volunteer Development Scotland provides a useful directory of local volunteer centres on its website at www.vds.org.uk. • Volunteer Development Agency (NI) provides lots of useful information about volunteering and what to expect. Includes a list of weblinks to local volunteer bureaux. www.volunteering-ni.org • Wales Council for Voluntary Action can provide information about volunteering in Wales. www.volunteering-wales.net • The National Association of Councils for Voluntary Services (NACVS) is a growing network of over 300 Councils for Voluntary Service (CVS) throughout England. It has a useful directory of local CVSs on its website at www.nacvs.org.uk. • Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is the UK’s largest volunteering organisation, with projects and opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. No one is ever rejected. www.csv.org.uk • Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) enables people to share skills, build capabilities and promote international understanding with poorer countries through volunteering. VSO is CSV’s sister charity. www.vso.org.uk

• Reach is an organisation that provides help finding volunteering opportunities for experienced managers and professionals within the UK. www.volwork.org.uk

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Volunteering • TimeBank is a national campaign to raise the awareness of the value of giving and highlight the opportunities. www.timebank.org.uk • The Experience Corps is a not-for-profit organisation set up in 2000 with a grant from the Home Office to recruit people aged over 50 to volunteering opportunities. www.experiencecorps.co.uk • Millennium Volunteers is an initiative for young people aged 16–24 to volunteer. There are 43,000 people involved in projects up and down the country, and 40,000 have already received an Award of Excellence. Millennium Volunteers give their time to help others, doing something they enjoy. It is also possible to earn a certificate to show employers. www.millenniumvolunteers.gov.uk

• British Executive Services Overseas (BESO) sends senior volunteers with lengthy experience of professional, financial, technical and managerial work to developing countries and Eastern Europe. BESO maintains a database of potential volunteers. www.beso.org

Websites • YouthNet is a non-profit making site where you can search a database for a volunteering opportunity near you. www.do-it.org.uk • The Just Do Something campaign has a website giving information about how to get more involved with society and your local community. www.justdosomething.net

• VolunQueer is an online volunteer bureau for London’s lesbian and gay population. www.volunqueer.org.uk • ProHelp London is a network of firms offering free help to the voluntary sector, and provides information for those wishing to offer their services. www.prohelp-london.org.uk

• Everybody Counts is the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ volunteering programme: www.icaew.co.uk/everybodycounts/index.cfm. • Worldwide Volunteering is a UK-based charity that matches potential volunteers with opportunities in more than 200 countries. It manages a database that enables volunteers to build an on-screen profile of their ideal volunteer placement, which can be matched against the requirements of nearly 1,000 organisations that offer more than 350,000 placements annually. www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk • Energize is an American website providing information on volunteering, for both volunteers themselves and volunteer managers. It provides a comprehensive list of links to other useful sites relating to volunteering. www.energizeinc.com

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The Good Giving Guide • Student Volunteering England offers help and support to students wanting to volunteer. www.studentvol.org.uk • Employee Volunteering gives news, information and advice about employee volunteering. www.employeevolunteering.org.uk • Professionals4Free provides information for individuals and companies wanting to offer their professional services free to the voluntary sector. www.professionals4free.org.uk

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Chapter 7 Ta k i n g T h i n g s a St e p Fu r t h e r Although giving money, campaigning or volunteering are the most popular ways of contributing to good causes, there are other ways to get involved. The most significant alternatives are acting as a trustee, a charity’s legal guardian, or working for a charity. This chapter explains these options in more detail.

Working for a charity More than half a million people work for a charity or voluntary organisation,1 which makes the voluntary sector a bigger employer than the postal, telecommunications or car manufacturing industries. Those who work for charities or campaigning groups spend their careers working to help others, and the desire to do something worthwhile with their time is a strong motivational factor in many people looking for a job in the charity sector. The fact that these groups are value-led organisations also means that the voluntary sector has a more diverse workforce than the private sector. Women make up 67 per cent of the sector’s workforce,2 and one in ten charity workers are disabled, compared to 8.6 per cent in the public sector and 8.5 per cent in the private sector.3 Charities also often offer comparatively flexible working conditions. Recent figures show that 63 per cent of the workforce is full time and 37 per cent part time4 and many voluntary organisations offer flexible working practices such as flexi-time, secondment and sabbatical schemes.5 Research by Warwick University shows that people working in the voluntary sector get more job satisfaction than their counterparts in the private or public sectors.6

What types of jobs are there? Charities work in almost every conceivable type of interest and activity, so there is a huge range of job opportunities open for people who want to pursue a career in the voluntary sector.

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The Good Giving Guide Charities, like businesses, need specialists in core areas such as finance, marketing, human resources, information technology, public relations, general management and administration. On top of this, there are numerous opportunities that are specific to the charity sector, such as campaign managers, volunteer co-ordinators, parliamentary officers, researchers, policy officers and, of course, fundraisers. Some organisations also offer more specific posts linked the charity’s own cause, including medical staff, social workers, counsellors, youth workers and environmentalists.

Jennifer Blaber, Press Officer, Dogs Trust I have given to charities since I was small and most of my family work in the public sector, so when I finished my history degree I knew that I wanted to work for a charity. It was quite difficult to find a job straight from university because most charities wanted someone with experience, so I started volunteering for the RNIB and Whizz-kidz. After six months I decided to get a job in the corporate sector to build up my CV. I started out at a small PR agency where I worked on high-profile accounts like Mothercare and Tomy toys. I worked my way up from PR Assistant to Senior Account Executive. Three years later, I got my break into the charity sector when I was offered a job at the Stroke Association. When a press officer position came up at Dogs Trust eight months later, I jumped at the chance. It was perfect for me because I’m passionate about animals. When I was working for the PR agency, everything I did was ultimately just making a company rich. At Dogs Trust I know that I’m making a difference. We get loads of feedback from the re-homing centres about how the dogs are getting on, and it is really satisfying seeing the news coverage that the charity gets, growing year on year. The working environment is also really good. Everyone is friendly and we’re all on first name terms. Once you’ve been here for one year you can bring your dog into work with you, so the place is always really relaxed! If you want an extremely well-paid job, the voluntary sector probably isn’t for you, but if you want to feel good at the end of each day, charities are a great place to work.

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Taking Things a Step Further Most of the jobs in the voluntary sector are concentrated in a small number of areas: social care, housing, health and education account for 69 per cent of the total employment.7 One of the fastest-growing career choices in the voluntary sector is fundraising. Charities are increasingly competing for funds not just against other charities but also schools, hospital, universities and the arts. This, combined with the constant need to find more funding to allow charities to expand, has meant that fundraising has developed substantially over the past few decades. Fundraisers fall into two broad categories: smaller organisations with fewer staff employ fundraisers with a wide range of general skills, while the larger charities pick extremely specialised fundraisers.8 Specialised fundraisers work in very specific areas, such as the internet, direct marketing, trusts and grant-makers, legacies, corporate partnerships, community fundraising or working to secure gifts from wealthy individuals looking to make a major donation.9

Salary Salaries in the voluntary sector vary widely depending on the size of the organisation. However, the assumption that all charities pay poorly is often unfounded. The very best charity salaries compare with the public and private sector.10 Pay levels for administrative and clerical posts are often comparable with similar roles in the private sector, and many management salaries are competitive.11 However, in many cases the salaries paid for senior roles do lag behind that of the private sector. Salaries paid for junior roles tend to be fairly consistent regardless of the size of the organisation. The average annual salary for a junior or trainee role is between £13,300 and £14,700 per year.12 However the story is quite different for more senior roles, with the average annual pay for specialist staff varying by more than £10,000 between the largest and smallest charities. The figures for directors show a similar pattern. Those at an organisation with a turnover of £60 million or more are paid an average of £72,700 per year. This is more than twice the amount received by their counterparts at organisations with a turnover of less than £250,000, who get an average of £29,500. Research shows that charity chief executives earn 53 per cent of the salaries of their private sector equivalents. Private sector earnings also increase at a faster rate than in the voluntary sector, suggesting a widening gap.13

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Catryn Ladd, Fundraising and Administration Assistant, the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA) I first thought about a career in the voluntary sector after talking to a friend who does public relations work for not-forprofits. The idea of working for a charity appealed to me, so I decided to do some voluntary work to find out what it was really like. During the final year of my anthropology degree I did work experience one day a week at Sight Savers International. I enjoyed the placement and it helped me to decide that I wanted to go into fundraising. When I finished university I joined several agencies specialising in not-for-profit jobs and signed up to some recruitment e-letters [email round-robin newsletters giving news of current vacancies]. Before long I got the job at the BA. My job is quite varied because there are only three people in my department so we each work across the whole fundraising spectrum rather than focusing on a specific area. My job ranges from researching whether the BA is eligible for particular types of funding and writing grant applications through to communicating with supporters and approaching corporations to ask for funding or sponsorship. I find it quite satisfying because you get to see projects all the way through, from applying for a grant to receiving the money and knowing what it will be used for. I haven’t completed a formal fundraising qualification, but have done plenty of on-the-job training since I started nearly two years ago and I hope to do a foundation programme with the Institute of Fundraising in the future.

How to get started In the past, many people have moved into charity careers after cutting their teeth outside the voluntary sector.14 This is still a popular way to enter the sector, because many of the skills used in the corporate and public sector are also useful for similar roles within a charity. Some disciplines, such as marketing, public relations and general business management are directly transferable. Graduates are also increasingly deciding to pursue a career in charities and many seek to join the voluntary sector straight from university.15 A few

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Taking Things a Step Further charities offer graduate recruitment schemes, including the NSPCC, Cancer Research UK and Barnardo’s. However, this is the exception rather than the rule. In areas such as fundraising, inexperienced graduates are finding it difficult to find a job despite the shortage of fundraisers in the sector.16 Graduates and more experienced voluntary sector job seekers can gain valuable experience and differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack by taking up a placement or volunteering for a charity. There are also a range of relevant introductory courses, NVQs, diplomas, certificates and MBAs for those who are keen to learn new skills before leafing through the job pages. Colleges and other bodies offering relevant training

Chartered Institute of Marketing – www.cim.co.uk Cass Business School – www.business.city.ac.uk Directory of Social Change – www.dsc.org.uk Institute of Direct Marketing – www.theidm.co.uk Institute of Fundraising – www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk Open University – www.open.ac.uk South Bank University – www.sbu.ac.uk University of West England – www.uwe.ac.uk Working for a charity – www.wfac.org

Further information and resources Information about careers in the not-for-profit sector Idealist (US site with international slant) – www.idealist.org/firstjob.html People and Planet Ethical Careers Service – www.ethicalcareers.org The Voluntary Sector National Training Organisation – www.voluntarysectorjobs.co.uk Working for a charity – www.wfac.org World Service Enquiry – www.wse.org.uk

Recruitment agencies and events Adept Recruitment Ltd – www.adept-recruitment.co.uk Aquilas – www.aquilas.co.uk CF Appointments – www.cfappointments.com Charity Action Recruitment – www.c-a-r.org.uk Charity Futures – www.charityfutures.com CharityJOB – www.charityjob.co.uk

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The Good Giving Guide Charity People – www.charitypeople.com forum3 recruitment event – www.forum3.co.uk Graduate jobs in the public and voluntary sector – www.getalife.org.uk Integrity Recruitment – www.integrityrecruitment.com Jobs in Charities – www.jobsincharities.co.uk OneWorld – www.oneworld.net People Media – www.peoplemedia.co.uk ProspectUs Ltd – www.prospect-us.co.uk Voluntary Sector Jobs – www.voluntarysectorjobs.co.uk Work with Us (Scottish voluntary sector jobs) – www.workwithus.org

Useful publications The Big Issue – www.bigissue.com Charity Finance – www.charityfinance.co.uk Charity Times – www.charitytimes.com Charity Fundraising – www.fundraising.co.uk Guardian – Society section – www.societyguardian.co.uk Professional Fundraising – www.professionalfundraising.co.uk Third Sector – www.thirdsector.co.uk

Becoming a charity trustee Every charity is overseen by a group of people, known as trustees, who agree to safeguard the organisation and its principles. The trustees give their time voluntarily to keep a watchful eye on the charity and shape its direction and character. Charities often start off being run just by the trustees, who may call themselves a management committee. Then, as the organisation grows and develops, trustees will get to the point where they can appoint paid staff to take over the day-to-day running of the organisation. But the trustees always retain ultimate responsibility for controlling the charity’s legal, strategic and financial direction. This includes issues such as how the charity fundraises, how it invests donations and how it spends money. If you’ve got strong views about the cause the charity supports, being a trustee is an effective way of seeing your vision become reality. If you have good ideas, which are backed by the rest of the trustee board, they can end up helping to shape the way the charity operates. By being a trustee you can directly make a difference to people’s lives by ensuring

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Skills you could bring as a trustee Personal skills • Knowledge of the local community: An understanding of the needs or concerns of local people is invaluable to a small organisation working on grassroots projects. You might have built this up through running a business serving local residents or through being involved with other community projects. • First-hand experience of the cause: Having someone on a trustee board who really understands the cause the charity is working for is important. For example, a social inclusion project will benefit from having a trustee on the board who comes from a minority group and who can represent the people the project is trying to reach.

Professional skills • Communications skills: A trustee with experience in communications or public relations will be able to see how the charity should present its work to the outside world. They could also advise on media relations and how to talk to potential funders; a skill especially useful for smaller organisations. • Human resources experience: Someone from a background in HR is a godsend to a charity. As a trustee they will be able to advise on the legal responsibilities of the charity as an employer. They will also be able to advise on staff policy and ensure that structures such as equal opportunities and antibullying strategies are put in place. • Financial management skills: An obvious skill-set to bring to a charity looking to develop a sound financial plan and make sure its investments are sound. • Legal knowledge: Someone with an understanding of charity law is a precious commodity. But a trustee who has experience of any legal matters also helps to advise on issues such as employment contracts and the legal responsibilities of the board.

Diplomatic skills • These are important when trying to get a consensus among trustees or when the board has to step in to settle management or staff disputes.

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The Good Giving Guide that the charity is operating to the very best of its ability and ensuring that funds and volunteers are helping achieve the charity’s end goal. In legal terms, charity trustees have a duty to act in the best interests of the charity and can be held personally responsible if the charity becomes insolvent. This can have serious implications, because if the charity incurs more debt than it can afford to pay off, trustees can be sued for the outstanding amount. However, this doesn’t often happen as many trustees in this position can demonstrate that they acted honestly and in good faith and are absolved of personal responsibility. Because the job involves this level of responsibility, it is important that the board as a whole has certain key skills. For this reason, charity trustees should be selected on the strength of the benefits they will bring to the board. This could be professional skills, extensive knowledge of the cause or personal experience. Many trustees in the older established charities are long-standing volunteers, but anyone over 18 without current criminal convictions can be a charity trustee. Because the trustees are there to safeguard the reputation of the charity, they shouldn’t benefit from being a trustee. This means they can’t be paid, can’t use their connections with the charity to further any business interests and can’t leverage the assets of the charity. Being a trustee is also good way of seeing how an organisation is managed and run. Charities now operate much like any other business, with deadlines, budgets and targets all set by either the trustees or the management team and approved by the trustees. So sitting on a charity board provides the opportunity to learn about governance and management as well as doing your bit for a good cause.

How to become a trustee Many charities are seeking new trustees. This is especially true of smaller community-based organisations, who will truly benefit from any professional or personal skills you can bring to their board. Many trustees are recruited by word of mouth, but you can also proactively go out and find a trustee position that will suit your particular aims.

How to find trustee positions • The Guardian: Check the job section in the Wednesday supplement for trustee appointments. • Youthnet: A volunteering website that has lists of suitable trustee position. www.do-it.org

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Taking Things a Step Further • National Council for Voluntary Organisations trustee bank: The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is an umbrella organisation for charities and has a ‘trustee bank’ where individuals can search for suitable trustee positions. www.askncvo.org.uk • Local papers: Some charities will advertise opportunities in the local newspaper. • Community meeting points: For example town halls, message boards, shop windows or community events. • Specialist magazines: Such as Third Sector, Professional Fundraising, Charity Finance and Charity Times.

Questions to ask17 • • • • • • • • • • •

What is the purpose of the charity and how does it operate? What will your role be as trustee and what is expected of you? Is the application procedure formal or informal? How long would you would serve and what are the responsibilities? What training would be offered? Will it just cover the trustee role? Are there away days? How often are meetings held and where? What is the financial health of the organisation? Who are the other trustees? Is an induction programme included?

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Chapter 8 C h a r i t y S p e n d i n g : T h e Tr u t h a b o u t W h e r e yo u r M o n e y G o e s Comic Relief pledges that every £1 it receives goes directly to those in need. In an ideal world every charity would like to be able to tell its donors the same thing, but reality dictates that charities need to spend money on operational costs, just like any other business. As Comic Relief itself acknowledges, it is in the enviable position of having all its fundraising and administration costs covered by a host of sponsors and corporate partners.1 Not every charity has the profile generated by blanket prime-time TV coverage and the backing of some of the nation’s favourite celebrities to encourage funders to do the same. The current fixation with how much charities ‘waste’ money on fundraising and administration has turned the whole process of giving on its head: it has become all about the money that doesn’t get to the cause rather that the money that does. Too many people do believe that charity money doesn’t ever reach those in need, and this often stops them from giving at all. When it comes to the crunch, the desire to protect yourself from being taken for a fool is often stronger than any sense of altruism. Unfortunately any explanation of why and how charities spend money is likely to be hard going for anyone not versed in the intricacies of voluntary sector financial management. Charities have struggled for years to justify their spending, with mixed results. However it’s important that any supporter worried about their donation being wasted is equipped with the facts. This chapter attempts to dispel some of the common misconceptions about charity spending and cover the facts as plainly and simply as possible.

The facts – how much money gets to the cause Many charity supporters and non-supporters alike are concerned about how charities spend their money. In a survey conducted during the research for this book, 42 per cent of people questioned were concerned

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Charity Spending about how much money donated gets to the cause or end beneficiary and 14 per cent were concerned about the amount charities spend on administration.

‘I would like to know exactly where money is going, how much of it actually gets to the cause and how much is spent on administration costs,’ female, 33 ‘Charity has to be worthy. The vast majority of funds raised should go to charity recipients rather than fundraisers, admin, marketing etc. The shorter and more direct the route is from my pocket to the beneficiaries, the better,’ male, 552 A typical charity supporter believes that 65p in every £1 donation will be applied to the cause. Those that don’t give at all are more cynical and believe that just 45 per cent of charity money gets to where it’s supposed to go. In fact, an average of 81 per cent3 of all charitable expenditure goes directly to the cause. Some charities spend this money on providing services, others use it to cover campaigning, advocacy and public education work. Grant-making charities distribute the money to frontline groups that work directly with beneficiaries. So why does this huge gulf exist between the perceptions of the general public and the reality? It is partly down to the media. Charity fraud or financial mismanagement is good news for the press because anything that readers find morally repugnant sells papers. So the majority of charity-related stories you see in the newspapers that don’t feature a soap star on a mercy mission to Africa are likely to focus on some dubious activity or question the legitimacy of charitable activity. The situation isn’t helped by charities themselves, with the majority failing to mount an effective defence of their spending and financial management. It’s easy to see why people become fixated on this issue when some charities engage in what can only be described as ‘price wars’, competing with each other over who can have the lowest fundraising and administration costs and get the most to the cause. Charities in the UK range from small community groups through to multi-million pound medical research bodies, so there’s always going to be some variation in the amount that different charities manage to spend on the cause. Larger organisations are often able to get more money to the cause (on average organisations with an income of more than £10

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The Good Giving Guide million get 82 per cent of money to the cause4) because they become more efficient and professional as they grow. However, smaller organisations with lower incomes (under £10,000) still manage to spend 75 per cent of donations on the cause.5 Any money that doesn’t go directly to the cause is, or should be, spent on justifiable and necessary expenditures. This includes investing in efficient administration and fundraising methods that will generate income in the future.

Why charities spend money on administration Tensions over how much money charities spend on administration stem from the idea that any money not spent directly on the cause is wasteful and unnecessary. The term ‘administration’ itself is misleading, conjuring up images of offices packed with staff, piles of paper and needless bureaucracy. But charities’ administration costs generally mean operational costs created by the work that it does. Many charities run programmes providing services or designed to tackle root causes of social deprivation and empower disadvantaged people. This inevitably includes paying for qualified staff, rent and electricity as well as back-office functions such as telephone systems, IT infrastructures and the like. So, although part of your donation is not necessarily going directly into the hands of those the charity is helping, it is making sure the charity is able to help beneficiaries in the future. It’s good long-term thinking for charities to invest in IT, financial and office systems because they’re then likely to become more efficient and consequently direct more money to the cause.6 In the long run, if a charity didn’t invest enough money in proper accounting and financial programmes it would be impossible to track where donations were being spent.7 Charities that do not invest in their administration functions for fear of upsetting or alienating donors may risk becoming inefficient and inappropriate in years to come.8

How much should charities spend on administration? There can be no set figure for the amount that charities should spend on administration, because each organisation has its own unique set of costs. An international charity supporting huge transport costs will have to spend more than one that operates locally. Grant-making charities,

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Charity Spending such as BBC Children in Need, which raise funds and then distribute that money to frontline organisations, will have lower costs than organisations running a charitable project themselves. Similarly, charities that provide a service, such as health provision, will spend more than other organisations on monitoring service delivery and impact. They will also have lots of paid staff, which means paying out for extra payroll services to manage staff wages. Meanwhile, organisations that rely on large numbers of volunteers find that their administration costs are proportionately higher. For example, the Samaritans finds that administration spending is its major cost because its telephone helpline is manned by hundreds of unpaid volunteers, so a high proportion of its spending is on phone bills and rent.9

How much do charities spend on administration? Charities spend an average of 8 per cent10 of their outgoings on management and administration. However, there is variation. Charities generally get more efficient as they grow bigger because they have more bargaining power and can make savings by buying products and services in bulk. Larger organisations with an annual income of more than £10 million spend an average of just 3 per cent on administration compared to 23 per cent for small organisations with an annual income of less than £10,000.11 Any charity that goes way above this might set alarm bells ringing, sometimes with good cause. But ultimately the majority of charities and non-profits submit their accounts to one authority or another (whether it be the Charity Commission, Companies House or the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator). This means that their expenditure is audited, so it is unlikely that any charity with widely inappropriate administration spending would go unchallenged. As a donor there is every reason to keep track of your charity’s administration costs. Charities do have a responsibility to keep their administration costs as low as they can but they also have a duty not to under-invest. Comparing year on year or with similar organisations is a better way of ensuring your donation is spend wisely than calling for your charity to cut its administration costs altogether. Indeed, donors would be well advised to show just as much concern about a charity that doesn’t spend enough on administration as one that spends too much. If the charity isn’t properly administered, you can’t be sure your money will get to where it’s needed.

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Why charities spend money on fundraising Standing in front of the cameras at Live Aid in 1985 Bob Geldof leant forward and demanded ‘Give us your fucking money’. And it worked. Live Aid raised an estimated £100 million for the famine in Ethiopia and has gone down in history as one of the most heroic fundraising events of all time.12 Charities do exactly the same thing, albeit in a more sophisticated and diplomatic fashion. Charities raise money to pay for costs of running services or campaigning. They also have to maintain a level of financial reserves to protect services and programmes in the event of a financial crisis. Emergency relief organisations also have to respond to crises as they happen, which means generating extra donations from the public to ensure that money isn’t diverted from existing projects and services. Unfortunately, people don’t usually give spontaneously; they have to be asked, and because charities rely on the continued generosity of the public to support everything from cancer, to fighting discrimination, to protecting the environment, fundraising is a never-ending task. This means that many charities, particularly the smaller ones, live a perpetual hand-to-mouth existence, scraping through on occasional donations, project grants and the odd legacy donation. Some organisations are luckier than others. Battersea Dogs Home only started proactively fundraising in 2003; until then it had been able to operate solely on the millions of pounds that came from will bequests every year.13 For pretty much every other charity, raising funds means getting its name and cause out to people in their homes and on the street. Even small community organisations trying to run local fundraising fetes are likely to have to pay for advertising in the local paper, posters and notices or, at the very least, photocopying for fliers to get people there. Ramp this up to the larger charities and campaigning groups running national events or campaigns and the cost is obviously much higher. Initial costs such as these are considered an investment because a successful fundraising event or appeal will not only cover costs but raise additional money that can then be used to provide more care or services for those in need.14

How much should charities spend on fundraising? It’s impossible to generalise or put a figure or a percentage on how much charities should spend on fundraising. When deciding which charity to

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Charity Spending

Shelter invests in street fundraising In 2000, homelessness charity Shelter made a commitment to a five-year investment in street-fundraising. In the first three years of the plan, the charity invested £150,000 more than it received back in donations. In business terms, it made a loss. However, in the fourth and fifth years, donations soared into the millions, well exceeding the initial loss. Overall, the charity generated £3.5 million, about five times the amount that it originally invested. The money generated is equivalent to running Shelter Line, the charity’s unique 24-hour, 365-day-a-year helpline service, for three full years. In three years, the helpline assists 200,000 people. These 200,000 people would surely agree that Shelter’s investment was well worthwhile.15

support, people often want to compare the comparative fundraising costs of different organisations to judge which one is more efficient. However, there are a number of factors that determine how much charities have to spend raising money. Popularity of the cause

The more popular the cause, the less the charity needs to spend on generating interest and raising funds. Charities working on less popular or ‘trendy’ causes don’t have a high level of public recognition and have to work harder to get their voice heard and persuade people to lend their support. Research has shown that physical disability charities had to spend proportionately more on fundraising than other causes.16 Legacies and large one-off donations

Charities can’t predict when they’re likely to receive legacy donations that people have left in wills. If a charity receives a large legacy or donation, this will skew their figures, making the amount spent on fundraising compared to the amount raised appear comparatively smaller. If you do decide to look at fundraising ratios, make sure that you consider whether legacies are included, especially if you are comparing ratios for different charities.

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The Good Giving Guide Investing for the future

A charity that only fundraised through direct mail would be in serious trouble if faced with a postal strike. Charities spread their fundraising around to limit the risk of one channel failing or under-performing. A charity will also spend more money if it is preparing for a crisis, a large campaign or an expected surge in demand for its services. Recruiting supporters also costs more than retaining existing ones, but new supporters are the future, so it is important for charities to invest in them so as to develop and protect its work in the long term.

How much do charities spend on fundraising? Charities in the UK spent an average of 11 per cent of their total outgoings on fundraising activities in 2001–2,18 and this level has remained fairly consistent over the last 20 years. In 2001–2 the actual amount spent was about £2.2 billion.19 As with administration costs, fundraising figures vary significantly between small and larger organisations. In 2001–2, small charities with an annual income of less than £10,000 spent just 2 per cent of their expenditure on fundraising compared to 15 per cent for large charities with an income of more than £10 million.20 This is down to the more professional approach to fundraising by the larger ‘big brand’ charities, which will take a more business-led approach

Comparing charity fundraising costs Charity A Spends: £2 million Raises: £5 million Spent raising the money = 40%

Charity B Spends: £5 million Raises: £10 million Spent raising the money = 50% Source: Shelter17

Looking purely at the percentages, most people would prefer to give to charity A because it appears more efficient. However, in the end, charity B has raised more money, and this money will allow it to provide many extra services. From this perspective, it is arguable that charity B has served its beneficiaries better.

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Charity Spending to fundraising, investment and trading. These larger organisations often employ fundraising, advertising and direct mail agencies to handle their national campaigns. Although at first glance the amount that these larger charities invested in their fundraising can appear huge, the investment has certainly paid off. During 2001–2 it meant that the larger charities where able to maintain and even increase their income despite general economic downturn and falling income among the rest of the voluntary sector.21

Breakdown of current expenditure by size of organisation, 2001–2 (per cent) Task

Small charities Medium charities Large charities Average for all* income < £10K

Cost of generating funds Grants and charitable activities Management & admin.

income £100K–1m

income > £10m

1.5

6.4

15.3

10.7

75.2

79.3

82.3

81.4

23.3

14.3

2.5

7.8

* The effect of rounding may mean that some totals differ from the exact sum of their sub-categories

Source: National Council for Voluntary Organisations22 Fundraising checklist

• Check the charity’s website or ask to see a copy of the charity’s accounts. • If you are worried about the level of spending on fundraising, the best thing to do is to ask the charity to explain what it is doing and why. • Think about how popular the cause is. • If you do want to compare a charity’s costs, it is best to look back at the charity’s own past performance, but do so over a number of years to get a more accurate picture. • As a rule, you should be concerned if a charity claims that it spends very little on fundraising, because it’s extremely unlikely it’s not spending anything and it’s worrying if it isn’t investing in a proper and long-term fundraising strategy.

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Are charities too generous with their chief executive pay packets? How much charity chief executives get paid is a touchy subject. Granted, £140,000 – the annual pay packet of Cancer Research UK’s chief executive – is a lot of money, especially when it’s coming from the public purse. But Cancer Research UK is one of the country’s largest charities, and the biggest fundraising organisation by quite a stretch. It has a turnover of £305 million, tens of thousands of supporters and funds some of the most groundbreaking research into curing cancer across the world. In short it is a multi-million pound organisation that has to operate as such in order to do its job properly and use donors’ money effectively. To achieve this, it’s absolutely crucial that there’s someone at the helm who knows what they’re doing. Not only does that person have to have management and logistical experience but, in this particular case, they also have to have a background in science and cancer research. While the sum may seem inordinately large, it is worth realising that such an individual could earn three times as much heading up a large pharmaceutical commercial organisation. Why do we feel uncomfortable with the idea that a charity chief executive will get paid such a wage? Maybe it says a lot about our attitudes to charities: that working at a charity is still a hobby rather than a career. Or perhaps we resent the thought that money we give to charities is being spent on large executive salaries rather than going to the cause. Either way charities can’t win. If they don’t offer a decent wage they won’t get someone with the right experience to do the job properly. If they pay peanuts and can only get a lower grade of applicant, then the charity won’t be run effectively, which will open them to accusations of wasting money and being ineffective. Being a charity chief executive is a challenging job: two thirds of voluntary sector leaders think that running a major charity is more difficult that running an FTSE-100 company.23 Certainly you have more stakeholders to take care of, including the public, donors, trustees and staff, as well as your beneficiaries, who are relying on you to do a decent job. Despite this, 77 per cent of chief executives do not believe that they should be paid as much as leaders from the private sector.24 And they’re not. If you compare the salaries of the

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Charity Spending

Chief executives’ pay Charity* (income £m)25

CEO salary £s**

Cancer Research UKa (305.8) National Trustc (303.6) Oxfame (189)

140,000

Salvation Armyg* (183) British Red Crossi (162.4)

10,540

* ** a b c d e f g h i j

115,000 75,000

125,000

Company CEO salary £s** (turnover £m)26 Willmott Dixonb (314.6) Vertex Data Scienced (302.4) Anite Groupf (216.3) Parityh (183)

377,941

Keepmoatj (153.3)

294,000

320,558 520,257 361,000

Housing, furniture, car, council tax and insurance costs are also paid for by the charity (plus benefits but excluding pensions) Medical research into cancer Construction and property services firm Heritage and preservation of buildings and land International business process outsourcer International development Consultancy International IT solutions company Social care Emergency response and humanitarian work Specialists in regeneration and refurbishing social housing

chief executives of the top UK five charities with those heading companies with a similar turnover show the clear difference. Investing in the right staff is one of the best ways that charities can make themselves more effective and efficient organisations. In the past there has been an attitude even from within charities themselves that working for a good cause is an altruistic choice where the ‘feel-good factor’ should be enough to compensate for the low pay and pressurised environment. The high staff turnover rates that charities experience show that this isn’t true. Not many skilled people will put up with being consistently underpaid, under-trained and under-developed, no matter how strongly they feel about the cause. Between 65 and 80 per cent of charities are completely volunteer run and have no paid staff at all.27 If these organisations are to grow and develop, at some point they will need to hire professional staff and pay them a wage out of the income they pull in from fundraising. If more

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The Good Giving Guide charities are to become the accountable and efficient organisations that we are demanding they be, then it has to be accepted that charities must operate like other professional organisations and be run by decently paid, trained and competent staff.

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Chapter 9 Common Concerns: E x p lo d i n g t h e M y t h s Every supporter has the right to question how their chosen charity or campaigning group is spending money and running its campaigns and programmes. When you give money or get involved in volunteering or campaigning for an organisation you are effectively an investor in the cause. All charities that take public money are partly operating on their donors’ behalf. Because of the nature of their work, people feel that charities should be beyond reproach. And because they are using someone else’s money to run their operations, it doesn’t go down well with the general public if charities or campaigning groups engage in fundraising practices that seem too intrusive or manipulative. Nobody likes to feel they are being emotionally blackmailed into giving to a good cause. There are some reoccurring concerns that the media and the general public have over the work of charities and campaigning groups. In this chapter we attempt to explore the reasons why charities engage in some unpopular fundraising practices and untangle some of the arguments around how they conduct their business.

The ‘Chugging’ debate Most people have encountered the ubiquitous clipboard-wielding charity fundraisers who stalk our streets. The antipathy that this practice provokes has caused these cheerful ‘face-to-face fundraisers’ to be branded ‘chuggers’, or charity muggers, an altogether more sinister and derogatory label. The term ‘chugger’, a word much despised among charities themselves, sums up commonly held complaints about street-fundraising. The term portrays charities as aggressively forcing themselves upon unwilling members of the public, harassing people as they go about their everyday business, and coercing them into handing over their bank details by guilttripping them into signing up to a cause.

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The Good Giving Guide Yet street-fundraising works. Chuggers have played a key role in reversing the decline in charities and campaigning groups’ fundraising income over the past 20 years. During the last few decades some charity fundraisers have compared their search for new donors to searching for oil: expensive, elusive and finite. Street-fundraising has provided a cost-effective way of recruiting large numbers of young donors in a tax-efficient way.

How does street-fundraising actually work? Everybody has a way of reacting to street fundraisers’ requests for ‘just a minute of your time’. Some people avert their eyes, cross the street or adopt a purposeful stride. Others begin a nervous sweat as they rehearse an excuse in their head. At the other end of the scale, some people are serial donors and often stop to sign up, or to find out more about the cause. Whatever your response, the chances are that you’ll have an opinion on the subject. In a survey conducted during the research of this book, 64 per cent of respondents said that they find face-to-face fundraisers ‘annoying’ or ‘really annoying’, while 36 per cent said that they don’t mind streetfundraisers or like them.

‘I choose which charities to support for personal reasons and the fundraisers don’t appreciate that. Their attitude is “What’s £2 a month to you, mate?”’ male, 31 ‘They make me feel guilty. I really don’t like being forced to give; I do it in my own time, in my own chosen way. There are so many fundraisers in London that I’d have to give away all my money to please them,’ female, 24 ‘When I see one, I stop and sign up. If I can’t afford to give, I wish them good luck for the day,’ male, 26 Many people are bothered by the idea of a charity or a not-for-profit asking them to hand over their private bank details in the middle of the street. Also, the reason for deciding to support a charity shouldn’t be because you feel harassed or guilty about saying no – there’s nothing altruistic about signing up to a good cause because you feel bad about walking past the fourth charity fundraiser that’s asked you for five minutes of your time.

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Common Concerns So why do charities risk the controversy and possible public antipathy by fundraising in this way? The facts are that face-to-face fundraising works on a number of levels. Raising money

• In 2003, street-fundraising raised £240 million for good causes.2 • In 2002, street-fundraising generated 690,000 new donors, who pledged £250 million over the next five years.3 • On average, face-to-face donors stay with a charity for five years, bringing in five times as much money as it costs to sign them up.4 • 75 per cent of people who sign up to become donors through a streetfundraiser choose to GiftAid their monthly donation, which adds an extra 28 per cent in tax breaks onto their monthly gift.5 • On average between 85p and 93p of every pound donated through street-fundraising goes directly to the charity. This equates to 75–90 per cent.6 Recruiting large numbers of charity supporters

For many organisations, especially campaigning groups, having large numbers of people supporting their cause is vitally important. For many of these organisations, face-to-face fundraising has made a huge difference. Oxfam has signed up more than 66,000 people through face-to-face fundraising, and around 75 per cent of Greenpeace supporters signed up through a charity chugger.7 Attracting younger donors

It’s vital that charities appeal to younger people in their 20s and 30s if they are to maintain their donation levels and continue to run long-term projects and campaigns. The average age of a Greenpeace supporter recruited through street-fundraising is 30, compared to the rest of their supporter base, which is 40–50.8 Getting people to support charities for the first time

Last year, 60–75 per cent of people who signed up to a charity on the street did not support any other charity. This is probably the most important way that face-to-face fundraising works: it brings more people into contact with charities, and persuades ‘charity virgins’ to start engaging with a good cause.

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The Good Giving Guide Common myths about street-fundraising: The people wearing the bibs don’t even work for the charity and are working on commission

The majority of street-fundraisers work for fundraising agencies; commercial businesses that recruit, train and manage street-fundraisers. Chuggers have an obligation to tell people that they are paid and work for an agency. Street-fundraisers are usually paid a flat rate of around £8 an hour, and are not allowed to be paid commission due to the pressure that would be put on prospective donors. Although most chuggers are employed by an agency, they do usually receive comprehensive training from the charity so that they know about the organisation’s history and aims. The fundraising agencies take all the money

The cost for the charity is at the beginning of this process. The charity normally pays the agency £55–£100 for every donor signed up. The charity will also pay a percentage of each donor’s monthly pledge for the first year, after which all the money goes to the charity. This means that the charity will not make a profit from a donor’s money for the first year, but will recoup the money spent in the years after. There is often a clause in the agreement so that, if the donor stops giving after a short period, the charity doesn’t have to pay the fundraising agency for that donor. Over five years, face-to-face raises £5 for every £1 spent, an amazing return on investment that commercial investors would be envious of. Chuggers aren’t regulated

The law governing face-to-face fundraising is uncertain at the moment and different local authorities deal with it in different ways. Nonetheless, streetfundraising is still regulated, usually by the local authority or police force. A new licensing scheme is currently being drawn up to simplify this situation. Charities will first be assessed on how ‘fit’ they are to collect. There will then be a separate test to make sure that the area where they want to fundraise isn’t already flooded with street-fundraisers. Many charities using the technique are also members of the Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority, and sign up to its codes of good practice. What does the future hold for face-to-face fundraising?

Despite the success of street-fundraising, there is no denying that the strength of negative reaction to chugging is a cause for concern. This is something that must be heeded if not-for-profits are to protect their

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Common Concerns reputation in years to come. After all, it’s simply not good business practice for charities to annoy people or make them feel angry or irritated, because this has the potential to turn people off charities for good. Perhaps one of the reasons for the negative reactions is that streetfundraising seems to be reaching saturation point, especially in London. More than half of all street-fundraising takes place in the capital, with fundraisers congregating at about 140 sites. Consequently, levels of awareness in London are high, particularly among commuters. This has also contributed to the huge media backlash against face-to-face fundraising; after all, journalists are commuters too, and many are London-based. It may well be the case that those who protest the loudest are the people who would never have signed up anyway, but the media is a powerful enemy. The new licensing system that is being developed may go some way to tackling this problem by more carefully monitoring the concentration of fundraisers in the same area. On the other hand, the strength of feeling against street-fundraising may have already grown to a level that the method is not sustainable in the long term. If so, charities will be faced with the awesome task of finding another technique that is as cost-effective and as beneficial to good causes across the country.

Your rights – street-fundraisers should: • Tell you that they are paid for collecting and that a slice of your regular donation will go to a fundraising company in the first year. • Tell you that you can donate directly to the charity. • Never follow you down the street or block your path. • Never accept cash, cheques or any other form of donation. • Be screened for criminal records by fundraising companies.

MYTH: Shock adverts don’t work In 1999 a poster showing a baby sitting in a filthy room and injecting itself with heroin appeared in newspapers and billboards across the country. The advert was part of a campaign launched by children’s charity Barnardo’s, which also included images of adult suicides and a small girl getting into a kerb crawler’s car. The ads weren’t asking us to donate money. They were designed to raise awareness of an issue. Alongside the heroin baby image was a caption that read ‘John Donaldson, Age 23’, which served to remind the public that the experiences of a child have a direct effect on their future as an adult.

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The Good Giving Guide The campaign caused massive media interest and controversy that lasted for months. Newspaper features explored whether Barnardo’s had gone too far by using donors’ money to fund such distressing images. Yet Barnardo’s used such horrific images to deliberately shock people and force them to face the facts about the impact of child abuse and poverty. It believed that shocking imagery was strategically and morally important to the message; all the case studies were based on real people and the charity believed that their stories needed to be told. Research conducted after the campaign showed that 57 per cent of people said that the ads were shocking but effective.9 The ads also brought in younger supporters, generated massive interest in the charity’s work and boosted its ‘brand’ to become one of the UK’s best-known children’s campaigning charities. Fast-forward to 2003 and it’s a slightly different story. A follow-up campaign run by Barnardo’s, which was designed to highlight child poverty, featured shots of cockroaches, methane bottles and syringes coming out of babies’ mouths. It became the most complained about ad of the year,10 generating more than 300 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority. It was banned as a consequence. Barnardo’s stood by the campaign, saying that, although it was uncomfortable, people had to be told what was happening to impoverished children. But many commentators felt that the charity’s advertising had become all about shocking people without clearly explaining why. It is difficult to measure how successful the campaign was, since the awarenesss raised is not easily quantifiable. So if charities and campaigning groups use shock tactics, they’ve got to make sure they work. In a world where we are almost numb to violence, death and despair, people are becoming immune to distressing images. Go that one step too far, and it makes the organisation look like it’s manipulating the public and pulling a heavy-handed guilt trip on people trying to go about their day-to-day lives. When the balance is right, shock advertising is extremely effective. The 2004 British Heart Foundation anti-smoking ads, which showed fat dripping out of the ends of lit cigarettes, targeted persistent smokers; one of the hardest audiences to reach. The campaign resulted in a sharp increase in calls to the charity’s Stop Smoking helpline, with 46 per cent of smokers who saw the ad trying to stop smoking as a result.11 We’re now starting to see more positive charity messages, trying to stem the shock fatigue that is setting in. Cancer Research UK’s 2004

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Common Concerns ‘All Clear’ campaign focuses on the good work that the charity has done, enabling more patients to survive the disease. But people have to accept that the shocking images that charities use reflect the work that they do. Maybe we need to acknowledge the existence of these issues rather than demanding that charities stop spoiling our day by running upsetting campaigns. Many charities would argue that it’s their responsibility to make us sit up and think once in a while.

Why advertise? So why do charities use advertising to raise awareness of a cause? Many believe that it’s the only way to get a point across, as advertising is the most powerful way to get a message through to the man on the street. For smaller charities, advertising can be the only way to get a message out to the public. Tommy’s, a charity for premature babies, found itself trapped in the low income/low marketing spending trap that many smaller not-for-profits encounter. With only a £1.2 million income, like many other smaller charities it didn’t have the funds to spend money on big fundraising campaigns.12 But an awareness-raising campaign done for free by advertising agency J Walter Thompson was so effective that it persuaded newspapers, TV stations and radios to run the adverts either free or at a radically reduced cost. In the end, the amount of coverage the campaign got would have cost the charity over £1 million.13 For an organisation this size, the right advertising had an incredible impact. The Tommy’s campaign generated wider awareness of the plight of premature babies, and Tommy’s received around £35,000 in spontaneous gifts, enough to pay for 27,500 women at risk to be tested for the onset of premature labour.14 For many voluntary organisations, education is a fundamental part of their work. Charities such as Barnardo’s and the NSPCC actually count public education as one of their charitable objectives, which means it’s their duty to educate and inform, to change perceptions and raise the profile of those they are working for. Not all charities are established to do this, which partly explains why you’ll not see other children’s charities, such as The Children’s Society or NCH (formally National Children’s Home), running the same-scale national campaigns.

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MYTH: There are too many charities Having too much choice over which charity to support is often a substantial barrier to potential givers. When you’ve got hundreds of charities seemingly working towards the same cause, then how do you choose between them? The charities themselves may know how they differ from other organisations, but how can the donor be expected to distinguish between two organisations often with similar names all vying for attention? The level of confusion over which charity is which became glaringly evident in 2003. A number of breast cancer charities, of which there are 69 in the UK, started receiving calls of complaints from supporters alarmed by media reports of charges of corruption being brought against Breast Cancer Relief and Breast Cancer Research Scotland. If regular supporters of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Care or Breast Cancer Campaign couldn’t distinguish between their charity and one with a similar name, how can anyone else be expected to? The number of charities working in similar areas also inevitably leads to charges of duplication and people becoming suspicious and questioning why there needs to be multiple charities all asking for money to cure the same disease or help the same group of needy people. The flip side of this argument is that diversity is one of the most wonderful characteristics of the UK charity sector. This kind of variety is important not just to provide geographic scope and a community focus. It also means that different organisations can appeal to different supporters, and meet diverse and specialist needs that could be overlooked by a larger organisation. So although there may be 150 different lung charities, 100 of them are local organisations serving and responding to specific needs in their own local areas. Others tackle particular aspects of the disease, for example some focus on medical research, others on service provision and others on campaigning for better services. It is also argued that a proliferation of charities challenges the monopoly of the larger ‘super-charities’. The big household-name charities are growing in size and influence, and their dominance could threaten some of the ideals and virtues that underpin the whole ethos of the charity sector and make causes national rather than community-focused ideas. Mergers, where two charities join to form one bigger organisation, are still fairly uncommon in the charity sector. Many charitable organisations are based on ideologies as well as services, so it’s rare to find two organisations that share exactly the same aims and objectives.

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Common Concerns However, the Government is keen for charities to merge or work together, and is changing the law to make this easier. Many organisations are already starting to recognise the benefits of collaborative working and more and more are actually entering into partnerships with similar organisations. This has resulted in some charities looking at sharing resources such as staff or IT systems, which could cut down on individual organisations’ administration costs. By working together in this way, many smaller charities gain the benefits of merger without losing their independence or individual approach. As the sector continues to grow, more charities are likely to collaborate as competition for donations grows and income from public sources becomes more scarce. This is likely to encourage smaller charities to recognise that sometimes joining forces can help raise the profile of the cause and start to remove and alleviate some of the confusion that can makes choosing a cause or organisation such an off-putting and confusing experience for some supporters.

MYTH: Charities sit on huge cash reserves – they don’t need extra donations Most charities keep cash in reserve so that if disaster strikes they can still meet their obligations to their beneficiaries and staff. Charities just can’t run the risk of having to suddenly pull services if they run into financial hardship, so reserves are an essential buffer. However, charities also have a duty to spend donations on the cause in a timely fashion. This means that they are under constant pressure to make sure that they have enough money to cover unforeseen problems, but that they are not keeping too much in reserve. Charities may have to make cuts if their reserve levels fall too low, but they may also need to spend some of this money if the levels are too high. Because there is no set regulation about how charities should spend reserves, different organisations take different approaches. In 2002, the RSPCA took the decision to freeze wages and put a 12-month halt on building projects to save money, even though it had £34 million in reserves in the bank.15 In contrast, Barnardo’s withdrew more than £79 million of its funds over several years to meet new plans and targets for tackling child abuse and poverty.16 The level of reserves that a charity needs comes down to the kinds of services that it provides. For example, the RNLI says that it holds high

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The Good Giving Guide levels of reserves to reassure seafarers that it has the financial security to handle emergencies if and when they happen.17 Lifeboats and lifeboat stations cost millions, and it’s difficult to predict when services will be called upon. Similarly, a charity that has millions of dependants has a responsibility to protect their future as well as its own. The Charity Commission recommends that charities have a reserves policy explaining what level of reserves the charity needs and why.18 This means that any donor can question a charity’s reserves policy and ask how often it’s reviewed. Reserve levels can be checked through a charity’s annual accounts, which are published every year and often displayed on the charity’s website. The Charity Commission displayed the accounts of 400 of the largest charities on its website, and from 2005 the accounts of all registered charities will be available at www.guidestar.org.uk.

MYTH: Charity shops aren’t worth their salt Charity shops are a great British tradition. They’ve been in existence since the end of the 19th century, when the Salvation Army opened its first retail outlet, and many others, including Oxfam and the British Red Cross, followed suit in the 1940s. Since then they’ve become a staple feature on most British high streets. But why are they there? Selling cheap second-hand goods may not initially seem a potential money-spinner, but a typical charity shop has a profit margin of 22 per cent,19 a staggering figure compared to the commercial retail trade; in 2002 supermarket Sainsbury’s total operating profit margin was 4 per cent.20 Despite this, the actual amounts that charities bring in through their shops are pretty low compared to fundraising through other channels such as direct mail. However, charity shops bring many other benefits that more than justify their existence. While the money may not run into the millions, income generated by their shops is just straightforward cash for charities. Unlike money from specific fundraising campaigns, grants, trusts or corporate donations, income from shops can be spent on whatever the charity sees fit, whether that be paying the phone bills, buying office equipment or supplementing existing projects. Shops are also often the public face of a charity, imprinting the charity brand into people’s mental landscapes as they pass by the logo every day on their way to the bus.

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Common Concerns But, probably most importantly, they provide a key social service. As well as making affordable goods available for low-income families, they are also environmentally friendly, recycling goods that would otherwise be thrown away. It is estimated that charity shops recycle 100,000 tonnes of items that may otherwise have ended up in a landfill site.21 They also offer volunteering opportunities and work experience.22 These benefits are very difficult to quantify economically, but they undoubtedly mean that charity shops are very worthwhile enterprises that both raise money for charity and support them in numerous other ways.

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C h a p t e r 10 T h e R e a l Wo r l d : W h at to E x p e c t f ro m yo u r C h o s e n C h a r i t y Having got involved with your chosen charity, you might wonder how things will pan out from now onwards. There are certain standards that you can expect from you charity as well as legal rights that you can enforce. You can also take action to make sure your relationship with your charity is a happy one.

Life as a donor Once you have signed up as a donor, what comes next? Apart from seeing a direct debit on your bank statement every month, will anything else change? Although every charity and non-profit has different ways of communicating with its donors, there some basic courtesies you should expect. These include: • Being thanked for your donation. • Being given the option to receive more information about the charity and its work. • Being given the option to receive regular updates about the charity’s work, either in the form of a newsletter or by email. In an ideal world, you should also be given a choice about the method and frequency of communication. The level of attention you receive from the charity you donate to depends both on the size of the organisation and how much and how often you give. Obviously it’s pretty pointless giving an organisation a donation if it spends it all on sending you detailed information. Smaller charities with lower incomes often won’t send out glossy supporter magazines and personalised thank-you letters because they can’t justify the cost. And if your donation is relatively small, it is understandable that a charity may keep its communication minimal to make sure more goes on the cause.

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Institute of Fundraising’s Donors’ Charter

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The Good Giving Guide Larger charities are more likely to send supporter magazines and newsletters as a way of publicising their work to more people. This is partly because these charities have the clout to strike deals with printing and marketing companies, which means that generating 5 million newsletters is proportionately cheaper than generating 500. Becoming a donor is also very different to becoming a member of a charity. Membership with an annual fee is more like a transaction where you get some kind of benefit in return, such as reduced entry fees to exhibitions or a yearbook. Becoming a donor should be predominately an altruistic relationship, so the charity should not obliged to give you anything in return. As a donor, you might also expect the following: • If you gave permission for your details to be shared with third parties, you may start getting post from other charities asking you to sign up (see the ‘Your Rights’ section below). • After you’ve been a donor for a while, the charity may call or write to ask if you would consider donating to an emergency appeal, increasing your monthly donation or whether you are interested in taking part in a fundraising event. • The charity may email or write to ask if you are interested in getting involved in any of its campaigns. • The charity should be open and transparent if you ask about where your money is going or enquire about other aspects of its work. • The charity should not put any pressure on you to start giving more or get involved in other ways. The Institute of Fundraising, which represents charity fundraisers, has issued a Donor’s Charter, which details how charities should treat donors. See page 135.

Improving your relationship There are some steps that you can take to improve and maintain your relationship with your chosen charity. • The charity will produce an annual report summarising its work and achievements. Take the time to look at this and keep track of where your money is going. • Inform the charity if your circumstances change or you move house.

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The Real World • Let the charity know if you are having any difficulties, such as receiving unwanted mailings and give the charity the chance to straighten things out. • Contact the charity if you want fewer or more communications.

Life as a volunteer Although volunteering is often rewarding, the jobs you may end up doing could be less than exciting. The reality of volunteering is that you’re often there to help charities out with the essential jobs they don’t have the staff to do – which is usually the unskilled stuff. So if you’re working in an office environment, be prepared for lots of envelope stuffing, faxing and photocopying. Similarly if you’re working outside on conservation or environmental projects make sure you’re up for a lot of manual work. Volunteers are often the manpower behind community conservation or regeneration schemes and have to get a lot done with very minimal resources. Even if the organisation you’re working with has very limited resources, there are some basics that you can expect. The organisation should provide you with some rudimentary training, a proper induction to explain how the organisation works and how you as a volunteer fit in. More importantly, you should definitely receive proper health and safety training if you’re operating machinery or are in a position where you could harm yourself or others. There should also be someone you can contact for support and advice about relevant insurance cover. You can improve the relationship with your organisation by making sure that you are open and honest about the amount of time you have to spare and what kinds of tasks you are happy doing. If you are unhappy with your placement, make sure you talk to someone as soon as possible. Problems can usually be ironed out more easily if they are tackled before they have time to develop.

Life as an activist People become campaigners or activists because they want to see things change, so it can be frustrating if your actions don’t make an immediate impact. Unfortunately most high-profile campaigning victories are the product of years of behind-the-scenes lobbying and activism and it takes time to get your voice heard and listened to. Campaigning can be hard and thankless work, so it’s important to keep an end goal in sight and to keep positive about why you’re spending

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The Good Giving Guide your time fighting for a cause. Having a strong network of people who are doing the same can help keep campaigns buoyant and alive. Often campaigns can seem to have little or no effect, but it’s important to recognise that without people like you there is often no voice of opposition fighting for the rights of the underprivileged, peripheral or ignored. It is important to set small and manageable goals rather than just focusing on achieving the end goal. If you become part of a group of activists or start campaigning for a particular charity or organisation, you should be told of the legal repercussions of your actions and how the organisation will support you if you come under fire from the media, company lawyers or Government figures. If you’re campaigning on behalf of an organisation, always make sure you have their endorsement, as it’s their reputation that is also on the line.

Your rights The data protection act – are personal details protected? Personal data is big business, and this goes for charities as well as commercial organisations. In addition to buying names and addresses from ‘data houses’, charities also swap data on their own donors with other charities. This practice, known as ‘reciprocal mailing’, can be quite effective: people who already donate to one charity are more likely than a non-donor to support a second or third.1

‘I don’t like the way charities I give to have sold their mailing lists to others, which then plague me with appeals and make me feel guilty when I say no,’ male, 54 2 If you don’t want your data to be sold or shared, then be vigilant whenever you give your personal details to an organisation, whether it be a charity, your optician or a competition to win a holiday. Because of the new Data Protection Act, anyone collecting your details now has to ask permission if they want to sell or share them. This means that whenever you fill in a form, there will be some kind of data protection statement and a tick box so that you can opt in or out of this kind of data sharing. If you have already given your information to the organisation, you have a right to send that organisation a written notice requiring them to

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The Real World stop or not to begin using your data to make unsolicited contact. There is no set format, but the notice must be in the form of a written letter and it must give an appropriate notice period. You can also have your name and other details removed from the mailing lists used by organisations that send direct mail. To do this, you should contact the Mailing Preference Service (MPS), which keeps a register of people who want to restrict the mail they receive. The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and the Fax Preference Service (FPS) work in similar ways. Under legislation introduced in May 1999, it is a legal requirement that companies do not make such calls or faxes to numbers registered on the TPS or FPS.

The Data Protection Act 1998 sets out eight principles, which state that information kept by organisations should be: • • • • • • • •

Used fairly and lawfully. Used for limited purposes. Adequate, relevant and not excessive. Accurate. Not kept for longer than is necessary. Dealt with in a transparent manner. Secure. Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection.3

Contacts Mailing Preference Service www.mpsonline.org.uk

t 020 7291 3310

Telephone Preference Service www.tpsonline.org.uk

t: 020 7291 3320

Facsimile Preference Service www.fpsonline.org.uk

t: 020 7291 3330

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The Good Giving Guide The Data Protection Act gives you the right to receive details about what information is held about you within 40 days of a request, and to get incorrect information about yourself changed or destroyed. You also have the right to claim compensation if you have suffered damage or distress as a result of somebody failing to comply with the Data Protection Act. Further information

• BBC, ‘How to protect your information using the Data Protection Act’, at: www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ican/A2404054. • The Office of the Information Commissioner at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.

Membership charities – your right to vote at AGMs More than 80,000 charities have some sort of membership scheme.4 The largest is the National Trust, which has more than 3 million active members. Becoming a member of a charity means that you’re a lot closer to the organisation than being just a donor, and sometimes comes with additional powers and responsibilities. Members usually have the right to vote on decisions taken by the charity at an Annual General Meeting and decide who sits on the trustee board. Membership normally means paying an annual fee and in return the organisation will usually treat you as a stakeholder, providing discounts and regular communication via membership newsletters or information packs. Because it differs from organisation to organisation your charity should: • Explain what membership entails, including the rights and responsibilities that accompany the role. • Explain what voting rights you have and how this impacts on the work of the charity. • Show how your membership fee is being used.

Health and safety at charity events If you’re taking part in a charity event there is some basic health and safety and insurance information that you should be supplied with. Events in the UK

If you’re doing a sponsored event, such as a parachute jump, a fun run or an outdoor challenge, a charity should:

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The Real World • Provide basic health and safety training. • Ask you whether you’d like to take out Public Liability Insurance to cover yourself in the event of injury. You should have the option to decide which insurance company you’d prefer to go with, although the charity will also usually suggest one. • Notify the relevant public services, such as Mountain Rescue, the police or the coastguard to ensure the safety of participants. Events overseas

Overseas challenge events are becoming increasingly popular as more charities offer the opportunity for people to raise sponsorship money to take part in adventure trips abroad. If you’re taking part in such an event charities should: • Require you to take out Public Liability Insurance. For an overseas event, charities are legally obliged to get insurance for every participant. This cost is often factored in to the sponsorship fee. Again, you should have the option of picking your own insurance company if you want to. • Make it clear exactly what this insurance covers. Normally standard insurance will cover medical costs up to a certain amount and repatriation costs if people need to be flown home. Events organised by the public

If you’re organising an event on behalf of a charity, or have taken a charity place in a marathon or other sporting event, you should be aware that by law the charity has the right to claim any money raised in its name, even if the event if cancelled or postponed. So if you are organising a fete, which gets called off due to bad weather, but have spent sponsorship money on things such as venue or entertainment, the charity could ask for you to reimburse them. However, in theory this is unlikely to happen. Charities are usually sympathetic if events go wrong and want to keep their fundraisers on side.

Charity accountability Charities and non-profits are legally accountable to various stakeholders, including: • Funders (such as private donors, central and local Government and corporate donors)

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The Good Giving Guide • • • • •

Members Beneficiaries and users Staff, volunteers and activists Regulators The general public.5

Basically, this means that a charity is working on behalf of all of these different groups. Charities have a responsibility to be accountable to their beneficiaries so they can serve their interests in the most effective way. They also have to make the most of donors’ funding. Being accountable to these multiple and diverse stakeholders can be tricky. For example, an international development charity has donors in one country and beneficiaries in another, each with different needs and opinions, yet it must satisfy both. The main way that charities achieve this goal is to try to ensure that any information about the organisation, such as its charitable aims, financial details and current programmes of activity, is available to any relevant party. Registered charities

In England and Wales, charities are also required to provide copies of their annual report and accounts to the Charity Commission. New laws under consideration in Scotland will also mean that Scottish charities have to send their accounts to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. The Charity Commission has recently started naming and shaming those that don’t report in time on the Charity Commission website.6 Unlike other non-profits, charities are also under a legal duty to be accountable to the public.7 This includes providing certain information to anyone who requests it within one month of the request being made. This includes: • A copy of the ‘explanatory document’, which can be a constitution or annual report. • A set of the most recent annual accounts. A reasonable charge can be made for the copying and postage of these documents.8 The fight for transparency – the Standard Information Return

Charities in England and Wales with an annual income of more than £1 million will soon also have to fill in a two-page summary of their activities,

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The Real World known as a Standard Information Return, to show clearly how they are spending their money. The return will provide both numerical and descriptive information about their achievements, policies, governance and finances, and will be available from the charity and the Charity Commission. In a recent review of charity regulation, the Government also suggested that in the future charities in England and Wales with an annual income of more than £1 million should also declare their ethical investment stance in their annual report.9 Campaigning groups and other not-for-profits

Other voluntary organisations are obliged to send their accounts to the appropriate regulator. This is Companies House for organisations that are set up as companies limited by guarantee, the Financial Services Authority for industrial provident societies in Britain and the Registrar of Companies, Credit Unions and Industrial and Provident Societies for industrial provident societies in Northern Ireland.

Regulation of fundraising Steps are being taken by registered charities to try to make the public more confident about how charities fundraise. The major charities are in the process of setting up a new scheme to regulate charity fundraising practices. The scheme will mean that charities will carry a kite mark to show that they have signed up to new fundraising conduct codes. Anyone donating money will be able to see whether an organisation is conforming to universally accepted codes of practice. Anyone who has reservations about a charity fundraising campaign or has a bad experience with a charity fundraiser should first contact the charity directly to try to resolve the issue. If this is not successful it will be possible to complain to a new organisation, known as the Charity Fundraising Standards Board, that will have the power to investigate and take action. The scheme is likely to be up and running in 2005. For more information, contact the Institute of Fundraising (www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk). Should it fail, the Government has reserved the right to set up some kind of statutory regulation.

Regulation of charity advertising Charity advertising is regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority in the same way as most other advertising. This includes newspaper

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The Good Giving Guide and printed adverts and also direct mail leaflets, but not broadcast adverts. For more information or to make a complaint, contact the ASA: Advertising Standards Authority 2 Torrington Place London WC1E 7HW t: 020 7580 5555 f: 020 7631 3051 e: [email protected] www.asa.org.uk

Finding the right regulator If you want to find details about an organisation or you have concerns about a particular charity or non-profit, the organisation’s regulator is one of the most useful starting points. Many regulators hold a register of organisations within their remit and the vast majority have some kind of complaints procedure. However, with distinct regulators in the different countries of the UK and separate regulatory systems for different types of organisation, finding the appropriate regulator can be easier said than done. This section summarises the main regulators in the UK and some useful organisations further afield.

Charities in and around the UK England and Wales

The Charity Commission has four offices and work is distributed between them on a geographical basis. The location of a charity (correspondence address) determines which office is responsible. The Commission maintains an electronic register of charities on its website. CHARITY COMMISSION London Office: Harmsworth House 13–15 Bouverie Street London EC4Y 8DP Taunton Office: Woodfield House Tangier Taunton TA1 4BL

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The Real World Liverpool Office: 20 Kings Parade Queens Dock Liverpool L3 4DQ Newport Office: 8th Floor Clarence House Clarence Place Newport NP19 7AA All general telephone enquires to: 0870 333 0123 or minicom 0870 333 0125, www.charity-commission.gov.uk. Scotland

OFFICE OF THE SCOTTISH CHARITY REGULATOR Argyll House Marketgait Dundee DD1 1QP t: 01382 220 446 f: 01382 220 314 www.oscr.org.uk

The OSCR has been set up in anticipation of new charity law being debated in Scotland at the moment. When the law is passed its powers will be extended. The website contains an index of active Scottish charities. However, it is still being developed at the moment and it is not an authoritative list of all charities recognised in Scotland. The Inland Revenue has a full index and can be contacted on 0131 777 4147. Northern Ireland

DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Castle Buildings Stormont Belfast BT4 3 PP t: 028 90 569314 f: 0289 905 22799 www.dsdni.gov.uk

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The Good Giving Guide There is currently no official charity register. Some organisations that work with the Social Security Agency are listed at www.ssani.gov.uk/ tools/voluntaryorganisations.htm. Isle of Man

Details of registered Manx charities are available from the General Registry operated by the Isle of Man Government on 01624 685265. The Government website can be found at www.gov.im. Jersey

THE COMPTROLLER OF INCOME TAX PO Box 56 Cyril Le Marquand House St Helier Jersey JE4 8PF t: 01534 603300 f: 01534 789142 www.incometax.gov.je

There is no system of compulsory registration of charities. While the role of assessment of charitable bodies currently rests with the Comptroller of Income Tax, a review of charity law is currently being conducted and could lead to the establishment of a Charity Commission. The Jersey Charities Association was established as an independent body to promote communication between charities. It has more than 200 charity members, all of which fulfil the Association’s rules and regulations that insist that all members have a properly formed constitution with at least ten members and a committee. The Association maintains a directory of members. See www.cab.org.je/086200.htm. Guernsey and Alderney

Organisations in Guernsey and Alderney can apply for charitable status from the Administrator of Income Tax, but this only affects tax liabilities on funds. There is no register for charities. However, the Association of Guernsey Charities, a membership body for charities and voluntary organisations, keeps a directory of members. See: www.guernseycharities.org.gg.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL, COMMUNITY AND FAMILY AFFAIRS 157–164 Townsend Street Dublin 2 t: 01 8748444 www.welfare.ie

The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs is the principal authority responsible for charity regulatory matters. However, there is no designated body in Ireland charged with exercising a supervisory role of charities. There is also no requirement that charities register, nor is there any facility for them to do so. The Revenue Commissioners grant charitable status for tax purposes. See www.revenue.ie.

Other regulators in the UK Industrial provident societies In Great Britain:

MUTUAL SOCIETIES REGISTRATION SECTION OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY The Financial Services Authority 25 The North Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 5HS t: 020 7066 1000 www.fsa.gov.uk

In Northern Ireland:

REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES, CREDIT UNIONS AND INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES IDB House 64 Chichester Street Belfast BT1 4JX t: 028 9025 2465 Others

Inland Revenue – www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk Companies house – www.companieshouse.gov.uk

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The Good Giving Guide Charities overseas Australia

In Australia, non-profit organisations and charities are registered with the Australian Taxation Office as deductible gift recipients. See www.ato. gov.au/nonprofit. See also the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Information Network (APPIN), which provides useful information about 12 countries in the region and seeks to encourage giving: www.asianphilanthropy.org. Canada

Charities in Canada are registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which holds list of registered charities, and is updated weekly. www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/tax/charities/menu-e.html

New Zealand

A Charities Commission is currently being created and should be operational by late 2004. www.charities.govt.nz In the mean time, the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa (ANGOA) is a coordinating and networking organisation for other non-governmental organisations. ANGOA maintains a list of members. www.converge.org.nz/angoa South Africa

The South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) emerged in 1995 to coordinate NGO input into the Government policy. It is the largest single umbrella body of NGOs in the Southern African region with members in every corner of the country and working on all issues affecting South Africa’s development. www.sangoco.org.za USA

In the United States of America, the attorney general of each state maintains a registry of charitable organisations. The American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) is a nationally prominent charity watchdog service whose purpose is to help donors make informed giving decisions. www.charitywatch.org Other countries

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations in England provides a useful directory called ‘Signposting to international umbrella bodies’, which lists details of umbrella bodies representing voluntary organisations in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, North America, Latin America and Australasia. This can be accessed by visiting www.ncvo-vol.org.uk.

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Part Two Who Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and How to Find Them

I n t ro d u c t i o n

Part Two of The Good Giving Guide illustrates the scale and diversity of voluntary organisations working for different causes across the UK. Each chapter focuses on a specific cause. To give an insight into the organisations working in that area, we profile one of Britain’s 50 bestknown charities, a regional or community grassroots group and an organisation working on a very specific area within the cause. The final chapter deviates slightly from this in focusing on national charity appeals. This section is not a directory, and is by no means a comprehensive listing of all the organisations working for good causes. We are not recommending that the reader should only consider helping the charities or campaigning groups included in this section of the book. Instead, we hope to ignite your interest in finding a group that you believe will help change the world for the better. Each chapter includes a further information section, which suggests where to go to find other organisations working for that particular cause. Case studies in this section are compiled from information provided by the charities, as well as data from charities’ annual reports and websites.

Britain’s best-known charities – about the research All charities and groups featured in the ‘national organisation’ category are taken from the Charity Awareness Monitor 2003. The Charity Awareness Monitor is an annual research project carried out by NfpSynergy, a think tank dedicated to the voluntary and community sectors and not-for-profit issues. NfpSynergy asks a sample of 1,000 people who are representative of the UK population by age, gender and social class about what charities they are aware of. This includes spontaneous awareness (the charities

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that are named without any type of prompting), semi-prompted awareness (asking people if they can name a charity that works in a particular area, for example care and welfare of pets) and asking people if they have heard of specific named charities. Put together, this allows NfpSynergy to compile a list of ‘Britain’s Best-known Charities’.

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C h a p t e r 11 I n t e r n at i o n a l D e v e lo p m e n t a n d P ov e r t y R e l i e f Aid agencies brought in more than £775 million1 in personal donations and grants alone in 2001–2. While many accept statutory grants from funders including the Department for International Development, aid charities always maintain independence from Government and armed forces so that they can set their own agendas and remain completely impartial. However, in today’s increasingly volatile international climate, this impartiality is under threat. Aid workers are increasingly targeted for attacks in the countries they work in: in 2004 three Medecins Sans Frontieres aid workers operating in Afghanistan were ambushed and killed by the Taliban, who claimed that the charity workers had been carrying out American Government policy.2 It is vital that the work of aid agencies reflects the cultural landscape of the countries they work in and promotes long-term relief programmes. In the past, some charities have been accused of imposing Western values and solutions that didn’t take into account local knowledge, experience and needs. Most organisations are now taking a more strategic and less operational role in developing countries, helping to train and build capacity amongst local NGOs and recruiting staff who come from the countries they are working in. In 2003, ActionAid decided to re-locate its headquarters to South Africa to enable the organisation to be more accountable to the people that it works with in Africa. Development work is now increasingly based on the premise of ‘trade not aid’ – the idea that rather than continually sending aid to poor countries, governments and aid agencies should instead help them to become sustainable – so that these countries can support themselves and build a future that doesn’t include Western intervention.

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The best-known international aid and poverty relief organisations The following international aid and poverty relief charities all appear in the list of the 50 most recognised charities. The list is based on an independent survey that asked a sample of people on the street to name charities that they know of. Oxfam, which is featured in a full-length case study below, is also present in the top 50 list. ActionAid

ActionAid works in partnership with more than nine million people in poor communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to alleviate poverty. Its approach is to work with poor and marginalized people to eradicate poverty by overcoming the injustice and inequity that causes it. www.actionaid.org.uk t: 020 7561 7561 British Red Cross

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the largest independent humanitarian network in the world. The British Red Cross responds to emergencies, trains first-aiders, helps vulnerable people regain their independence and assists refugees and asylum seekers. www.redcross.org.uk t: 020 7201 5027 Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) CAFOD is the official overseas development and relief agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. CAFOD has been fighting poverty in developing countries since 1962. It works alongside poor people in more than 60 countries regardless of race or religion to end poverty and make a just world. It promotes long-term development, responds to emergencies, identifies the causes of poverty and raises public awareness. www.cafod.org.uk

t: 020 7733 7900

Christian Aid

Christian Aid is an agency of the churches in the UK and Ireland and works wherever the need is greatest, irrespective of religion. It supports local organisations, which are best placed to understand local needs, as well as giving help on the ground through 16 overseas offices. www.christianaid.org.uk t: 020 7620 4444

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International Development and Poverty Relief Medecins Sans Frontieres

Medecins Sans Frontieres is an international medical aid agency with a reputation for being not only the first to arrive in a crisis-hit area, but often the only organisation to be there at all. The movement was awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize. www.uk.msf.org t: 020 7404 6600 Tearfund

Tearfund is a relief and development agency that works in partnership with Christian agencies and churches around the world to tackle the causes and effects of poverty. www.tearfund.org t: 020 8977 9144 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF is a global champion for children’s rights. It works in 158 countries and territories to fulfil children’s rights to health and nutrition, education, emergency relief, protection, and water and sanitation. www.unicef.org.uk t: 020 7405 5592

National charity (selected from the 50 most recognised charities) – Oxfam GB Oxfam believes that in a world rich in resources, poverty isn’t a fact of life but an injustice that must be overcome. It believes that everyone is entitled to a life of dignity and opportunity; and it works with poor communities, local partner organisations, volunteers and supporters to make this a reality. Oxfam works on a number of issues, including trade, debt and aid, health, HIV and AIDS, gender equality, democracy and human rights. Annual turnover

£189 million

Recent achievements

• Oxfam is developing a livelihoods programme to enable producers to reach appropriate markets. The results are already taking effect. In Georgia, training in market analysis has already helped a group of kiwi-fruit growers to sell their fruit over a longer period each year, doubling their income. • Nearly 30 million people in western and southern Africa are struggling to find enough to eat each day. Oxfam distributes emergency supplies of food and water to communities in the worst affected regions as well as putting

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The Good Giving Guide in place longer-term measures, such as providing irrigation systems and supplying seeds to help farmers to grow a more climate-resistant range of crops. • In Pakistan, Oxfam partners lobbied the Government, resulting in the removal of tax from 20 essential medicines. Oxfam partners in Thailand also got results after they lobbied their government. History

In 1942, the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief was set up to highlight the problems created by the Nazi occupation of Greece and request relief for those in urgent need. Its first appeal – ‘Greek Week’ – raised £12,700 for the Greek Red Cross. By 1950, the charity had acquired its first charity shop and had widened its focus beyond Greece to suffering in any part of the world. By the mid 1960s, the charity had become widely known by its telegram abbreviation – Oxfam. Structure and reach

Oxfam GB is a UK-based charity encompassing Oxfam Scotland and Oxfam Cymru. The charity works in 60 countries worldwide. It is also a member of Oxfam International, a confederation of 12 Oxfam organisations working together. How the charity raises money

Oxfam raises most of its income through public donations (£75.5 million). It also receives money from governments in the UK and abroad, other international bodies, such as the United Nations and the European Union, and from trading. How people can get involved

There are a wide number of options for people wanting to get involved with Oxfam. These including donating money, giving unwanted items to one of the charity’s high-street shops, volunteering at one of Oxfam’s offices or shops, helping out as a steward at one of the music festivals that Oxfam participates in or getting involved in campaigning. Campaigns include: ‘Play Fair at the Olympics’, which aims to support workers’ rights in the sportswear industry; ‘Control Arms’, which is demanding tougher controls on the arms trade; and ‘Sweetness and might’, a campaign to reform the EU sugar regime. www.oxfam.org.uk t: 0870 333 2700

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International Development and Poverty Relief

Special interest charity – WaterAid WaterAid is the international charity dedicated to helping the world’s poorest people escape the poverty and diseases caused by living without safe water and sanitation. The charity works in partnership with local organisations in 15 countries in Africa and Asia to help poor communities establish their own self-managed sustainable water supplies and latrines close to home. It also campaigns to influence governments’ water and sanitation policies to serve the interests of vulnerable people. Annual turnover Regular financial supporters

£18.5 million 80,000

Recent achievements

During 2003–4, WaterAid increased its income to more than £18.5 million, which allowed it to scale up the projects in many of its 15 country programmes and help a further 575,000 people. This takes the cumulative total of people who have benefited from WaterAid to over 7.5 million. The charity has become increasingly successful at using the lessons learnt from its own fieldwork to influence water and sanitation policies at local, national and international levels for the benefit of poor people. WaterAid is currently working on an ambitious plan to furtherincrease the growth of its international programmes by more than 80 per cent over the next three years. History

WaterAid was originally established by representatives from the UK water authorities in 1981 – the first year of the ‘Decade of Drinking Water and Sanitation’. During its first year, the charity raised £25,000 from water industry employees and supported projects in Zambia and Sri Lanka. The UK Government, along with other governments, has committed to halve the proportions of people without access to safe water or sanitation between 2000 and 2015, but progress has stalled miserably. The charity is working hard to make these goals a reality through its campaign, ‘Flush out poverty’, and through on-going dialogue with the Government.

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The Good Giving Guide Structure and reach

WaterAid’s head office is based in Central London, but the charity also has regional fundraisers based throughout the UK. WaterAid works in 15 countries in Africa and Asia, including Ghana, Ethiopia, India and Bangladesh, and has offices of varying sizes in each of these countries, all of which are headed up by a country representative. How the charity raises money

WaterAid is supported largely by public donations in the form of regular gifts, one-off gifts to special appeals and community fundraising. The charity also receives some funding from the UK Government and from the EU. In 2002–3, it received more than £3 million from water industry employees and customers, as well as £8 million from members of the public and community groups. How people can get involved

Supporters can help by making donations, getting involved in employee fundraising, helping to organise and coordinate events or taking part in individual overseas fundraising trips. Supporters can also get involved in WaterAid’s campaigns. Potential activists can sign up on the charity’s website to get email campaigning updates. Volunteers can help in the WaterAid offices with tasks such as carrying out research, cataloguing information, responding to information requests or office administration. They can also get involved in fundraising or stewarding at one of the music festivals that WaterAid attends. www.wateraid.org.uk t: 020 7793 4500

Regional charity – Edinburgh Direct Aid Edinburgh Direct Aid delivers aid to those who have suffered from war and ethnic cleansing. It aims to: • Bring humanitarian aid to all those in the Balkans who suffered as a result of the war, especially from ethnic cleansing. • Deliver aid in person to those in need, to ensure that the aid gets to those for whom it was meant, and to demonstrate support and commitment by personal presence. • Use all donations to buy essentials such as medical goods and food and to keep its convoys running.

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International Development and Poverty Relief The charity has an all-volunteer UK staff and does not use paid advertisements or fundraisers. It has recently extended its reach beyond the Balkans and now also aims to help people in Palestine. Recent achievements

During 2001–2, the charity: • Opened a day care centre for children with special needs in Sarajevo. • Repaired 444 houses in Kosovo and rebuilt a further 161 houses for minority returnees across Bosnia. • Delivered more than 20 tons of aid to families of children with special needs in Sarajevo, children’s homes in Fojnica and social care in Kljuc. History

Edinburgh Direct Aid was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, in September 1992 as a reaction to the founders’ indignation at the massacres, ethnic cleansing and city sieges in Bosnia during 1992. The charity’s first convoy was a Volvo car with a one-ton trailer and a camper van, which were loaded with blankets and clothes for refugee camps near Zagreb, as well as some drugs requested by a Zagreb hospital. The charity quickly realised that although refugees in Croatia needed help, the worst need was in Bosnia. From September 1992 to September 1996, the charity took 33 different groups of volunteers from Edinburgh to the former Yugoslavia, delivering over 2,000 tons of aid in hundreds of separate sorties into Bosnia. Structure and reach

The charity is based in Edinburgh and delivers aid to people in Bosnia and Palestine. It has three bases in Bosnia: a day care centre in Sarajevo, and offices in Bihac and Kljuc. How the charity raises money

Edinburgh Direct Aid receives funds from international donors such as the European Commission, the US Bureau of Population and Refugees and the Portuguese Embassy in Sarajevo. It also relies on individual donations and gifts in kind.

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The Good Giving Guide How people can get involved

Those that live in Edinburgh can get involved by volunteering to help out at the charity’s base. Tasks include helping with fundraising and street collections, keeping the warehouse in order, picking up and delivering goods, mending lorries and checking and repairing items such as computers, bicycles and wheelchairs that are destined for Bosnia. It is also possible to use your own computer to help out from home or volunteer to join an aid convoy or go on a placement to one of the charity’s bases in Bosnia. Edinburgh Direct Aid also welcomes financial donations as well as gifts of computers, nappies, toiletries, food, school items and men’s shoes. Secure donations can be made via the charity’s website. www.edinburghdirectaid.org t: 0131 552 1545

Other organisations working in this area CARE International

CARE International is a global humanitarian organisation, working with more than 30 million disadvantaged people each year in 72 of the world’s poorest countries. It runs programmes supporting primary healthcare, promoting sustainable agriculture or developing savings and loan schemes. It promotes positive and lasting change to reduce long-term dependency. It also provides emergency food and shelter to survivors of natural disasters, wars and conflicts. www.careinternational.org.uk t: 020 7934 9334 EveryChild

EveryChild works with vulnerable and marginalized children in 18 countries across the world. The charity works with children, communities and governments to ensure that every child has the right to an education and healthcare, and to grow up in a loving family environment. EveryChild works through local representative offices and by partnering with other independent organisations in the countries that it works in. www.everychild.org.uk t: 020 7749 2468 Fairtrade Foundation

The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement. The foundation works in three main areas: licensing the Fairtrade Mark to products that meet internationally recognised stan-

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International Development and Poverty Relief dards, raising awareness of the Fairtrade Mark, and working with partner organisations to introduce new Fairtrade products and to update the standards for existing products. www.fairtrade.org.uk t: 020 7405 5942 HopeHIV

HopeHIV is a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children in subSaharan Africa that have been orphaned by AIDS. Some of these children are taken in by relatives, but many take to the streets or are simply forgotten and left to fend for themselves. HopeHIV aims to give them the chance to be part of a family environment once again. The charity works with partners in Africa to provide care for the children in their own communities. It is involved in projects that provide education, skills training, recreational camps and counselling as well as offering advice to community workers. www.hopehiv.org t: 020 8288 1196 Landmine Action

Landmine Action works to eliminate landmines and other explosive devices left over after war to help save lives and protect the livelihoods of those living in former conflict zones. The charity provides information and advice about landmines to communities, United Nations agencies and charity or voluntary groups. It also educates the public about the impact of landmines and helps communities, charities and voluntary groups to relieve the poverty caused by landmines. To achieve these aims, Landmine Action provides training, technical advice and resources to help its partners in mine-affected countries. www.landmineaction.org t: 020 7820 0222 Merlin

Merlin provides lifesaving healthcare for people in crises and disaster situations around the world. It specialises in reaching the poorest countries with the most difficult environments and supporting vulnerable people when the local infrastructure has broken down. The charity works with existing local health structures to reach 16 million people in countries including Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Iran and Tajikistan. It provides essential drugs, training and education for local doctors and nurses so that they are better able to help themselves in the future. Merlin is an active partner in the World Health Organisation’s ‘Roll Back Malaria’

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The Good Giving Guide campaign, and is the only NGO specialising in the treatment of Lassa Fever, a deadly disease prevalent in west and central Africa. www.merlin.org.uk t: 020 7065 0800 Mothers’ Union

The Mothers’ Union promotes the well-being of families worldwide. It was started in England in 1876, and now has more than three million members in 74 countries. The charity runs projects and activities to encourage and support families in everyday life. UK initiatives include an accredited Parenting Programme and ‘Up to Speed’, a drugs awareness scheme. The charity also campaigns on worldwide issues such as parental rights, international debt relief and child poverty. www.themothersunion.org t: 020 7222 5533 Sight Savers International

Sight Savers is dedicated to combating blindness in developing countries. It works with partner organisations in poor communities to support ongoing activities that prevent and cure blindness. As well as providing treatment for people with conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma or river blindness, Sight Savers also runs programmes to rehabilitate those who are irreversibly blind. In 2002, the charity supported more than 175,000 cataract operations, the treatment of over 8 million people for river blindness and screening of over 4.5 million people for sight-related problems. www.sightsavers.org.uk t: 01444 446600 War on Want

War on Want works to reduce poverty and social exclusion. This includes ensuring that workers in conflict zones have the opportunity to work in secure conditions; standing up for the rights of informal workers such as street sellers, shoe-shine workers, domestic workers and rag-pickers; and working to improve conditions in sweatshops and export factories. It does not support boycotts of these factories, which it says often result in workers who desperately need an income losing their livelihoods. The charity also supports organisations that are involved in standing up to unfair landlords; fighting against evictions, low wages and landlessness in rural areas; and those which aim to reduce gender inequality. www.waronwant.org t: 020 7620 1111

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International Development and Poverty Relief World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief and development agency that helps more than 85 million people in nearly 100 countries in their struggle against poverty, hunger and injustice. It helps people irrespective of their religious beliefs. The charity focuses on the five key areas: HIV/AIDS prevention and care, fostering peace in troubled communities, promoting food security, helping communities recognise their rights and making sure those who are disabled have an equal place in community life. It also has a network of rapid response teams across the world who can help out in emergencies and natural disasters. www.worldvision.org.uk t: 01908 84 10 10

Further information Bond

The network of more than 280 UK-based voluntary organisations working in international development and development education. Bond’s website includes a directory of its members as well as an index of NGO networks. www.bond.org.uk

Alertnet

The educational and humanitarian trust funded and run by the Reuters Foundation provides news and educational resources relating to NGOs. It also holds a searchable database of its 250 members worldwide. www.alertnet.org

OneWorld

The online civil society network, which has a database of 1,500 organisations from across the globe. www.oneworld.net

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C h a p t e r 12 Human Rights There are still relatively few organisations dedicated exclusively to protecting human rights. Human rights organisations are by their very nature campaigning bodies. They seek to highlight human rights abuses and take governments to task over their behaviours. Traditionally groups like Amnesty International worked to free ‘prisoners of conscience’; those imprisoned, abused or persecuted for their political views or moral principles. Because of this, until recently many human rights groups, including Amnesty International UK, could not become registered charities because their main core of activity consisted of campaigning to change laws, which wasn’t considered to be a charitable purpose. This is now expected to change in England and Wales if the government’s new Charities Bill passes smoothly through parliament. A similar bill is also progressing in Scotland. Whether these groups decide to register for charitable status, as and when this becomes possible, is another issue altogether. Charitable status would still bring some restrictions on campaigning activities and many human rights organisations have strong heritages of being independent grassroots movements and require the freedom to campaign on whichever issues are most salient. Many specialist human rights organisations develop from grassroots level and are run and founded by passionate and committed human rights campaigners. On an international scale, groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch act as human rights policemen in places of conflict, protesting against wide-scale abuse. Without them, thousands would still be incarcerated or executed and the profile of the basic rights of any living person wouldn’t be so high on many governments’ political agendas. As well as profiling some well-known organisations working for human rights more generally, this chapter also includes references to groups working for penal rights, gay and lesbian issues and a range of other civil liberties.

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Human Rights

The best-known human rights organisations Only one human rights organisation appears in the list of the 50 most recognised charities and campaigning organisations: Amnesty International.

National organisation – Amnesty International (AI) Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights movement working to prevent grave violations of human rights by governments and armed opposition groups. The object of Amnesty International is to contribute to the observance, throughout the world, of human rights, as set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amnesty International is impartial. It is independent of any government, political persuasion or religious creed. Regular givers (via direct debit) Worldwide members UK members and supporters Volunteers/activists in the UK

140,719 over 1.2 million 204,386 approximately 37,000

Achievements

Amnesty International has been described by Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the United Nations, as an ‘invaluable organisation’. The organisation’s current campaigns include: Control Arms, which demands tougher restrictions on the international arms trade; business and corporate responsibility, and Stop Violence Against Women, focusing on rape as a weapon of war, domestic violence and other gender-based crimes against women and girls. Amnesty International’s long-term objectives focus on eradicating torture and the death penalty. Amnesty International’s ‘Urgent Action’ letter-writing appeals continue to be hugely successful. In 2002, approximately one-third of updates on Urgent Actions recorded positive developments. History

Amnesty International was launched in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson, after he read about two Portuguese students sentenced to seven years in prison for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom. In 1977 Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for having contributed to securing the grounds for freedom and justice,

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The Good Giving Guide and therefore peace in the world. In 1978 it received the UN Human Rights prize for its outstanding contributions in the field of human rights. Structure and reach

Amnesty International has democratic decision-making structures. It is governed by a nine-member International Executive Committee, itself elected by and answerable to the organisation’s 58 nationally organised international sections. Amnesty International has members in over 150 countries and offices in over 50 countries. Amnesty International UK (AIUK) is one of the 58 nationally organised sections that make up the Amnesty International worldwide movement. It has offices in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London, as well as about 300 local groups. AIUK members elect a national board of twelve people to represent them. This board employs the AIUK director, who is responsible for the UK section’s work. How the group raises money

Amnesty International is financed by subscriptions and donations from members and the public. No funds are sought or accepted from governments. How people can get involved

Amnesty International is a membership organisation relying on the public, not just for financial donations, but also for active support. One of the organisation’s key campaigning tools is letter writing. Every day Amnesty International produces ‘Urgent Action’ appeals on behalf of prisoners of conscience or those at imminent risk of execution or torture. It encourages its supporters to write to the appropriate authorities about the case, calling for either the prisoner’s release or for clemency. Amnesty’s network of more than 300 local groups in the UK get involved in activities ranging from letter-writing campaigns, to local fundraising events and local press work to help raise awareness for the organisation’s activities. www.amnesty.org.uk t: 020 7814 6200

Special interest organisation – Global Witness All over the world, many thousands of people suffer from human rights abuses as a result of conflict and corruption. Global Witness investigates

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Human Rights and exposes the way that conflict and corruption is funded through the exploitation of natural resources, such as diamonds, timber and oil. The organisation conducts field investigations and undercover operations to name and shame those involved. It produces detailed and objective reports showing how resources are unduly exploited and revenues diverted. It presents these reports to the world’s policy makers and uses them to pressure governments and regulatory bodies to push for a more sustainable use of resources and a fairer distribution of revenues. The organisation has no political affiliation and is non-partisan everywhere that it works. Annual turnover Regular financial supporters Volunteers and activists

£3 million 50 (approx) 3 volunteers

Achievements

• Global Witness has consistently set the agenda for global debate on issues concerning the management of natural resource extraction. • The organisation contributed to the downfall of the Khmer Rouge by exposing the link between illegal logging and the funding of the regime in Cambodia. • Its campaigning led directly to the establishment of the Kimberley Process, an international certification scheme for the diamond industry. In 2003 Global Witness was joint nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its work on this issue. History

Global Witness was founded in 1993 by three concerned individuals. From an initial full-time staff of two, its staff now totals forty based in three offices. The organisation has pioneered a successful approach to help resolve conflict and corruption in countries that are often rich in resources, but where the welfare of the resident population seems to decline as the exploitation of these resources increases. Structure and reach

Global Witness has 40 staff worldwide. The headquarters is based in London, with field offices in Cameroon and Cambodia. It works in areas where natural resources are exploited and removed from the country, such as Angola, Cambodia, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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The Good Giving Guide How the charity raises money

Global Witness receives the majority of its funds through grants from private and public trusts, foundations, private individuals and development organisations. How to get involved

The best way to support Global Witness is to make a donation. The organisation is keen to investigate the roots of conflict in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also the massive corruption found in oil-rich states such as Sao Tome and Principe and Equatorial Guinea. However, this cannot be done without extra funding. www.globalwitness.org t: 020 7272 6731

Regional organisation – Committee on the Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) The Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) is a campaign and lobby group working to protect and promote human rights in Northern Ireland. Human rights abuses have fed and fuelled the political conflict, and CAJ campaigns to change this situation and to secure improvements across a range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. CAJ is a cross-community group opposed to the use of violence for political ends. Annual turnover Number of supporters Number of regular givers

£300,000 400 100 (via direct debit)

Achievements

• Northern Ireland’s experience of political conflict, human rights abuses, and the importance for effective peace building of putting human rights at the heart of change, have all been actively and positively exploited in a range of ways. • During 2004, CAJ’s director served on a policing inquiry in Guyana in South America and contributed to a round-table human rights forum in Iran. • CAJ helped to get the UN to intervene both to ensure the introduction of anti-race discrimination legislation into Northern Ireland and the end to allegations of psychological ill treatment.

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Human Rights History

The organisation was launched at a conference at Queen’s University Belfast in 1981. The shared agenda was that unionists and nationalists, and those of neither persuasion, might not agree on the future constitutional status of Northern Ireland but could agree on the importance of the state (whichever state) upholding international human rights standards that had been freely entered into. Specialist groups were organised and over time a small staff was appointed, and a broad human rights agenda developed. The organisation was awarded the Council of Europe Human Rights Prize in 1998 for its contribution to the human rights and equality provisions secured in the Good Friday/Belfast agreement. Structure and reach

The charity has one office in Belfast covering Northern Ireland. How the charity raises money

To secure political independence, CAJ takes no money from governments but is dependent on donations, sales of publications and grants from charitable foundations. How to get involved

Supporters can read CAJ’s monthly newsletter to receive up-to-date information on policing, equality, criminal justice, and a whole range of issues, as they touch on questions of gender, disability, race etc. Individuals can join CAJ, attend the AGM and other conferences and seminars organised throughout the year, and contribute to the policy formulation of the organisation and the election of its executive. www.caj.org.uk t: 028 90 961 122

Other organisations working in this area The Free Tibet Campaign

The Free Tibet Campaign stands for Tibetans’ right to determine their own future. It campaigns for an end to the Chinese occupation of Tibet and for the Tibetans’ fundamental human rights to be respected. It is independent of all governments and is funded by its members and supporters. The Campaign works through its network of 50 local groups who spread awareness of the Campaign’s work and stage talks and fundraising events.

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The Good Giving Guide The Free Tibet Campaign also lobbies politicians and corporations, runs public campaigns, coordinates direct actions and raises awareness through education and publicity. www.freetibet.org t: 020 7324 4605 Howard League for Penal Reform

The Howard League for Penal Reform works for humane and rational reform of the prison system in the UK. It deals with human rights issues for prisoners and offenders, such as trying to reduce deaths in custody. In 1996 it successfully campaigned to put an end to putting pregnant prisoners in shackles. It also runs campaigns exploring the rights of children in the penal system, suicide and self-injury and mothers and babies in prison. It publicises books and reports and holds conferences and debates to try to raise awareness of the need to reform the current prison system. www.howardleague.org.uk t: 020 7249 7373 Human Rights Watch

Based in the US with offices around the world, Human Rights Watch is a network of lawyers, journalists, academics and country experts of different nationalities. It publishes reports and investigations into human rights abuses across the world. Through raising awareness of human rights violations it presses for the withdrawal of military and economic support from governments that violate the rights of their people. It also provides up-to-date information about conflicts as they happen. Its report highlighting refugee accounts and statistics helped shape the response of the international community to wars in Kosovo and Chechnya. www.hrw.org t: 020 7713 1995 Liberty

Liberty fights to secure equal rights for all. It aims to expose new and existing laws that curtail civil liberties and human rights, and works with politicians to try to correct them. Liberty lawyers take test cases to UK courts and the European Court of Human Rights, and the group also conducts research into the possible effect of new laws on civil liberties as well as on a range of issues such as death in custody and privacy intrusion. It also runs two specialist advice lines, organises human rights training courses and provides guidance to concerned individuals. www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk t: 020 7403 3888

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Human Rights Medical Aid for Palestinians

Medical Aid for Palestinians is a British charity working for the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. It was founded after the 1984 Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon and works in areas including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, delivering basic health and medical care to Palestinian refugees. It also works to promote Palestinian human rights by providing longer-term support through training local medical staff and teaching vocational skills. It also provides psychosocial support to women and children traumatised by the conflict and supports people with disabilities. www.map-uk.org t: 020 7226 4114 The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture

The Medical Foundation is a human rights organisation that exists to support survivors of torture and organised violence. It deals with the health and well-being of torture survivors and their families by providing medical and social care, practical assistance and psychological and physical therapy. The organisation also raises public awareness about torture and its consequences, documents evidence of torture and provides training for health professionals working with torture survivors. www.torturecare.org.uk t: 020 7697 7777 Stonewall

Stonewall was founded in 1989 as a professional lobbying group to promote equality for gay, lesbian and bisexual people within the mainstream political agenda. It also promotes new research on issues such as discrimination in the workplace, homophobic violence and sex education. It has championed legal cases that challenge equality such as the position of gays and lesbians in the armed forces. It also advises institutions such as the police and local councils on good practice. www.stonewall.org.uk t: 020 7881 9440 Survival International

Survival International supports tribal peoples worldwide. The charity works for their rights through education, advocacy and campaigns. It has direct contact with thousands of indigenous tribes and enables tribal representatives to influence companies that are invading their land, either via direct dialogue or by highlighting their plight through the media to try to swing public opinion. It also uses mass letter-writing campaigns to help

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The Good Giving Guide achieve its objectives. In 2000 the Indian Government abandoned its plan to relocate the isolated Jarawa tribe, after receiving 150–200 letters a day from Survival supporters around the world. www.survival-international.org t: 020 7687 8700 Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid is a national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. It runs more than 500 refuges and other support services to provide safety to women and children suffering from domestic violence. It also lobbies for greater laws against domestic violence and raises awareness of the extent and impact of domestic violence in society. In 2002 Women’s Aid supported more than 143,000 women and 114,000 children and took 35,000 calls on its National Domestic Violence Helpline. www.womensaid.org.uk t: 0117 944 4411

Further information Amnesty International UK

Provides a comprehensive links section on its website that gives details of other human rights organisations. The list is categorised into areas, for example anti-slavery, civil liberties, the death penalty and torture. www.amnesty.org.uk

Liberty

Includes a useful ‘organisational links’ section on its website, which lists about 20 organisations working in the field. www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/resources/links/organisation-links.shtml

The British Helsinki Human Rights Group

The group monitors human rights and democracy in the 57 OSCE member states. Country reports are available along with other information on the group’s website. www.bhhrg.org

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C h a p t e r 13 C h i l d r e n a n d Yo u n g P e o p l e Children are one of the most popular causes among charity supporters. Sadly, the troubled teenagers and young people that neglected and abused children all too often turn into receive much less public support. For this reason, many people are unaware of the role of the modern children’s charity in helping young people as well as infants. Many charity supporters and members of the public still think of children’s charities primarily as service providers. A couple of years ago, the Daily Telegraph ran an article in which another organisation attacked the NSPCC for spending £1 million on an ‘advertising campaign’, saying that the money would have been better spent directly on frontline services to protect children.1 The campaign was actually a public education drive forming a very important part of the charity’s work. The fact remains that no matter how successful a children’s charity is, it will never be able to reach all children in need. By running education campaigns, charities help to change public attitudes and make people aware of the signs of abuse so that they can become the eyes and ears of the charity on the street. Despite popular perceptions, the days of charities running children’s homes have long gone. Although a small number of residential units still exist, children’s charities now focus on issues as diverse as bereavement, mental health, bullying, the right to play and internet safety, as well as more traditional areas such as disability, poverty and abuse and neglect. Young people’s charities and local youth groups work with issues such as homelessness, drug addiction, sexual health, young offenders, developing life skills and finding employment. These changes reflect a move towards a more child-centred approach based on the concept of children’s rights. For many charities, this has meant listening more carefully to the thoughts and views of children and young people. In fact, the children’s charity NCH recently involved a panel of young people when selecting new trustees. Other charities and youth groups have been deeply involved in trying to increase the representation of young people in other settings, such as at school. This means that there are a huge variety of issues and organisations for charity supporters and volunteers to get involved with.

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The Good Giving Guide It is estimated that charities working with children and young people received close to £296,000,000 from individual donations and grants in 2001–2.2

The best-known children and young people charities The following children’s charities all appear in the list of the 50 most recognised charities. The list is based on an independent survey that asked a sample of people on the street to name charities that they know of. Barnardo’s, which is featured in a full-length case study below, is also present in the top 50 list. ChildLine

ChildLine is a free 24-hour helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can call the helpline and speak to ChildLine’s counsellors about any problem they are encountering. www.childline.org.uk t: 020 7650 3200 The Children’s Society

The Children’s Society is a Christian social justice organisation. Its work focuses on children at risk on the streets, children in trouble with the law, disabled children and young refugees. www.the-childrens-society.org.uk t: 0845 300 1128 NCH (formerly National Children’s Homes)

NCH works to help children at risk or in care, vulnerable young people and families under pressure. Its work includes adoption, disability, early years and family support, education, family placement, health, participation and family rights, residential care and youth services. www.nch.org.uk t: 0845 7 626 579 National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

The NSPCC’s flagship Full Stop campaign aims to eradicate child abuse. The charity operates a 24-hour child protection helpline that provides information, advice and counselling to anyone concerned about a child’s safety. It is also involved in campaigning, parliamentary lobbying and public education drives. www.nspcc.org.uk t: 020 7825 2500

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Children and Young People Save the Children

Save the Children fights for children’s rights. It aims to deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children’s lives worldwide. It works in emergencies as well as in the areas of HIV/AIDS, health, education, poverty, protection, and equality and rights. www.savethechildren.org.uk t: 020 7012 6400

National charity (selected from the 50 most recognised charities) – Barnardo’s Barnardo’s works with more than 100,000 children, young people and their families in approximately 350 projects across the country. This includes work with children affected by today’s most urgent issues: poverty, homelessness, disability, bereavement and abuse. The charity’s vision is that the lives of children and young people should be free from poverty, abuse and discrimination. Its purpose is to help the most vulnerable children and young people to transform their lives and fulfil their potential. Annual turnover Regular financial supporters Volunteers and activists

£157.6 million 120,000 151,000

Recent achievements

• The charity’s ‘Stolen Childhood’ campaign lobbied for greater rights and protection for child prostitutes, showing that these children should be recognised as victims not criminals. • The charity’s lobbying and parliamentary campaigning meant that the 2003 Sexual Offences Act included greater protection for children affected by prostitution. • The charity continues to work on eradicating the use of abusive images of children, made more urgent by the increasing use of digital technology. History

Barnardo’s was founded by Dr Thomas John Barnardo in East London in 1867 as a means of rescuing boys and girls living on the streets and taking them into residential care where they were given a future. The charity has now stopped running orphanages and instead focuses on campaigning and education and providing more than 350 services nationwide.

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The Good Giving Guide Structure and reach

Barnardo’s has nine national and regional offices that manage services throughout the UK. The head office is in Barkingside in Essex. How the charity raises money

Income sources include legacies, direct marketing, statutory sources, helpers groups, corporate donations and sponsorship, trusts, house-tohouse collections, events, community/school fundraising and volunteer activity. Barnardo’s also has 325 shops around the UK staffed mainly by volunteers and selling a wide variety of donated goods. How to get involved

Volunteers are vitally important to Barnardo’s and take part in a variety of ways, including: • • • • • • • • • •

Working directly with children (subject to police checks). Supporting one of their children’s services. Helping in one of the charity’s high-street shops. Helping with administration. Starting up or joining a fundraising group and organising events. Working with schools to raise money. Helping through corporate volunteering. Organising fetes, fun runs or bounces. Lobbying online on children’s issues. Running marathons or taking part in treks. www.barnardos.org.uk t: 020 8551 0011

Special interest charity – Winston’s Wish Winston’s Wish provides support for children and young people when a parent or sibling has died. Programmes are also designed to help children understand what has happened to them and to the person who has died and to meet other young people who have been bereaved. Services provided by Winston’s Wish include: • A national helpline for anyone (parents, care-givers, professionals) caring for a bereaved child. • Group work with bereaved children and their families. • Individual work with bereaved children and their families.

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Children and Young People • A website with a large section aimed at young people. • A range of publications and resources for bereaved families. • A tailor-made training and consultancy for professionals. Annual turnover Staff Volunteers

£1 million 23 staff (20 full-time equivalents) 120

Recent achievements

• The national helpline has supported more than 25,000 bereaved children and young people. • The charity has developed award-winning publications, including Then, Now and Always, a book-length description of their approach and experience. • The charity has also pioneered groups for those bereaved through suicide and for pre-school aged children. History

Winston’s Wish was set up in 1992 to meet the needs of bereaved children, young people and their families. Since then, it has helped many thousands of children begin to live with their loss. Founder Julie Stokes, a clinical psychologist, set the charity up after visiting child bereavement services in the US on a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship. The charity’s aim is that every bereaved child should receive the help they need to cope with the death of someone important in their lives. Structure and reach

Winston’s Wish works throughout the UK through its national helpline, website, training and consultancy programmes and its range of publications and resources. The charity’s work directly with families is provided within Gloucestershire and is able to accommodate children and young people from other areas. How the charity raises money

• • • • •

Appeals to grant-giving bodies and charitable trusts Corporate supporters Community fundraising events Individual donations (one-off, including funeral collections) Legacies.

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The Good Giving Guide How to get involved

Winston’s Wish uses volunteers in all areas of its work. Those volunteers who work with children need to be selected and trained and need to be able to attend evening training sessions in Gloucestershire and a few weekends a year in the Forest of Dean helping with ‘Camp Winston’. The charity also needs donations to help it continue its work, currently it only receives around 5 per cent Government funding. www.winstonswish.org.uk t: 01242 515157

Local charity – Ballynafeigh Community Development Association Unlike many communities in Northern Ireland, Ballynafeigh has a mixed population with nationalists and loyalists living side by side. The Ballynafeigh Community Development Association works to sustain this community by running a number of projects that provide help, advice and services to local people. Programmes for young people include the Citizenship Project, which aims to engage young people in designing and running their own activities and helping them understand their place in society, and the Health and Well-being Project, which covers a range of issues such as sexual health, drugs and general self-awareness. The Youth Diversionary Project was set up to draw socially excluded young people away from crime and paramilitary activities and into mainstream society. Annual turnover Service users/beneficiaries Staff (paid and unpaid)

unspecified at least 2,700 25

Recent achievements

• The charity’s advice project is the first of its kind to serve both nationalist and loyalist communities. • The Youth Diversionary Project has been popular with a large number of stakeholders including the Education and Library Board and the local police. Unfortunately the association has been forced to suspend the project until it can find new funding.

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In 1972 and 1973, the area suffered from a surge in sectarian violence and there were a number of shootings and incidents of intimidation. In the summer of 1973 a volunteer group set up a community festival to try to get people involved with one another and to foster and sustain a sense of community. The group soon recognized that a longer-term infrastructure was needed and from this idea they developed the Ballynafeigh Community Development Association and the Ballynafeigh Housing Association. Structure and reach

The association’s main focus is on the immediate Ballynafeigh district, but work also occasionally spills into neighbouring communities. How the organisation raises money

The organisation is primarily funded from European Union peace money. Belfast city council also gives a grant that is used to cover core costs. Further funding is received from the Community Relations Council and the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development as well as individual donations from members of the public. How people can get involved

The organisation welcomes public donations and also offers a wide variety of options for those who are interested in volunteering. www.bcda.net/welcome%20navigation%20page.htm t: 028 90491161

Other organisations working in this area 4Children

4Children aims to ensure that all children and their parents are supported in their communities, from the early years through to teenagers. The charity, which used to be called Kids’ Clubs Network, runs a network of flagship ‘Make Space’ out-of-school clubs that are based on extensive research into the type of environment that suits young people. It also works in partnership with Youth Music and 47 local authorities to provide ‘Come and Play’, a music initiative for out-of-school clubs. The charity is campaigning for the Government to support up to 10,000 centres for children based in or around schools by 2015. www.4children.org.uk t: 0870 770 2498

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The Good Giving Guide Child Accident Prevention Trust

Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) is a national charity committed to reducing the number of children and young people who are killed, disabled or seriously injured as a result of accidents. Accidental injury is one of the leading causes of death and hospitalisation of children and young people, and children from the poorest families are more likely to be affected. CAPT aims to address these issues. It produces publications and videos, runs a telephone information service, works closely with Government and runs community-based projects particularly targeting disadvantaged families. www.capt.org.uk t: 020 7608 3828 Child Poverty Action Group

CPAG campaigns to reduce poverty among children and young people in the UK and improve the lives of low-income families. It aims to raise awareness of the extent, nature and impact of poverty, lobby the Government to change income policy to help families in poverty, and help those eligible for benefits and tax credits claim their full entitlement. The charity publishes research and advice on the topic, lobbies Government and takes part in test cases at the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights to help extend the interpretation of law in favour of low-income families. www.cpag.org.uk t: 020 7837 7979 Daycare Trust

The Daycare Trust campaigns for quality, affordable childcare for all. It advises parents and care providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues. It also runs a childcare helpline (t: 020 7840 3350) for parents, with access to Language Line interpreters for nonEnglish speakers. Guardian journalist and Daycare Trust supporter Polly Toynbee says, ‘Daycare Trust has been a key driver behind the development of the National Childcare Strategy and the Government’s commitment to creating a children’s centre in every community.’ www.daycaretrust.org.uk t: 020 7840 3350 The Guide Association

Girlguiding UK is part of a worldwide movement for girls and young women that was started in 1910. Trained volunteer leaders run a distinctive, stimulating and enjoyable programme of activities at weekly meetings.

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Children and Young People These are designed to help girls and young women to fulfil their potential and to take an active and responsible role in society. Guides are divided into sections according to age: Rainbows (7–5 year-olds), Brownies (7–10), guides (10–14) and senior section (14-24). The movement’s vision is to have sufficient volunteer leaders to enable every girl and young woman to have the opportunity to join Girlguiding UK. www.girlguiding.org.uk t: 0800 169 5901 I CAN

I CAN helps children with speech and language difficulties across the UK. It provides specialist therapy and education for children, information for parents, and training and advice for teachers and other professionals. Broadcaster and patron of I CAN’s Chatterbox Campaign Michael Buerk says, ‘I believe that communication is fundamental to everything we do, both in our personal and professional lives. There are over a million children in the UK who are struggling to develop these skills. I am delighted to be working with I CAN to ensure that the special needs of these children are recognised, understood and met, so that they have the same opportunities in life as other children.’ www.ican.org.uk t: 0845 225 4071 Sargent Cancer Care for Children

Sargent Cancer Care for Children supports families of children who have been diagnosed with cancer. It funds 90 Sargent care professionals, including social workers and family support workers. It also provides grants, residential accommodation for families and mentoring and youth programmes. It aims to help families and young people to cope with the emotional, social and financial impact of cancer. It runs parent and sibling groups where family members can meet others who have faced the same difficulties. It also arranges financial assistance to cover some of the practical expenses as they arise, and advises families on the range of benefits that they may be entitled to. www.sargent.org t: 020 8752 2800 SOS Children’s Villages

SOS Children’s Villages works in 131 countries and territories to improve the lives of disadvantaged children. The charity began in Austria in 1949 by providing care for children orphaned and abandoned after the Second World War. Today, the charities still runs SOS Children’s Villages;

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The Good Giving Guide communities of permanent homes where children can live in a familystyle environment with other children and a long-term dedicated carer, the SOS Mother. The charity now also runs youth facilities, kindergartens, schools, vocational training centres, social centres and medical centres to support young people. www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk t: 01223 365589 The Who Cares? Trust

The Who Cares? Trust is a national charity working to improve the public care system for the 60,000 children and young people who are separated from their families and living in residential or foster care in the UK. The charity provides support and resources for children in care, including a free telephone line offering confidential support and information, CareZone (a revolutionary secure web service that can only be accessed using a special smart card) and a quarterly magazine. The charity also works with care professionals and local authorities to improve the care they give. www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk t: 020 7251 3117 Working Families

Working Families works with parents, carers and employers to help families with children to improve the balance between responsibilities at home and work. It helps families to achieve this by offering practical solutions for employers. The charity was formed from the merger Parents At Work and New Ways to Work. It calls for family-friendly working hours; a right to request flexible working for all employees; affordable, quality childcare and elder-care; increased provision of care for disabled children; paid emergency leave for family reasons and an end to the long hours culture. www.workingfamilies.org.uk t: 020 7253 7243

Further information Children National Council of Voluntary Childcare Organisations

The umbrella organisation for voluntary child care organisations in England. www.ncvcco.org

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Children and Young People Children in Wales

The national umbrella organisation for children’s charities in Wales. www.childreninwales.org.uk

Children in Scotland

The national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families in Scotland. www.childreninscotland.org.uk

4 Nations Child Policy Network

Comprehensive site giving information for each of the four nations in the UK. www.childpolicy.org.uk

International Forum for Child Welfare

An umbrella group founded in 1989 by 38 national child welfare organisations on six continents. www.ifcw.org

Young people National Council for Voluntary Youth Services – www.ncvys.org.uk National Youth Agency – www.nya.org.uk Youth Scotland – www.youthscotland.org.uk Wales Youth Agency – www.wya.org.uk Northern Ireland Youth Council – www.youthcouncil-ni.org.uk British Youth Council – www.byc.org.uk

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C h a p t e r 14 A n i m a l P rot e c t i o n The British are known for their love of animals, which helps explain the large number of charities and voluntary groups working in this area. These groups cover a wide field of interests, ranging from household names such as Battersea Dogs Home and PDSA through to more specialist and unusual groups such as the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust, the Lesbian and Gay Vegan Group and the Badger Protection Society. Some groups focus on welfare and protection while others campaign for animal rights. Often, the groups working in these two distinct areas don’t consider themselves to have anything in common with each other. Some issues, such as animal testing and the ethics of fishing or hunting, can be very contentious, with more radical groups using confrontational direct actions and advocating radical legislative change. There are also splits within the animal protection sector about how to portray the animals they exist to help. Some charities have abandoned the use of harrowing images of abused animals in their fundraising appeals, preferring to use more positive images of rescued animals. However, other groups continue to use the tactic, insisting that it is financially very successful and raises public awareness of the abuse that some animals suffer at the hands of their owners or from the medical and beauty industries. As a group, animal charities are one of the most popular causes to give to in the UK and it is estimated that they received close to £245 million1 in public donations and grants from trusts and foundations in 2001–2. Animal sponsorship schemes are a particularly popular fundraising method among animal protection charities. These groups also employ a significant number of volunteers, who work in a number of areas, ranging from fundraisers and office staff to animal re-homing officers and dog walkers. There are also plenty of opportunities for activists, largely with animal rights groups but also with protection organisations.

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Animal Protection

The best-known animal organisations The following animal charities all appear in the list of the 50 most recognised charities. The list is based on an independent survey that asked a sample of people on the street to name charities that they know of. The RSPCA, which is featured in the full-length case study below, is also listed in the top 50 list. Blue Cross

The Blue Cross aims to ensure the welfare of companion animals by providing practical care and promoting responsibility towards animals in the community. It provides veterinary services, finds permanent homes for unwanted or abandoned animals and educates the public in responsible animal ownership. www.bluecross.org.uk t: 01993 825500 Cats Protection

Cats Protection exists to rescue stray and unwanted cats and kittens and help rehabilitate and re-home them. It also encourages the neutering of all cats and kittens not required for breeding and informs the public on the care of cats and kittens. www.cats.org.uk t: 08702 099 099 Dogs Trust (formerly the National Canine Defence League)

Dogs Trust aims to solve the problem of unwanted dogs in the UK by taking practical measures, such as re-homing and neutering schemes, as well as awareness-raising initiatives to educate and inform dog-owners and prospective dog-owners. www.dogstrust.org.uk t: 020 7837 0006 International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

IFAW works on the understanding that the fate and future of all other animals on earth are inextricably linked to our own. IFAW campaigns for animal welfare and environmental protection in the UK and beyond. It has more than 800,000 supporters in the UK. www.ifaw.org t: 020 7587 6700 People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)

PDSA cares for the pets of needy people by providing free veterinary services to their sick and injured animals and promoting responsible pet

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The Good Giving Guide ownership. Each year it provides more than a million free consultations to sick and injured animals making a major difference not only to individual clients and their pets but also to national animal welfare. www.pdsa.org.uk t: 0800 917 2509

National charity (selected from the 50 most recognised charities) – RSPCA (Royal Society for the Protection of Animals) Founded in 1824, the RSPCA is the largest and oldest animal welfare organisation in the world. Today it rescues more than 10,000 animals, investigates over 100,000 cruelty complaints and receives approximately 1,400,000 calls every year. The charity has over 300 inspectors who carry out thousands of animal rescues each year ranging from the saving of birds trapped in major oil spills to rescuing dogs sweltering in soaring temperatures inside cars. Annual turnover Regular financial supporters Adult members Junior members Volunteers/activists

£83,875,000 315,739 39,787 41,381 7,000

Recent achievements

Since 2000, the RSPCA has been involved in lobbying for new Government legislation on Fur Farming, the Animal Health Act and the Anti-social Behaviour Bill. The charity has also helped to draft a Fireworks Act to protect animals from loud fireworks and explosives, and has been instrumental in the reintroduction of the Government’s Hunting Bill to Parliament. One of its main aims is to get blood sports banned by 2005. It has also joined forced with the NSPCC to expose the link between child and animal abuse. History

In 1822, Richard Martin MP piloted the first animal anti-cruelty bill. He went on to become one of the 22 founders of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Queen Victoria was a fan of its work and in 1840 gave her permission for the charity to be renamed the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

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Animal Protection Structure and reach

The RSPCA covers England and Wales and has five regional offices. Its headquarters is based in Southwater, West Sussex. How it raises money

The RSPCA relies solely on donations from the public and accepts no Government money. It recruits new supporters by regular direct mail, TV, newspaper and internet appeals. How people get involved

The RSPCA uses volunteers to run local offices and relies on the public to inform its inspectors of cases of animal cruelty. Supporters also get involved in online petitions and letter campaigns to local MPs over issues such as hunting and battery chicken farming. www.rspca.org.uk t: 0870 333 5999

Special interest organisation – SHAC (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty) SHAC campaigns to close down Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), Europe’s biggest animal testing laboratory. The aim of the campaign from the start has been to undermine and destroy Huntingdon’s financial base, and SHAC has set about targeting shareholders, suppliers and clients of the laboratory. Supporters and activists

SHAC has a large number of individual activists and local groups that support its campaign. Recent achievements

In 2000, SHAC obtained a list of HLS shareholders, which included among others the Labour Party pension fund, Rover cars pension fund and Camden Council pension fund. SHAC leaked the list to the Sunday Telegraph, which ran the story on its front page. Demonstrations followed and several major shareholders sold their shares, causing the share price to slump to its lowest ever level. Since then, the four main high-street banks in the UK publicly distance themselves from Huntingdon. HLS is no longer able to borrow

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The Good Giving Guide from any of the major world banks or operate on the London or New York stock exchanges and its share price has been decimated. SHAC is confident that its aim of forcing HLS to close is in sight. History

The SHAC campaign was formed in November 1999 with the aim of closing Huntingdon Life Sciences. SHAC campaigns for the closure of HLS using evidence obtained in five undercover investigations at their different laboratories in the UK and US. Structure and reach

SHAC works with and is supported by many locally based animals rights groups across the UK. There are also a number of shadow SHAC groups that operate in numerous countries to target Huntingdon Life Science and their sales offices, clients and insurance brokers. How the organisation raises money

The campaign relies on donations from the general public. The organisation also sells merchandise and campaigning materials such as posters and leaflets to supporters. How to get involved

Supporters can join SHAC demonstrations targeted at Huntingdon Life Sciences or its suppliers, clients or funders, get involved with fundraising activities or join the phone and email campaigns. Phone and email campaigning involve contacting companies that are linked with Huntingdon Life Sciences and asking them to justify that involvement. www.shac.net t: 0845 458 0630

Local organisation – The Chin Up animal sanctuary (Gwynedd, Wales) Chin Up is a centre for sick, abused or unwanted chinchillas. It also campaigns for better treatment and conditions for chinchillas. The organisation started out by protesting against fur farms, which reared the animals using polygamous mass production methods (where one male has access to many females). This is very stressful for chinchillas, which form lifetime monogamous partnerships in the wild. Chinchillas have only been bred domestically for about 100 years, and

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Animal Protection they have not adapted well to captivity. The majority of the animals suffer chronic dental problems that often make it impossible for them to eat and can be fatal. Fur farming is now illegal, but the farming method has been adopted by some unscrupulous breeders. Chin Up is now campaigning for a change in the law to ban these techniques. Ideally, Chin Up would like to see chinchilla breeding regulated in a similar way to parrots, which can only be bred under special licence. Annual turnover

The centre is based in the founder’s home and is run on a shoestring. Income is highly variable depending on donations. Chin Up refuses to open the sanctuary to the public because the animals are nocturnal and would find daytime visits distressing. This makes raising money more difficult. Supporters

Chin Up is supported by a number of animal rights activists and receives regular donations from a local charity shop. In the past it has received a donation from vegetarian cosmetics company Beauty Without Cruelty. Staff

The centre and the campaign is run single-handedly by Chin Up’s founder Lee Campbell. Achievements

Chin Up was a vocal part of the anti-fur farming lobby, which eventually succeeded in making the practice illegal. It now hopes to have similar success with its new campaign to ban polygamous breeding units altogether. History of organisation

Chin Up founder Lee Campbell decided to research chinchilla welfare after her own pet suffered from debilitating dental problems. She quickly learned that the animals are not suited to domestic life and found out about the stressful and unnatural conditions that many animals were kept in. In 1991, Chin Up was established to tackle these problems. Structure and reach

Chin Up is located and operates in the Gwynedd area of Wales.

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The Good Giving Guide How people can get involved

The centre never re-homes chinchillas because it does not believe in promoting the animals as pets, so there are usually a number of animals on site and volunteers are always welcome to help care for them. There are also opportunities for volunteers to tour chinchilla farms to monitor conditions. The centre welcomes donations. www.chinchillas2home.co.uk t: 01766 810 799

Other organisations working in this area Battersea Dogs Home

Battersea Dogs Home works to rescue, reunite, rehabilitate and re-home the lost and abandoned dogs and cats that come into its care. The charity’s Battersea centre opened in 1871 and the charity now also has centres in Old Windsor (Berkshire) and Brands Hatch (Kent). Since it opened in 1860, the charity has taken in more than three million dogs and cats. The charity also provides advice for pet owners on issues such as responsible pet ownership, pet behaviour and how to prevent your pet from going missing. www.dogshome.org t: 020 7622 3626 Born Free Foundation

Born Free is an animal welfare and conservation charity that campaigns for the protection and conservation of animals in their natural habitat. It is against the keeping of animals in zoos and circuses and as exotic pets. Projects include the Zoo Check Campaign, which aims to expose the suffering of captive animals, the Elefriends Campaign, which works to protect elephants from poachers and cares for rescued elephants, and the Dolphin Campaign, which aims to end the imprisonment of dolphins and whales in marine parks. www.bornfree.org.uk t: 01403 240170 The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection

The BUAV is dedicated to using all peaceful means possible to end animal experiments, both nationally and internationally. The charity, which was founded in 1898, uses high-profile media activities, celebrity support and quality educational and information materials to spread its campaign message to the public. The organisation works with parliamentarians and corporations as well as conducting hard-hitting undercover investigations and lobbying Government to help achieve its goal. www.buav.org t: 0207 700 4888

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Animal Protection Brooke Hospital for Animals

Brooke is the world leader in working equine welfare with 500 staff in South Asia including Pakistan and Afghanistan, North Africa and the Middle East. All staff are nationals of the relevant country. Partnerships with local NGOs and grants support work in Kenya and South Africa. The charity operates 44 mobile veterinary teams and 15 clinics, and its work reaches about 500,000 working horses, donkeys and mules every year. Actress and Brooke supporter Joanna Lumley says, ‘Horses have been my lifelong love: I’ve been the devoted owner of my own horse – Madam Butterfly – for eight years now. Unlike her, many horses are still used as beasts of burden, suffering starvation, beatings and preventable diseases. The Brooke not only gives respite to these working horses, it also teaches their owners that if they look after them well they will work better. It makes people part of the cure for their animals’ ills. That is the Brooke’s great triumph.’ www.thebrooke.org t: 020 7930 0210 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

PETA is an animal protection organisation that works worldwide to campaign for better treatment of animals. It believes that animals deserve the most basic rights regardless of whether they are useful to humans. Animals are capable of suffering and have interests in leading their own lives, and consequently PETA does not believe in using animals for food, clothing, entertainment or experimentation. PETA educates policymakers and the public about cruelty to animals and promotes an understanding of the rights of all animals to be treated with respect. www.peta.org.uk t: 020 7357 9229 Scottish SPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

The Scottish SPCA was founded in 1839, when the welfare of carthorses was the main area of concern. Since then it has grown and diversified. Scottish SPCA inspectors now respond to more than 160,000 calls for help each year on a wide variety of animal welfare issues. The charity cares for 15,000 injured, abandoned or cruelly treated animals every year at its 13 Animal Welfare Centres across Scotland. The charity also has a parliamentary section, which works to influence domestic and European legislation with the aim of improving animal welfare throughout Europe. The charity receives no Government or lottery funding. www.scottishspca.org t: 0131 339 0222

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The Good Giving Guide Viva! (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals)

Viva! provides support and advice for vegetarians and vegans and those thinking of changing their diets. The group believes that eating meat causes environmental destruction, damages human health, contributes to global hunger and inflicts suffering on billions of animals across the world. It says that the best solution to these problems is to stop eating animals. It aims to publicise the realities of modern farming to the public using campaigns, research, undercover exposés and effective media skills. www.viva.org.uk t: 0117 944 1000 World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

WSPA works to raise the standards of animal welfare throughout the world by campaigning against cruelty, running animal rescue teams to save abandoned or neglected animals and those stricken by disasters and by seeking support from people who live and work with animals. WSPA’s projects and campaigns are organised in collaboration with its network of more than 460 member societies in over 116 countries. The organisation also has an active base of individual campaigners. It also runs ‘WSPA Rangers’, a website especially for young supporters. www.wspa.org.uk t: 020 7587 5000

Further information The Animal Contacts Directory

A useful reference booklet listing a vast number of animal welfare organisations, animals rights groups and re-homing centres nationally and regionally. It is available online, where users can search for groups alphabetically or by geographical location. www.veggies.org.uk/acd/index.htm

World Animal Net

Contains a directory of close to 10,000 animal organisations worldwide. The directory allows users to search from a number of specific interest areas, including ‘animals in entertainment’, ‘animals in transport’ or ‘pet adoption’. It can also be searched geographically. www.worldanimal.net

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C h a p t e r 15 H e r i tag e a n d E n v i ro n m e n t With environmental policies so low on many political agendas, it falls to charities and campaigning groups to be the main champions of our endangered ecosystem. Although many automatically think of the big campaigning bodies such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, the environmental and heritage sector is incredibly diverse. The environmental sector is roughly divided into conservation and campaigning bodies. Charities such as WWF straddle both, but its main remit is to protect endangered animal species, which means protecting the environments in which they live as well. Specialist groups such as the Marine Conservation Society, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Wildlife Trust lobby Government for better protection for animal and bird species and habitat and try to raise public awareness of the dangers facing wildlife from pollution, development and other human interventions. There are also numerous campaigning and activist groups working to protect the environment. Direct action groups such as Friends of the Earth try to raise the profile of environmental issues through public stunts and campaigns. At a local level there are many community groups working to protect their surrounding environment, promoting the protection of green spaces and advocating recycling and environmentally friendly transport solutions. Internationally, environmental charities and groups fight the global might of the oil, agricultural and commercial manufacturer multinationals whose focus on profit often risks widespread environmental abuse. Heritage charities also do an incredibly valuable job. The National Trust, the largest membership organisation in the UK, protects thousands of acres of land and conserves and maintains hundreds of listed buildings so that future generations can enjoy visiting a piece of British history. Heritage charities are also great campaigners for the preservation of ancient rural areas, protected beaches and mainlands and for stopping widespread development in areas of natural beauty.

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The Good Giving Guide

The best-known environment and heritage organisations The following environmental and heritage groups all appear in the list of the 50 most recognised charities. Greenpeace, which is featured in a full-length case study below, is also present in the top 50 list. National Trust

The National Trust cares for 612,000 acres of countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as 600 miles of coastline and more than 200 buildings and gardens. The vast majority are open to visitors. The trust receives no Government funding and relies on its supporters. www.nationaltrust.org.uk t: 0870 458 4000 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

Since it launched in 1889, the RSPB has grown into a wildlife conservation charity with more than a million members. It has offices across the UK and, since its successful first campaign to end the plumage trade, it has widened its sphere of influence to include a huge range of issues that affect wildlife and habitats. www.rspb.org.uk t: 01767 680551 WWF

WWF-UK is the UK branch of WWF, the global environmental and conservation network that works in more than 90 countries and has 5 million supporters worldwide. It works to conserve biological diversity, encourage sustainable use of renewable natural resources and promote the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. www.wwf-uk.org t: 01483 426444

National organisation (selected from the 50 most recognised charities) – Greenpeace Greenpeace is one of the world’s most well-known environmental campaigning bodies. It is recognised for its high-profile stunts and protests, but it also suggests positive, economically and environmentally sustainable solutions for businesses and provides teaching resources for schools. Greenpeace works on a range of issues, including the protection

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Heritage and Environment of oceans and ancient forests, the promotion of renewable energies over fossil fuels, the elimination of toxic chemicals and nuclear disarmament. Annual turnover Supporters Supporters worldwide

unspecified 221,000 2.8 million

Achievements

Greenpeace has played a pivotal role in, among other things, the adoption of: • A ban on toxic waste exports to less developed countries. • A moratorium on commercial whaling. • A United Nations convention providing for better management of world fisheries. • A 50-year moratorium on mineral exploitation in Antarctica. • Bans on the dumping at sea of radioactive and industrial waste and disused oil installations. • A ban on all nuclear weapons testing. History

Greenpeace began in 1971 when a group of anti-war protestors chose to take non-violent direct action against US nuclear weapons testing on Amchitka Island, Alaska. They chartered a ramshackle fishing vessel called the Phyllis Cormack, renamed her Greenpeace, and sailed off to bear witness in the prohibited zone. Greenpeace UK was born in 1977, with four members, £800 and a borrowed office in Whitehall. In 1979, Greenpeace International was formed as an umbrella organisation, to unify the work of Greenpeace campaigners around the world. Structure and reach

Greenpeace UK works across the UK. There are also other Greenpeace organisations in 35 other countries. Greenpeace International unifies the work of its member organisations worldwide. How the charity raises money

To maintain absolute independence, Greenpeace does not accept money from companies, governments or political parties. It screens cheques and actually sends them back if they are found to come from a corporate

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The Good Giving Guide account. Greenpeace relies on the voluntary donations of individual supporters, and on grant-support from foundations. The organisation’s accounts are audited every year, and are published in an annual report so that supporters can see exactly how much money has been donated and how it has been spent. How people can get involved

Supporters can help Greenpeace financially by joining as a member and giving a monthly direct debit for as little as £2 a month or by paying an annual subscription. Those who want to get more involved can join the Greenpeace Active Supporter network. The network is made up of thousands of volunteers all around the UK who are involved in delivering Greenpeace campaigns in a number of ways, including: • • • • •

Letter writing or e-mail campaigning. Lobbying politicians and companies. Campaigning through local media. Getting active with others in their town or region. Helping at events such as Glastonbury, Notting Hill Carnival or WOMAD. • Fundraising for Greenpeace. • Becoming trained and participating in non-violent direct actions. Facts

In 1985 French Secret Service agents blew up the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland harbour, at 23.38 on 10 July. One of the crew, the photographer Fernando Pereira, drowned as the ship sank. In 1988 Greenpeace received an award for ‘outstanding environmental achievement’ from the United Nations Environmental Programme. General website: www.greenpeace.org.uk Activist website: www.greenpeaceactive.org.uk t: 020 7865 8100

Special interest charity – Women’s Environmental Network WEN is a national charity that educates, informs and campaigns on environmental issues from a women’s perspective. It is the only UK organisation consistently linking women, environment and health. Central to its

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Heritage and Environment approach is the belief that women have the right to information to enable them to make fair choices, and that a precautionary approach (where new technologies are not used until they are proven to be safe rather than being used unless proven unsafe) is healthiest for people and the planet. The charity gives women the opportunity to become active in their own way, rather than seeing them as passive supporters of its already developed agenda. Annual turnover Individual members Affiliate members Local groups Taste of a Better Future food network

Varies subject to grants and donations 1,200 (approx) 125 30+ 60+ groups

Real Nappy Network

45 local networks

Real Nappy Week 2004 was supported by more than three-quarters of all local authorities and over 100 MPs. Recent achievements

• Getting the promotion of re-useable ‘real nappies’ as a way to reduce household waste written into Government policy in 2003. Also organising the annual Real Nappy Week, which was supported by more than three-quarters of all UK local authorities in 2004. • Putting the issue of risky chemicals in cosmetics in the public eye through its project, ‘ending the cosmetics cover up’. • Supporting more than 60 groups of mostly ethnic minority women in inner cities to grow their own organic vegetables on community plots. History

WEN was founded in 1988 to give women clear information about environmental problems that affect them and ensure women’s perspectives were heard within the wider green movement. The first campaign in 1989 persuaded paper manufacturers to reduce chlorine bleaching in nappies and sanitary protection and had lasting impact across the paper products industry. Subsequent campaigns exposed pesticides in chocolate, protested about excess packaging and led to warnings on tampon packets about toxic shock syndrome. WEN initiated the Waste Minimisation Act and was an instigator of the local food and anti-GM movements.

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The Good Giving Guide Structure and reach

There is a national office based in London and a part-time Welsh coordinator. In addition to UK members and groups, WEN has some overseas members and is part of international networks and coalitions on issues linking women, health and environment, such as environmental links to breast cancer. Autonomous WENs have been set up in other countries, loosely following the aims, objectives and ethos of UK WEN. How the charity raises money

Income comes from memberships, affiliates, donations and grants from charitable trusts and grant-giving bodies for specific projects. WEN also accepts sponsorship from companies or organisations that meet its ethical criteria and sells advertising in WENnews and campaign-related merchandise, such as canvas shopping bags, mugs and publications. How people can get involved

• Become a member and receive a quarterly newsletter, WENnews, information on WEN campaigns and the chance to get involved in local groups and other WEN networks. • Become a local contact, distributing WEN leaflets and information in your area and acting as a reference point for interested people. • Join a local group to campaign on national or local issues of concern. • Bring your ideas and concerns to inform campaigns or get help to campaign yourself. www.wen.org.uk t: 020 7481 9004

Local/regional charity – Victoria Baths Trust (Manchester) The Manchester Victoria Baths Trust was set up by local residents to pursue the aim of re-opening the historic Baths, which date back to 1906. The Trust aims to re-open at least one of the swimming pools and the Turkish Baths for public use. Achievements

• Since it started, the Trust has negotiated with the city council on the handover of the Baths, which has resulted in the Trust becoming licensees of Victoria Baths, giving it responsibility for the building on a day-to-day basis.

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Heritage and Environment • In 2003 the Baths was one of ten heritage properties in need of repair to be featured on the BBC show Restoration, which asked the public to vote for the property that should receive a life-saving grant. The Victoria Baths came out on top, polling a total of 280,018 votes, and was rewarded with £3.38 million towards its restoration project. • The money has been earmarked for the first stage in the renovation of Victoria Baths: structural work on the front block of the building and complete restoration of the Turkish Baths. The Turkish Baths will then re-open to the public. However, more funding is needed if one of the swimming pools is also to be re-opened. History

The Victoria Baths, near Longsight in Manchester, were designed as a prestigious baths complex by Manchester’s first City Architect, Henry Price, and opened by Manchester Corporation in 1906. When the Victoria Baths were closed in 1993, local people began to campaign for it to be re-opened for public use. The campaign began with a constant vigil outside the Baths. Large banners urged motorists to toot in support of the movement to save the Baths. The protest was backed by a petition with 16,000 signatures. However, the protestors’ calls were ignored and eventually the protestors decided to move in and occupy the Baths. The protest made the national news. Structure and reach

The Trust works solely for the benefit of the Baths. How the charity raises money

The trust relies on donations from the public and grants from other funders. How people can get involved

• All donations, large and small, will help to save the Baths for public use. Using a credit or debit card, you can make a one-off donation or a regular contribution. Regular donations are immensely valuable to the Trust. Details are given on the Trust’s website. • The Trust is supported in its work by the The Friends of Victoria Baths. The Friends have produced a number of items for sale, of which all profits are donated to the cause. • Those interested in keeping in touch with the project or making a more active contribution can join The Friends of Victoria Baths. www.victoriabaths.org.uk/friends.htm t: 0161 224 2020

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Other organisations working in this area Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)

A national charity that helps people protect and conserve their local environment and lobbies for the protection and enhancement of the English countryside. It combines local action with national campaigning and has more than 59,000 members and supporters and 200 district groups across the UK. Its work includes running campaigns about land use, planning, transport, the protection of natural resources, farming and food, and rural economies. www.cpre.org.uk t: 020 7981 2800 EarthWatch

EarthWatch combines funding scientific research programmes with promoting active participation in protecting sustainable global environments. It has offices in the US, Australia, Japan and the UK. Every year more than 3,500 EarthWatch members volunteer their time and skills to work with EarthWatch research scientists on the charity’s field projects in 50 countries. Much of the charity’s work is accomplished in collaboration with conservation and education NGOs and local host country partners. www.earthwatch.org.uk t: 01865 318 838 Encams

The majority of Encam’s work is focused on its Keep Britain Tidy campaign, which was launched in the 1940s. Campaigning around the issue of litter and its effect on local environments, the charity runs public awareness programmes, conducts research into the environmental impact of litter, and works with local authorities to reduce litter on the streets of towns and cities. It also runs the Blue Flag clean beaches programme, runs projects in schools and local communities and works with local authorities on anti-vandalism and anti-social behaviour programmes. www.encams.org.uk t: 01942 612639 English Heritage

English Heritage was founded to ensure that England’s historic environment, properties and buildings are properly cared for and maintained. It employs architects, archaeologists and historians to help people understand and appreciate why the historic buildings and landscapes around them matter. It looks after national landmarks, such as Stonehenge,

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Heritage and Environment and promotes examples of modern architectural excellence. It also funds research into the historical significance of the nation’s houses and buildings. www.english-heritage.org.uk t: 0870 333 1181 Flora & Fauna International

Fauna & Flora International is the world’s oldest international conservation body. Its remit is to protect the entire spectrum of endangered plant and animal species on the planet. It provides support to conservation initiatives throughout the world, including projects in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Its campaigns include the International Gorilla Conservation Programme in Africa and monitoring marine turtles in Nicaragua. www.fauna-flora.org t: 01223 571000 Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth is the largest international network of environmental groups in the world, represented in 68 countries. It is also one of the leading environmental pressure groups in the UK, working with more than 200 local communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. More than 90 per cent of its income comes directly from its supporters. Friends of the Earth was the first group in the UK to campaign for whales, endangered species and tropical rainforests. It now works on corporate accountability, food and agriculture, resource use, climate change, global trade, waste and recycling, safer chemicals and biodiversity. General website: www.foe.co.uk Campaigning website: http://community.foe.co.uk t: 0808 800 1111 Marine Conservation Society

The Marine Conservation Society is dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and its wildlife. It was founded following Underwater Conservation Year in 1977. The charity involves thousands of volunteers in surveys and other projects, has a network of local supporters’ groups, and works with other bodies of like-mind to achieve common goals. It advises the Government, the European Union and industry with sound, accurate advice about issues affecting marine life. It also provides a wide range of educational resources, including fact sheets, books and websites, for use in schools and by the wider public. www.mcsuk.org t: 01989 566017

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The Good Giving Guide People & Planet

People & Planet is the largest student network in Britain campaigning to alleviate world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment. The network consists of university and college groups, sixth-form groups and individuals. Its local networks co-ordinate positive actions such as asking local shops to stock Fairtrade products, arranging debates and events and campaigning to get more young people involved in global campaigning. It has worked with other campaigning groups such as Oxfam and Amnesty International on a campaign to introduce new arms export controls. www.peopleandplanet.org.uk t: 01865 245678 Ramblers Association

The Ramblers Association is Britain’s biggest organisation working for walkers. It is a registered charity with 139,000 members across England, Scotland and Wales. As well as providing information about how to plan a walk or hike, it also works as a campaigning body. It runs programmes to protect Britain’s network of public parks and to establish statutory rights of access to the countryside. www.ramblers.org.uk t: 020 7339 8500 Soil Association

The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by a group of farmers, scientists and nutritionists who were concerned about the way our food was produced. It now provides information about organic agriculture, gardening and food. It promotes the production and consumption of organic food and lobbies the Government for an agricultural policy that is based on ecological and sustainable principles. It also runs a certification system that provides a standard-mark for organic food sold by retailers. www.soilassociation.org.uk t: 0117 314 5000 The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts partnership is a network of 47 local wildlife trusts across the UK and Wildlife Watch, the environmental action club for kids. The partnership is one of the UK’s largest conservation charities exclusively dedicated to wildlife, and the members work together to protect wildlife in towns and the countryside. The partnership cares for more than 2,560 nature reserves from rugged coastline to urban wildlife havens.

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Heritage and Environment The Wildlife Trusts also lobbies for better protection of the UK’s natural heritage. The Trusts have more than 560,000 members and 62,000 youth members. www.wildlifetrust.org.uk t: 0870 0367711

Further information Eco-action

The organisation provides information about ecological direct action and links to many organisations working in the field. www.eco-action.org

Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth have a useful links section on its website, which lists an impressive range of organisations working nationally and regionally. Organisations from Butterfly Conservation to the National Community Forest Project and Wolf Trust. www.foe.org.uk

Greenpeace

The ‘related links’ section contains links to other organisations working on a number of issues, including: countryside, food and farming, energy, green living, pollution, recycling and wildlife conservation. www.greenpeace.org.uk

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C h a p t e r 16 Disability Nearly one in five people of working age in Great Britain is disabled: 6.9 million people; 3.6 million men and 3.3 million women.1 This is well over twice the population of Wales. Consequently, there is a large number of charities working in this area. Historically, many disability organisations were charities set up by parents and carers with a generally paternalistic agenda. These early organisations aimed to secure services, such as education and institutional care, for people with disabilities. This often resulted in disabled people being portrayed as needy and dependent. Over the past couple of decades disabled people have challenged these stereotypes with positive images and messages about their role and place in society. Since then there has been a general drive by many of the large disability charities to be more representative of the community they serve. There has also been a move away from running institutions towards other services to enable independent living. At the same time, a whole new range of groups set up by disabled people has blossomed. These range from membership groups to very active campaigning organisations. Despite the efforts of the traditional charities to become more representative, there is still a tension between organisations run by disabled people and those that are not. This came to a head in 2003 when activist group the Disabled People’s Direct Action Network, known as DAN, blockaded the headquarters of four major disability charities to campaign at the lack of disabled people represented in top management positions in the target groups. The majority of charities have taken the message on board and many have strategies to increase representation of disabled people by introducing a membership structure that allows members’ voices to be heard and by increasing the number of disabled staff. Disability organisations, both charities and grassroots groups, work on a large number of diverse issues, ranging from campaigning for civil rights, to public education, combating discrimination and fighting for better access to public transport and the arts.

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Disability It is estimated that, as a whole, disability charities received close to £340 million2 from public donations and grants from trusts and foundations in 2001–2.

The best-known disability organisations The following disability groups all appear in the list of the 50 most recognised charities. The list is based on an independent survey that asked a sample of people on the street to name charities that they know of. Scope, which is featured in a full-length case study below, is also present in the top-50 list. Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)

The RNIB provides information, support and advice to more than two million people with sight problems across the UK. The charity also fights for equal rights for people with sight problems and funds pioneering research into preventing and treating eye disease. www.rnib.org.uk t: 020 7388 1266 Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)

The RNID is the largest charity representing the nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. It aims to achieve a radically better quality of life for them. The organisation campaigns and lobbies to change laws and Government policies and provides information and works to raise awareness of deafness, hearing loss and tinnitus. www.rnid.org.uk t: 0808 808 0123

National charity (selected from the 50 most recognised charities) – Scope Scope works for equality for disabled people, particularly those with cerebral palsy. The charity’s services focus on four main areas: early years, education, daily living and work. Its work includes providing briefings and information for the parents of young children with cerebral palsy and running six schools, a college of further education and several residential and small group homes. The charity also works with families and local authorities to promote the inclusion of disabled pupils in mainstream schools, and runs supported independent living schemes and day and respite services.

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The Good Giving Guide In addition to direct services, Scope campaigns on a wide range of issues relating to civil rights and equality for disabled people. Annual turnover Members Volunteers Staff

£93,861,000 1,100 15,000 3,157 (full-time equivalent)

Recent achievements

• Scope has provided support to 258 parents/professionals supporting children with cerebral palsy under five and 484 supporting school-aged children. • Scope’s employment services have so far helped 1,456 participants to move into placement/supported jobs, against a target of 1,200. A further 197 people have progressed to full-time employment against a target of 120. • Scope’s Community Teams supported 300 disabled adults and identified areas of need as access to benefits and housing. History

In 1952, a group of parents and a social worker met to try to improve and expand services for people with cerebral palsy. They ended up founding the National Spastics Society, now known as Scope. Within a year the Society had 60 local groups working to improve and expand local services for people with cerebral palsy. Today Scope has more than 250 affiliated local groups. Structure and reach

Scope works within England and Wales. How the charity raises money

Scope raises money from individual donations and legacies, grants from the Government and grant-making trusts and from its trading activities. In 2001–2, Scope’s 300 charity shops nationwide provided more than £3 million of much-needed income. How people can get involved

Scope welcomes volunteers from the whole community and actively promotes volunteering opportunities for disabled people. Volunteering activities

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Disability are diverse, ranging from assisting disabled people with a one-off gardening and decorating project to working in one of Scope’s charity shops. The charity also runs a membership scheme. For an annual fee of £10, members receive a free subscription to Scope’s monthly magazine Disability Now, a quarterly members’ newsletter and the opportunity to take part in Scope both locally and nationally. Activists can join the charity’s Campaigns Network. Scope welcomes donations and gifts in kind for its charity shops. There are also employment opportunities, particularly for disabled people. www.scope.org.uk

Special interest charity – The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Guide Dogs wants a world in which all people who are visually impaired enjoy the same rights, opportunities and responsibilities as everyone else. The charity’s mission is to provide guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services that meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people. It also campaigns for the rights of those with visual impairments, educates the public about eye care and funds ophthalmic research. Annual turnover Regular financial supporters Members Volunteers

£42 million in 2002 80,000 1162 10,000

Recent achievements

• Guide Dogs campaigning has been instrumental in gaining legislation making it illegal under the Disability Discrimination Act for private hire minicab drivers to refuse to carry guide or assistance dogs. • Guide Dogs has also campaigned effectively on issues affecting guide dog owners and their guide dogs accessing services such as transport, hotels, pubs and restaurants, and the high street in general. • Guide Dogs Safer Streets campaign has highlighted the problem street obstacles cause to blind and partially sighted people. History

In 1934, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was formed, and in 1940 the first permanent training centre was established in Leamington

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The Good Giving Guide Spa. From those early beginnings the guide dogs movement expanded to cover the whole of the UK, and today the Association has nearly 5,000 guide dog partnerships, 29 locally based district teams, four dog supply facilities and its own breeding centre. Since 1931, some 22,000 blind and partially sighted people have experienced the independence that a guide dog can bring. Structure and reach

Guide Dogs delivers its services through a network of 29 locally based district teams covering the whole of the UK. It also maintains a breeding centre in Warwickshire and four dog supply units (responsible for the initial training of guide dogs) at Bolton, Forfar, Leamington and London. How the charity raises money

Guide Dogs receives no statutory or Government funding and relies solely on the generosity of the public. A major source of income is from legacies. At the community level, the charity has over 300 local volunteer branches that organise a variety of fundraising activities and help raise public awareness of the work of Guide Dogs. How people can get involved

Volunteers are at the heart of Guide Dogs’ work. Volunteer puppy walkers care for and educate guide dog puppies from six weeks of age until they are a year old, when they begin their specialised guide dog training. Volunteer boarders look after guide dogs undergoing mobility and partnership training with the local district teams. Volunteers can also get involved in a variety of other ways including driving, administration and general support. At the fundraising level, people can support the charity by getting involved in a local volunteer Guide Dogs branch or as a Guide Dogs speaker. www.guidedogs.org.uk t: 0118 983 5555

Local/regional organisation – Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) GMCDP is an organisation for disabled people run and controlled by disabled people. It aims to identify and challenge the discrimination they face and encourage and support their self-organisation.

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Disability In order to achieve this, the group campaigns on a wide variety of issues, provides information and advice to support disabled people and their organisations and runs a series of other initiatives such as training and support for young disabled people. It also advises and liaises with voluntary and statutory organisations within Greater Manchester and nationally. The group only employs disabled people and only allows disabled people to sit on the management committee and vote at meetings. Recent achievements

• GMCDP provides a comprehensive monthly information bulletin and a quarterly magazine to keep its members up to date with issues and developments as well as giving details of new funding opportunities and services. • The GMCDP’s Young Disabled People’s Forum, which aims to help young disabled people aged between 15 and 25 take more control over their lives and make their views known, has produced a CD following the journey of the two-year peer-mentoring project. The group has also been in demand with other organisations wanting to consult with young disabled people. • The Young Disabled People’s Forum drama group has also proved a great success. The group performs sketches at various events to highlight the barriers and challenges faced by disabled people at various events. History

GMCDP was established in 1985 to represent disabled people and combat discrimination. It rejects the medical model of disability, which states that disability is a physical condition of the individual, and the individual must deal, or cope, with it. The group believes in rights rather than charity in the traditional sense of the word, and as such is a company limited by guarantee, not a charity. Structure and reach

The group is based in Greater Manchester and works predominantly in that area. However, it also provides advice to voluntary and statutory bodies nationally. How the organisation raises money

GMCDP receives grant funding from organisations including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Manchester City Council and the Association of

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The Good Giving Guide Greater Manchester Authorities. It also raises money from membership fees and the sale of publications and campaigning materials. How people can get involved

Volunteers play an important role in the work of GMCDP. Volunteers are involved in helping with regular monthly information bulletin mail-outs, word processing and general office work. The organisation’s various subgroups also offer involvement in specific areas, such as independent living and computers. GMCDP’s Young Disabled People’s Forum offers a peermentoring scheme. Young disabled people volunteer to support one another and share experiences and advice. Any disabled young person in Greater Manchester aged between 13 and 25 is eligible. People can also show their support by joining GMCDP as a member. Disabled people are eligible for full membership, non-disabled individuals can join as affiliate members and group membership is also available for other organisations. www.gmcdp.com t: 0161 273 5153

Other organisations working in this area Action for Blind People

Action for Blind People supporter and trustee Andrew Moffat says, ‘I first became involved with Action for Blind People a few years ago when I received a fundraising mailing that talked about the charity’s employment services. As well as sending a donation, I called to find out more about what the charity did and how else I could get involved. ‘I had already researched Action’s other services when I was invited to become a Trustee, and it was an easy decision. People can support charities in more ways than just financially. Charities can really benefit from the different skills and experiences people can offer.’ www.afbp.org t: 020 7635 4919 Capability Scotland

Capability Scotland was launched in 1946 to supporting people with cerebral palsy. Today, the organisation has grown and developed and supports children, young people and adults with a range of disabilities. It provides a diverse range of services including community living, day and residential services, employment, respite/short breaks, therapy, education and learning, family support and activities. It also campaigns to influence policy,

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Disability legislation, practice and attitudes. The charity conducts a regular survey of disabled people and their carers, and this provides the basis for campaigning work. www.capability-scotland.org.uk t: 0131 337 9876 Disability Alliance

Disability Alliance was set up in 1974 to improve the living standards of disabled people by breaking the link between poverty and disability. The group believes that it is unacceptable that thousands of disabled people in the UK live in poverty and it aims to ensure that they know about, and claim, their legal entitlement to benefit. The group set out to achieve this by providing advice and information about social security benefits and other entitlements to disabled people and their families, carers and professional advisers. It is also involved in campaign work, research and training. www.disabilityalliance.org t: 020 7247 8776 Holiday Care

Holiday Care believes that everyone needs the opportunity to get away at least once a year with family and friends. The charity aims to give disabled and older people the chance to do that. It provides information about transport, accommodation, visitor attractions, activity holidays and respite care establishments, both in the UK and overseas, which enables people with all kinds of disability to holiday where possible in a mainstream environment. It does not organise or provide funding for holidays. Holiday Care is supported by the UK’s national tourist boards, the travel industry and a number of well-known corporates, trusts and voluntary sector organisations. www.holidaycare.org t: 0845 124 9971 John Grooms

John Grooms works with disabled people to improve quality of life, choice and freedom. One of the charity’s key aims is to ensure that disabled people are able to live as independently as possible. The charity was founded in 1866 and has long been a major provider of services for people with disabilities. These include residential care, nursing homes and respite care; specialist wheelchair housing, physiotherapy and district nurse services; and training opportunities, education and lifestyle coaching. The charity also helps with accessible hotel and self-catering holiday properties. www.johngrooms.org.uk t: 020 7452 2000

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The Good Giving Guide Leonard Cheshire

Leonard Cheshire provides services for disabled people in the UK and 57 other countries across the world. In the UK, the charity provides independent and supported living, respite care and day services to enable disabled people to live independently. Leonard Cheshire’s Workability scheme gives younger disabled people the computer equipment and skills they need to find a job. The charity is also developing cutting-edge services for people with an acquired brain injury. www.leonard-cheshire.org t: 020 7802 8200 Mencap

Mencap works with people with a learning disability, their families and carers to fight for equal rights. The charity campaigns for greater opportunities and challenges attitudes and prejudice. It also provides advice and support to meet people’s needs throughout their lives. The charity is an individual membership organisation, with a local network of more than 1,000 affiliated groups. Its work is shaped by members’ views about their needs and wishes. www.mencap.org.uk t: 020 7454 0454 Motability

Motability Scheme customer Kevin Roden says, ‘As a wheelchair user, people are surprised that I can still drive. I have obtained a specially adapted car through the Motability Scheme by using the higher rate Mobility Component of my Disability Living Allowance. It has been adapted with push-pull hand controls, indicator switch, upgraded power steering and a wheelchair hoist. It has given me back my freedom! Motability is a national charity, which can sometimes provide extra financial help towards adaptations, larger cars and driving lessons.’ www.motability.co.uk t: 0845 456 4566 RADAR

RADAR works to empower disabled people to achieve their rights and expectations and to influence the way that disabled people are viewed as members of society. It is an organisation of disabled people and, constitutionally, the majority of its governing board of trustees must be disabled people. RADAR is primarily a campaigning organisation. It has a regional network and works to actively promote legislation and good practice in policy to improve the lives of disabled people. www.radar.org.uk t: 020 7250 3222

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Disability Whizz-Kidz

Whizz-Kidz provides customised wheelchairs, tricycles and other specialised mobility equipment to change the lives of disabled children across the UK. This is important because the NHS is often unable to provide much-needed mobility equipment and training. Whizz-Kidz also works to raise awareness of the needs of children with mobility difficulties so that they get the support they deserve from the general public and from the Government. The charity is kept informed by the Kidz Board – a group of thirteen disabled teenagers who act as the advisory group and ambassadors – and runs several projects that improve the lives of young disabled people. www.whizz-kidz.org.uk t: 020 7233 6600

Further information Disability Rights Commission

Gives advice and information to disabled people, employers and service providers and campaigns to change policy, practice and awareness in favour of disabled people. www.drc-gb.org

British Council of Disabled People

The UK’s national organisation of the worldwide Disabled People’s Movement. It represents 126 groups run by disabled people in the UK at the national level. Member organisations have a total membership of around 350,000 disabled people. www.bcodp.org.uk

Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group

MDPAG is an organisation of disabled people campaigning for change around Manchester and the North West to improve access to buildings, transport, the environment and information. The website provides useful publications and news updates as well as a comprehensive links section signposting users to other organisations. www.mdpag.org.uk

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C h a p t e r 18 H e a lt h Health charities make up the largest sub-sector within the voluntary sector in the UK today. The charity health sector has an annual income of more than £600 million, generated by hundreds of organisations working with patients, raising money and providing services in different areas of healthcare. Health charities broadly fall into two categories: care and support, and research. Looking at the amount of money spent by charities on care, research and support services gives some indication of the role they play in health services in the UK. Every year they spend more than £313 million on cancer services, £99 million on chest and heart programmes and £139 million on supporting the terminally ill. Charities support approximately one-third of all medical research and have enabled hospitals and scientists to conduct work into life-threatening diseases. Some of the larger charities run their own research institutions, which carry out work funded entirely by donors’ money. Many care charities were founded by people with first-hand experience of a particular illness, such as seeing a friend or family member suffer. These charities were set up to alleviate the need for specific services not provided by the state, such as supplementary care services, residential places or specialist nursing. Some of the biggest and best-known palliative care charities, such as Macmillan Cancer Relief and Marie Curie Cancer Care, provide specialised nursing services that provide thousands of cancer patients and their families with one-to-one care services. Health charities also raise awareness of less well-known diseases and fight for the rights of patients and carers. Voluntary organisations are able to work closely with the public sector and the NHS to provide bolt-on services that supplement state healthcare, for instance providing emotional support programmes or rehabilitation schemes that work alongside more formal health programmes. The health sector is so diverse that it’s impossible to summarise it in this chapter. Every disease will have a charity working to care for patients and to look into research or treatments.

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Health

The best-known health organisations The following health groups all appear in the list of the 50 most recognised charities. The list is based on an independent survey that asked a sample of people on the street to name charities that they know of. The British Heart Foundation, which appears as a full-length case study below, also appears in the top 50. Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK was formed in 2002 from the merger of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and The Cancer Research Campaign. The charity’s vision is to conquer cancer through world-class research. It is the largest volunteer-supported cancer research organisation in the world and it supports the work of 3,000 scientists working across the UK. The charity spends more than £191 million each year on research. www.cruk.org.uk t: 020 7009 8820 Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK runs a series of services to help people with diabetes continue to lead an active life. Services include telephone counselling, activity weekends, special insurance deals and social get-togethers. The charity is also one of the UK’s largest funders dedicated to diabetes research, with an annual research budget of about £4.5 million. www.diabetes.org.uk t: 020 7424 1010 Macmillan Cancer Relief

Macmillan Cancer Relief works to improve the quality of life for people living with cancer in the UK. The charity helps provide the expert care and practical and emotional support that makes a real difference to people living with cancer. The charity is best known for its specialist Macmillan nurses. www.macmillan.org.uk

Marie Curie Cancer Care

Every year Marie Curie provides free care and support to 30,000 cancer patients and their families. Marie Curie nurses work in the community to give terminally ill people the choice of dying at home, supported by their families. Marie Curie nurses now care for about 50 per cent of all cancer patients who die at home. www.mariecurie.org.uk t: 020 7599 7777

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The Good Giving Guide Multiple Sclerosis Society

The MS Society aims to support and relieve people affected by MS, to encourage them to attain their full potential by improving their conditions of life, and to promote and publish results from research into MS and allied conditions. The Society funds MS research, runs respite care centres, and provides grants, education and training on MS. www.mssociety.org.uk t: 020 8438 0700

National charity (selected from the top 50 most recognised charities) – British Heart Foundation The aim of the British Heart Foundation is to play a leading role in the fight against heart disease so that it is no longer a major cause of disability and premature death by: • Funding research into the causes, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. • Providing support and information to heart patients and their families through the British Heart Foundation nurses, rehabilitation programmes and support groups. • Educating the public and health professionals about heart disease, its prevention and treatment. Annual turnover

Total donors Regular financial supporters Active cash supporters Volunteers

£124.3 million (gross income for 2002/3, including income from BHF shops) More than 200,000 25,000 175,000 About 20,000

Recent achievements

The charity’s anti-smoking adverts, which showed fat dripping from a cigarette, effectively reached target audiences, and 83 per cent of smokers surveyed said that the adverts made them think again about stopping smoking. The adverts helped generate huge volumes of calls to the charity’s helpline, with callers requesting help to stop smoking.

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Health History

The British Heart Foundation was founded in 1961 by a group of distinguished surgeons and doctors who were worried about the growing death rate from heart disease. Their aim was to raise money to help fund extra research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart and circulatory disease. The organisation has grown considerably and achieved a great deal over the years. Its aim remains unchanged. Structure and reach

The British Heart Foundation works across the UK. Its head office is in central London and it has one office in Scotland and one in Wales as well as bases in seven regions across England. The charity has 400 volunteer branches based all around the country. These branches link into the regional offices. The charity also has more than 470 charity shops. How the charity raises money

The British Heart Foundation relies predominantly on money from individuals. In order to increase income and maximise the impact of its work, the charity also works in partnership with other organisations and companies. The guiding principle for such partnerships is that they are directly related to meeting the Foundation’s core aim to combat premature death and disability from cardiovascular disease. The charity retains its independence within these partnerships and is also working with the Department of Health on anti-smoking campaigns. How to get involved

• Make a donation (either a single gift or by direct debit or standing order). • Leave a legacy. • Donate via a Payroll Giving scheme. • Donate in memory of a loved one in lieu of flowers. • Donate shares. • Buy from the charity’s trading catalogues or online shop. www.bhf.org.uk t: 020 7935 0185

Special interest charity – Muscular Dystrophy Campaign The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign aims to find a cure and treatments for muscular dystrophy and care for those affected by the condition.

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The Good Giving Guide Muscular dystrophy is an umbrella term for 60 different muscle-wasting conditions. Annual turnover Number of regular financial supporters Number of members Number of volunteers and activists

£5.6 million 6,000 5,000 12,000

Recent achievements

• Headed up a consortium that was awarded £1.6 million by the Department of Health to explore possible genetic treatments for muscular dystrophy. • Publication of a hard-hitting report into how the NHS fails powered wheelchair users received intense media interest and led to a meeting with the head of the NHS Wheelchair Services. • Was selected as a guest charity for the 2004 Jeans for Genes campaign. History

The Muscular Dystrophy Group was created in 1955 and became a registered charity four years later. It was set up as a medical research charity with the aim of finding a cure for muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular disorders. Since its formation the charity has changed its name to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. It has broadened its remit to include providing care and support to anyone affected by muscular dystrophy and to provide up-to-date information on the condition to those requiring it. Structure and reach

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign operates throughout the UK. Family Care Officers and regional staff provide support and advice to people living in the regions. The administrative headquarters is in London. A volunteer network made of 88 branches is spread across the UK and these branches carry out fundraising and support work. How the charity raises money

The Campaign is funded both from statutory sources and voluntary donations. The charity’s fundraising department organises events, seeks funding from trusts and nurtures corporate sponsors and major donors.

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Health Regional officers and volunteers from the branches organise local fundraising events in their areas. How people can get involved

Volunteers are always wanted for fundraising events, from running the London Marathon to selling raffle tickets. Opportunities also exist to help with administrative work in various destinations across the UK. Volunteers are regularly required for public awareness and PR campaigns. www.muscular-dystrophy.org t: 020 7720 8055

Local charity – Cardiff Diabetes UK voluntary group The group exists to raise awareness of diabetes in the local community and runs fundraising events to help support the work of Diabetes UK. Its main purpose is to offer mutual self-help to diabetics in the Cardiff area. The group’s monthly meetings provide a forum for diabetics and their families to come together to talk about personal and lifestyle issues that fall outside the help that the NHS and health professionals provide. The group mans information stands at local health fairs and in universities, community centres and supermarkets to distribute information that could help diabetics lead a more comfortable life. Achievements

• The group helped set up the Cardiff Gujarati Group, the first Indianethnic diabetes help group in the UK. • Donations from the Cardiff diabetes group have enabled the local hospital to establish a diabetes resource centre for diabetics in the community. • The group was the first of its kind to make an overseas partnership, twinning with a diabetes help group in Nantes, France. It now organises exchange visits and swaps knowledge. History

The Cardiff Diabetes UK group was set up in 1954 as a way of helping local diabetics come together to share their experiences. One of the first diabetes help groups to be established, it is now one of the largest in the country, combining fundraising with advocacy and awareness work.

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The Good Giving Guide Structure and reach

The group works in Cardiff and the surrounding areas. How the charity raises money

The group raises all its money from voluntary donations and from the fundraising events it holds in Cardiff and the surrounding area. After covering costs, the group then sends the rest to the Diabetes UK headquarters. How people can get involved

If you live in Cardiff you can join the group and help fundraise and engage in community activities. You can also attend meetings to share knowledge and tips with other diabetics. If you’re interested in setting up your own Diabetes help group contact Diabetes UK head office or visit the website. www.diabetesuk.org.uk t: 029 2066 8276

Other organisations working in this area Action for ME

Action for ME was set up to try to create a better future for people with ME, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The charity wants to ensure that ME is understood and individuals are respected, have access to appropriate health and social care, education and employment and the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives. The group campaigns for the widespread recognition of the severity of ME, leading to appropriate diagnosis and treatment, services and support. It also distributes information to people with ME, their carers, family, friends and professionals. www.afme.org.uk t: 01749 670799

African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) The ACLT, established in June 1996 by the parents of ex-leukaemia sufferer Daniel De-Gale, has raised the number of black people on the UK bone marrow registers from 550 to 15,000. A blood test will put you on the register. Bone marrow is a blood-like liquid, which can be donated by one person to another in a simple procedure. ALCT supporter and exEastenders actress Troy Titus-Adams says: ‘It is all too easy to get wrapped up in your own self importance, especially in the entertainment world. The really important people in life, like those who ACLT help, have

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Health not only overcome immense personal challenges but in doing so have been a monumental source of inspiration to all.’ www.aclt.org t: 020 8667 1122 Alzheimer’s Society

The Alzheimer’s Society is committed to maintaining, improving and promoting its unique knowledge and understanding of dementia. It aims to provide effective care services and provides helplines and support for carers, runs quality day and home care, funds medical and scientific research and gives financial help to families in need. The charity also campaigns for improved health and social services and greater public understanding of all aspects of dementia. The charity operates through 250 local branches that work across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. www.alzheimers.org.uk t: 020 7306 0606 Asthma UK

Asthma UK, previously the National Asthma Campaign, is dedicated to helping the 5.1 million people who have asthma. Asthma UK works together with people with asthma, health professionals and researchers to develop and share expertise to increase understanding of asthma and reduce the effect of it on people’s lives. The charity’s vision is ‘Control over asthma today, freedom from asthma tomorrow.’ It also attempts to raise public awareness of the seriousness of the condition, which kills one person every seven hours. www.asthma.org.uk t: 0131 226 2544 Birth Defects Foundation

The Birth Defects Foundation helps babies with inborn abnormal conditions and their families. The charity was started by a group of doctors and nurses treating babies with a number of medical conditions acquired in the womb. It now funds research, provides specialist nursing services and makes grants to families affected by inborn conditions. The charity believes that research is the best way to tackle the root cause of inborn conditions and doesn’t spend any money on advertising. www.bdfcharity.co.uk t: 01543 468888 Breast Cancer Care

Breast Cancer Care exists to provide information about breast cancer to women across the UK. It also provides support services including a helpline,

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The Good Giving Guide publications and reports, and one-to-one practical and emotional contact for anyone dealing with breast cancer. The charity has a network of local selfhelp groups and links with partner community organisations so patients can access support at a local level. Breast Cancer Care also provides more specialist health services such as a breast prosthesis service for women who need help after breast surgery. www.breastcancercare.org.uk t: 020 7384 2984 Changing Faces

Changing Faces was founded to provide emotional and medical support to people with facial disfigurements. It helps disfigured people build their self-confidence, making sure they receive healthcare and rehabilitation. It also increases public awareness and knowledge about disfigurement. It created the first NHS Disfigurement Support Unit offering face-to-face support, workshops and counselling programmes for children dealing with social problems at school. The charity also provides advice and information for anyone making a decision about medical or surgical treatment. It also runs hard-hitting advertising campaigns to try to make people face their uncomfortable reactions to people with facial disfigurements. www.changingfaces.co.uk t: 0845 4500 275 Epilepsy Action

Epilepsy Action is the largest member-led epilepsy organisation in Britain. With a strong campaigning remit, it acts as the voice for the UK’s estimated 440,000 people with epilepsy, as well as their friends, families, carers, health professionals and the many other people on whose lives the condition has an impact. As well as campaigning to improve epilepsy services and raise awareness of the condition, the charity offers assistance to people in a number of ways including a national network of branches, accredited volunteers, regular regional conferences and freephone and email helplines. www.epilepsy.org.uk t: 0808 800 5050 Help the Hospices

Help the Hospices is a national charity set up to represent and support hospices in the UK. It provides help in two ways. It supports hospices in their work on the frontline of caring for people who face the end of life and caring for those who love them. This support takes many forms

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Health including training, education, information, grant-aid, advice and national fundraising events and activities. It also represents the 200 local charities that provide the majority of hospice care across the UK. Help the Hospices investigates issues, publishes reports and briefings and lobbies Government. www.helpthehospices.org.uk t: 020 7520 8200 Positively Women

Positively Women is the only national registered charity offering peer support for women living with HIV. The charity was set up in 1987 by a group of HIV positive women who were determined to set up services specific to women’s needs. They formed a support group, which provided a safe space for women to talk openly about the challenges they faced. Today, the organisation remains strongly committed to the ethos of peer support and empowerment. It provides peer support and advocacy, crèche facilities and therapeutic services for children affected by HIV. www.positivelywomen.org.uk t: 020 7713 0444

Further information General health The NHS Information Authority

Has a comprehensive, A-Z listing of health charities. www.nhsia.nhs.uk/text/pages/links_charity.asp

The Tagish ‘Directory of UK Healthcare Information: Charities’

Provides an alphabetical listing of larger health charities. www2.tagish.co.uk/links/Health/Charities.htm

The BUBL Information Service

Has a health charities page, which provides links and information about health charities. http://bubl.ac.uk/link/h/healthcharities.htm

Community Health UK

Promotes and supports community health initiatives in the UK. www.chuk.org

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The Good Giving Guide Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)

AMRC represents member charities on a variety of governmental and non-governmental committees and other bodies. www.amrc.org.uk

Specific conditions Breast Cancer Coalition

The nation’s largest breast cancer advocacy group, with more than 600 member organisations and 70,000 individual members and supporters. Committed to ending breast cancer, NBCC and its sister organisation, the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, work to educate and train individuals to be effective activists and to influence the public policies that affect breast cancer research and treatment. www.natlbcc.org

Positive Futures

A pan-London partnership of HIV charities, managed by the UK Coalition, and includes Terrence Higgins Trust Lighthouse, Positively Women, The Globe and Chalk Farm Oasis. The project provides a range of services to people living with HIV with regard to personal development for their future options and choices. www.positive-futures.org.uk

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C h a p t e r 18 S o c i a l W e l fa r e The social welfare sector includes thousands of charities and voluntary organisations that exist to serve many different basic general and social welfare functions; from providing shelter and housing, to caring for the elderly and dependant and providing comfort to those in need of help and support. These organisations also exist to support those on the peripheries of society; drug users, alcoholics, socially excluded people and those who are deprived and disenfranchised. Before the welfare state was established in the 1940s, charities were the only organisations around to help these groups, who often find themselves on the wrong side of society and its laws. Even now, people’s complicated attitudes towards things such as addiction, homelessness, anti-social behaviour and refugees make it difficult for charities working in these areas to raise enough voluntary income to provide the support and services needed to properly address the root causes of problems some people face in society. Due to space restrictions this book cannot adequately represent this section of the voluntary sector. Instead we have tried to provide an overview of the different areas charities provide social welfare and care services to those in need. For more information on how to find other organisations working in this area, go to the ‘Further information’ section at the bottom of this chapter.

The best-known social welfare organisations The following general social welfare groups all appear in the list of the 50 most recognised charities. The list is based on an independent survey that asked a sample of people on the street to name charities that they know of. Samaritans, which appears as a full case study below, is also in the top 50. Age Concern

Age Concern supports people over 50 in the UK to ensure that they get the most from life. It provides essential services, such as day care and

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The Good Giving Guide information, and also campaigns on issues such as age discrimination and pensions. It works to influence public opinion and government policy about older people. There are local Age Concern branches in most towns and these are affiliated to one of the four national Age Concern organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. www.ageconcern.org.uk t: 020 8765 7200 Help the Aged

Help the Aged wants to change the world so that older people have enough income to live, not just survive. It also wants to make sure that they are not isolated or lonely, they are on an equal footing with everyone else and they get quality care when and where they need it. It has five main priorities: combating poverty, reducing isolation, defeating ageism, challenging poor care standards and building understanding through research into ageing. www.helptheaged.org.uk t: 020 7278 1114 Mind

Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. It works to advance the views, needs and ambitions of people with mental health problems. It also aims to challenge discrimination and promote inclusion, influence policy through campaigning and education, inspire the development of quality services and achieve equal rights through campaigning and education. www.mind.org.uk t: 020 8519 2122 RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution provides a 24-hour on-call search and rescue service around the coast of the UK and Republic of Ireland. The service covers an area of up to 50 miles out from the coast and the charity also provides a beach rescue service on 43 beaches in the south west of England. The charity’s volunteer crews are funded entirely by public donations. www.rnli.org.uk t: 0845 122 6999 Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion provides financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants. Best-known for running the annual

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Social Welfare Poppy Appeal, it also provides welfare assistance ranging from pensions and benefits advice to the provision of welfare grants and full nursing care. www.britishlegion.org.uk t: 020 7973 7200 Salvation Army

The Salvation Army in the UK and Ireland offers a wide range of Social Services and is the biggest provider of social care in the UK after the government. Services include: support for homeless people; ministry programmes within prisons; residential homes for children and families and a family tracing service to help people find lost relatives. www.salvationarmy.org.uk t: 0845 634 0101 Shelter

Shelter works to put an end to rough sleeping (where people have no form of shelter at all) and bad housing (where people live in inadequate conditions, such as bed and breakfasts). It helps 100,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. It also aims to tackle the root causes of Britain’s housing crisis by campaigning for new laws, policies and solutions. www.shelter.org.uk t: 020 7505 4699 Sue Ryder Care

Sue Ryder Care supports people with a wide range of disabilities and lifeshortening diseases, as well as their families, carers and friends. Its services are geared to fill key gaps that exist in the health service, with each Sue Ryder Care Centre specialising in the care most needed by their local community. The range of services includes long-term and respite residential care, day care centres and home care. www.suerydercare.org.uk t: 020 7400 0440

National charity (selected from the top 50 most recognised charities) – Samaritans Samaritans’ vision is of a society where fewer people die by suicide, where people respect the feelings of others, and where people are able to explore their own feelings. The charity works towards this and also aims to make emotional health a mainstream issue.

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The Good Giving Guide Samaritans is the only charity to provide confidential emotional support 24 hours a day by phone, email, face to face or letter. Annual turnover Regular financial supporters Volunteers and activists

£10 million 36,098 17,200

Achievements

The charity has provided a listening ear for 50 years to more than 47 million people. Samaritans now plans to become more proactive in reaching out to those in distress. In the future it will actively seek to work with vulnerable groups to educate, reduce stigma and provide coping skills. History

Samaritans was founded in 1953 by an Anglican vicar, Chad Varah, as a lifeline for people at risk of suicide. In those days, suicide was still illegal so it was very difficult for people who couldn’t go on, for whatever reason, to ask for help or talk to anyone about how they felt. Structure and reach

Samaritans has 203 branches across the UK and Republic of Ireland. It has a central office in Surrey where paid staff carry out administrative, fundraising and publicity activities. Facts

• Samaritans was the first 24-hour telephone helpline to be set up in the UK. • Samaritans was given its name by a Daily Mirror article that appeared in December 1953 and referred to a ‘Good Samaritan telephone service’. Although Samaritans is not a religious organisation, the name stuck. • Samaritans offers emotional support in 49 different languages in addition to English. These range from Arabic to Urdu, and include Sign Languages and Braille. How the charity raises money

Samaritans relies on individual donations for 97 per cent of its income. These donations mostly come from regular givers. Samaritans also aims to target businesses for support, and has secured funding from a number of high-profile organisations in recent years. The charity’s local branches also carry out fundraising activities.

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Social Welfare How to get involved

Samaritans is always looking for volunteers, either to provide emotional support on the phone or to help with fundraising, publicity or administration. Volunteers are given thorough training and ongoing support, and on average carry out one four-hour shift a week and one overnight shift each month. www.samaritans.org.uk

Special interest charity – YoungMinds YoungMinds is a national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional well-being of all babies, children and young people across the UK. The charity aims to create a greater awareness of the mental health issues faced by children and young people. It does this by meeting the needs of parents through its Parents’ Information Service, providing information and advice on mental health issues and running training and support for practitioners in all agencies who work with children. It also influences and lobbies decision makers. Annual turnover Individual members Professional association members

£1,298,000 1,300 25

Achievements

In 2002–03, YoungMinds: • Helped nearly 3,000 families in need by providing information and advice over the telephone and in writing. • Conducted an in-depth study of inpatient units, hearing direct from young people about their experiences of being an in-patient. • Contributed to Government consultations, reform of the Mental Health Act, the Children’s National Service Framework and the policy of the Mental Health Alliance. History

YoungMinds grew out of the Child Guidance Trust, an organisation representing a number of professional individuals and child guidance teams across the country. The organisation continues to represent a unique alliance of individuals, groups and professional organisations within the field of health,

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The Good Giving Guide education, social services and youth justice, all committed to working together to promote the mental health of children and young people and to improve the provision of child and adolescent mental health services across the country. Structure and reach

YoungMinds works across the UK. How the charity raises money

YoungMinds raises most of its income from voluntary donations and fundraising events as well as grants from the Government and grantmaking organisations. It also raises money from membership fees and by selling information materials, such as its YoungMinds magazine. How to get involved

YoungMinds welcomes donations and those who want to raise funds. The charity also offers a membership package (£32 a year) and a supporter scheme (from £20 a year). There are also opportunities for volunteers. YoungMinds relies on volunteers to help out in its office, giving vital support to all departments. The charity pays volunteers reasonable travel expenses and lunch expenses as well as providing free training required to do the job. www.youngminds.org.uk t: 020 7336 8445

Local/regional charity – Emmaus Cambridge The Emmaus project at Landbeach in Cambridge is a working village where former homeless people live as part of a community. The community runs a money-making business, which offers residents meaningful work. The business is based on collecting and refurbishing donated goods, such as furniture, cookers, fridges and washing machines, which are sold through the project’s community shop. The community also runs a coffee shop. Residents sign off primary benefits to work full time within the community business. The project is designed to give homeless people a place to feel safe and secure and to help them regain their self-respect by discovering how to take responsibility for their own lives as well as helping others less fortunate than themselves.

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Social Welfare Achievements

• A single community, such as Emmaus Cambridge, can save the Treasury over £600,000 a year, according to recent research by the University of Cambridge (‘Building on Success’ 2004). • Through its recycling activities alone, the Cambridge Community has prevented 925 tonnes of waste being dumped in landfill sites, amounting to a saving of over £35,000. • The community business provides furniture and household goods at minimal cost to those on low incomes. History

The Emmaus Movement was founded in France in 1949 by the Abbé Pierre, a Roman Catholic Priest and former member of the Resistance Movement. It has been a fundamental principle from the start that Emmaus residents support themselves through their own hard work and thereby regain their sense of dignity and self-worth. Structure and reach

Emmaus Cambridge is home to up to 30 formerly homeless people in the Cambridge area. The project is one of 11 communities run by Emmaus UK, which is, in turn, part of an international movement spanning more than 40 countries. All Emmaus communities run as social enterprises and aim to become self-sufficient through their own community businesses. How the charity raises money

Emmaus raises money from Government funds, trust and foundations, wealthy individuals, companies and from more than 20,000 individual supporters. It also receives support from churches and other charitable organisations. How to get involved

Volunteers are an important resource for Emmaus and make a vital contribution. There are many ways to make a valuable contribution, including working in one of the charity’s community shops, driving a van, getting involved in project work or becoming a trustee. www.emmaus.org.uk t: 01223 576103

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Other organisations working in this area Crime National Neighbourhood Watch Association

This network promotes good citizenship and encourages people to become active in preventing and reporting crime in their local area. It aims to promote an effective relationship between police and local residents. It also galvanises local communities by organising conferences and training and education sessions. www.neighbourhoodwatch.net t: 020 7963 0160 Suzy Lamplugh Trust

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is a leading authority on personal safety. Its role is to minimise the damage caused to individuals and to society by aggression in all its forms; physical, verbal and psychological. The trust was founded by Diana Lamplugh, the mother of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh who disappeared in 1986 and whose body has never been found. The Trust now works to encourage safety wherever people may be at risk. www.suzylamplugh.org t: 020 8876 0305 Unlock (The Association of Ex-Offenders)

Unlock was founded in 1999 by a group of ex-offenders who have managed to rebuild their lives after serving prison sentences. The charity uses its experience of crime and custody to inform political debate, positively influence Prison Service policies, and educate the public that assisting ex-offenders to reintegrate back into society is in the best interests of everyone. Unlock also advises and assists serving and former prisoners who demonstrate a genuine commitment to leading a crime-free lifestyle, and so helps them become productive members of their local communities. www.unlockprison.org.uk t: 01634 247350

Drugs Addaction

Drugs supply and drugs misuse have become major social issues in recent years. Addaction is a leading UK charity working solely in the field of drug and alcohol treatment. Founded in 1967, it now has more than 50 projects within communities and prisons. Its clients come from all backgrounds

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Social Welfare and are of all ages. Some have long-term addiction and dependency problems. The organisation assesses their needs and provides a programme to help them work towards abstinence. www.addaction.org.uk t: 020 7251 5860 DrugScope

DrugScope works with community-facing organisations tackling drug use in local areas and champions new approaches to helping drug users and people affected by the use of drugs. The charity aims to provide quality information about drugs and carries out research at local, national and international level. DrugScope also tries to influence Government drugs policy and provides regional training programmes for schools on how to respond to drugs. It also researches how the drug education needs of young people can be met outside of school. www.drugscope.org.uk t: 020 7928 1211 Lifeline

Lifeline exists to help people who use drugs and their families. With offices in Manchester, East Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Calderdale, the charity provides a range of services for drug users and those affected by drug use. Lifeline does not take a moral stance by condemning drug use, but works with drug users to make sure the choices they make are informed and that they cause as little harm to themselves, their loved ones and their communities as possible. The charity provides outreach services and needle banks, and also produces publications providing frank accounts of drugs and their effects on people. www.lifeline.org.uk t: 0161 834 7160

Homelessness Centrepoint

Centrepoint is the national charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded, homeless young people. It provides a range of accommodation-based services, including emergency night shelters, short-stay hostels and specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders and young single parents. Centrepoint works with young people to enable their personal, social, educational and vocational development. To this end, each service offers employment, training, education, life-skills and specialist support for young people with mental health, drug and alcohol issues. www.centrepoint.org.uk t: 020 7426 5300

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The Good Giving Guide Crisis

Crisis is a national charity for single homeless people. It works to help vulnerable people rebuild their lives, reintegrate into society and live independently. It provides access to support for mental health and addiction. It also provides accommodation and training opportunities. It is now focusing on raising awareness of the 380,000 ‘hidden homeless’ people living in hostels, b&bs and with friends. www.crisis.org.uk t: 0870 011 3335 St Mungo’s

St Mungo’s is a homelessness agency and housing association, which began in London in 1969. It now offers support and care for about 1,000 vulnerable men and women in more than 60 housing projects. The charity has five outreach teams that go out on the streets to connect with London’s rough sleepers. It also helps more than 2,000 homeless people through its training and employment programmes. www.mungos.org t: 020 8740 9968

Mental Health Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation aims to get rid of the stigma attached to mental illness and learning disabilities. The charity aims to empower people through pioneering new approaches to prevention, treatment and care for people with mental health problems. It also distributes grants for research and community projects, lobbies healthcare professionals and aims to raise the public’s awareness of the issues. www.mhf.org.uk t: 020 7802 0300 SANE

SANE was established in 1986 following the overwhelming public response to a series of articles featured in The Times newspaper entitled ‘The Forgotten Illness’. Written by Marjorie Wallace, now SANE’s chief executive, the articles underscored the neglect of people suffering from schizophrenia and the poverty of services and treatments. From its initial focus on schizophrenia, SANE developed and is now concerned with all mental illnesses. It runs a helpline and conducts research into mental health issues. www.sane.org.uk t: 020 7375 1002

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Social Welfare Sign

Sign is a national society for mental health and deafness. It aims to reduce the risk of deaf people developing preventable mental health problems through working with statutory bodies, health and deaf organisations and mental health charities. It also campaigns for the rights of deaf people and arranges supported living, advocacy and outreach services for deaf people encountering mental health problems. www.signcharity.org.uk t: 01494 687600

Refugees Asylum Aid

Asylum Aid is an independent national charity assisting refugees in the UK. It helps the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people seeking asylum in the UK by providing free legal advice and representing them in their asylum application. Asylum Aid also combines advice work and policy work with campaigning for the fair treatment of refugees in this country. It runs specific programmes helping women asylum seekers get protection from human rights violations and also operates an advice line. www.asylumaid.org.uk

Refugee Council

The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. The council is made up of 80 refugee community organisations. It provides a range of services including giving advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees to help them rebuild their lives, working with refugee communities so that they feel safe, and offering training and employment courses. The Refugee Council also campaigns for the voice of refugees to be heard and to keep them high on the political agenda. www.refugeecouncil.org.uk t: 020 7346 6700

Social Inclusion Peabody Trust

Peabody Trust is one of London’s largest and oldest housing associations, as well as being a charity and community regeneration agency. It works to improve the quality of housing and life for all its disadvantaged residents, tackle social exclusion and build lasting, sustainable communities. The Peabody Trust Group owns or manages more than

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The Good Giving Guide 19,000 properties across 30 London boroughs, housing nearly 50,000 people. It works with local communities, the Greater London Authority, local Government and a wide range of voluntary, private and public sector partners. www.peabody.org.uk t: 020 7021 4000 Prince’s Trust

The Prince’s Trust aims to help disadvantaged young people in the UK to get past the barriers facing them so they can get their lives working and make a positive contribution to society. It focuses its efforts on those who’ve struggled at school, been in care, been in trouble with the law or are long-term unemployed. The charity provides practical support, including training, mentoring and financial assistance to help 14–30-yearolds realise their potential. It also provides low-interest loans and business start-up support for 18–30-year-olds and a programme to provide mentors to young people who are leaving care. www.princes-trust.org.uk t: 0800 842 842 Turning Point

Turning Point is a social care charity with services in 200 locations across England and Wales. It helps people tackle drug and alcohol misuse, mental health and learning disability and has direct contact with over 100,000 people a year. Turning Point concentrates on working with the individual rather than the problem they’re facing to try to help people transform their lives and reengage with their local community. It runs services across the UK working at grassroots level providing services such as rehabilitation, counselling, employment training and housing advice. The charity also campaigns on the issues that affect its services users. www.turning-point.co.uk t: 0207 702 2300

Public/emergency services St John Ambulance

St John Ambulance is a first aid, transport and care charity. Its mission is to provide first aid and medical support services, caring services in support of community needs and education, training and personal development to young people. St John Ambulance trains over half a million people each year, running a range of first aid courses for children, the general public and the workforce. It also has over 43,000 volunteers who are committed

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Social Welfare to training, caring and saving lives. Every day, St John Ambulance volunteers give 10,000 hours of voluntary service to the public and travel 5,000 miles providing patient care. The charity’s volunteers treat 200,000 casualties every year. www.sja.org.uk t: 08700 10 49 50

Further information The Social Science Information Gateway

Provides a database of social welfare information, including links to charities and campaigning groups under the ‘Organisations/Societies’ heading. www.sosig.ac.uk/social_welfare/

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C h a p t e r 19 M a j o r N at i o n a l C h a r i t y A p p e a l s From Red Nose Day to the London Marathon, major national events have become one of the most popular ways to support charity. The 2003 Red Nose Day raised in excess of £59 million, a whopping £35 million of which was raised on just one night.1 The runners in the London Marathon bring in more than £32 million for thousands of charities each year.2 Part of their appeal is that it’s easy to get involved with a national fundraising event, and they also often combine fundraising with something people enjoy doing. Because they only happen periodically, they also promote a sense of solidarity and togetherness between supporters, which helps to keep everyone motivated.

‘I give to BBC Children in Need – it’s very well publicised, and therefore easy to give money to. You are also shown to some extent where the money is going to,’ female, 233 Consequently many charities are launching their own national fundraising events or charity weeks. The Awareness Campaign Register, which tracks events and advises charities on when to run campaigns, lists about 500 such events each year,4 ranging from Breast Cancer Awareness Month to Personal Safety Week to World Mental Health Day. For some charities, such as Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need, the fundraising appeal is their major or sole way of raising income for the coming period. For others, such as Christian Aid Week or ME Awareness Week, the appeal is an intensified drive to get a particular message across or produce a fundraising spurt to supplement ongoing fundraising activities that continue throughout the year. Regardless of which one you pick, participating in all of these events can be very rewarding, and the organisers are usually on-hand with plenty of suggestions of different ways to get involved.

The best-known fundraising appeals The following fundraising appeals all appear in the list of the 50 most

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Major National Charity Appeals recognised charities. The list is based on an independent survey that asked a sample of people on the street to name charities that they know of. Red Nose Day, which is featured in a full-length case study below, is also present in the top 50 list. BBC Children in Need

BBC Children in Need started in 1980, and since then it has raised more than £325 million through its annual televised appeal. Money raised has been used to improve the lives of children in the UK who have experienced problems or hardships, such as abuse, serious illness and poverty. The charity is based on the BBC’s traditional interest in raising money for children. The broadcaster’s first fundraiser for children was a fiveminute radio appeal on Christmas Day 1927. It raised £1,143, about £27,150 by today’s standards. The first televised appeal took place in 1955 and these continued on TV and radio until 1979. In 1980 the appeal was broadcast as a telethon for the first time, and BBC Children in Need was born. BBC Children in Need became a registered charity in 1989. The charity’s well-known mascot, Pudsey bear, was created to front the 1986 appeal. He was so popular that he has become the face of BBC Children in Need. www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey t: 020 8576 7788 Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual national health campaign organised by all the major breast cancer and cancer charities. The campaign is held every October and is designed to raise awareness of breast cancer as well as to raise funds for research into prevention and cure, care for those with breast cancer and education and information materials. Each year, the month is marked with many thousands of people wearing a pink lapel ribbon to show their support for the cause. There are also numerous national and local fundraising events arranged by the charities taking part, and many also negotiate corporate partnerships, such as Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s partnership with Avon cosmetics. Breast Cancer Awareness Month originated in the United States, where the pink ribbon symbol was first adopted. It was introduced to the UK in 1994 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. The charities involved include Breast Cancer Care, Breast Cancer Campaign, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Cancer Research UK.

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Red Nose Day (selected from the 50 most recognised charities) Red Nose Day is a UK-wide fundraising event organised every two years by Comic Relief. The campaign culminates in a whole night of TV programming dedicated to comedy and moving documentary films. Comic Relief aims to help end poverty and social injustice. It was set up by comedians and uses comedy and laughter to get serious messages across, as well as making sure that everyone can have some fun at the same time. Over the years, more than 2,050 celebrities have given their time and talent to Comic Relief. Comic Relief ’s four key objects are: • Raising money from the general public by actively involving them in events and projects that are innovative and fun. • Informing, educating, raising awareness and promoting social change. • Allocating funds in a responsible and effective way to a wide range of charities that are selected after careful research. • Ensuring that the Red Nose Day fundraising costs are covered by sponsorship in cash or in kind so that every penny raised goes to charity. Income

The most recent income figures available are for Red Nose Day 2003. Total Fundraising events organised by supporters Telephone donations Online donations Sales of Red Nose merchandise Phone and text competitions International sales of special edition Harry Potter books International sales to date

£61.6 million £21.5 million £24.5 million £3 million inc. interactive (online-only £2.6 million) £11.25 million £1.36 million £2 million £11 million

How people get involved

People get involved with Red Nose Day in three main ways: by raising money, buying Comic Relief products and making donations.

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Major National Charity Appeals Donations are made at banks up and down the country as well as by telephone and online. Comic Relief products, such as the distinctive red noses, are available in thousands of shops nationwide. Fundraising events range from the sublime to the ridiculous. On Red Nose Day itself, Comic Relief encourages everyone to cast inhibitions aside, put on a red nose and do something a little bit silly to raise money. The charity also runs special education initiatives every Red Nose Day to encourage young people to look into the issues underlying its work. Comic Relief also takes on volunteers to work in its national fundraising department, media relations department and administration department. Who benefits

Comic Relief funds projects that support poor and disadvantaged people in the UK, Africa or the world’s poorest countries by helping them to turn their lives around and make positive changes in their communities. Since Comic Relief began, it has given in excess of £75 million to projects working across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, about £130 million to projects in Africa and £2.6 million to projects working in some of the poorest countries around the world. Every two years, Comic Relief draws up a list of grant-making guidelines, which clearly explains the sort of work it is keen to fund, with the help of experts in development and social issues. Corporate partners

Comic Relief ’s corporate partners are very important to it. Throughout the year, it relies on gifts in kind to help cover vital administration costs. The most recent details on Comic Relief ’s partners are available on the charity’s website. History

Comic Relief was launched live on BBC 1 on Christmas Day 1985 from a refugee camp in Safawa, Sudan, in response to the African famine. It began with a few live events, drawing support from across the comedy community. Then, in 1988, the first Red Nose Day was organised, bringing together comedy and charity on national television for the first time. This first big night of television was presented by Lenny Henry, Griff Rhys Jones and Jonathan Ross, and raised more than £15 million. Since then, the

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Memorable moments 1988 The first Red Nose Day raised a total of £15 million. More than 30 million people watched the events on BBC1, which included the Young Ones on ‘University Challenge’ and ‘Blackadder – the Cavalier Years’. 1989 More than 20 million people across the UK took part in 70,000 activities for Red Nose Day 1989 and raised £26.9 million. Entertainment included a single from Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Kathy Burke and Bananarama. 1991 – The Stonker Red Nose Day was known as the Stonker and was themed around Hale and Pace’s single ‘The Stonk’, which raised more than £100,000. 1993 – The invasion of the comic tomatoes An impressive 72 percent of people in the UK took part in Red Nose Day 1993 and 3.3 million people bought the characteristic tomato-styled noses. 1995 – What a difference a day makes The 1995 event broke records by raising £22 million. Television viewing included Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer drinking 75 pints

organisation has gone from strength to strength, raising more than £250 million from eight Red Nose Days and other events including Sport Relief in 2001. Facts

• Comic Relief promises that for every pound the charity gets directly from the public, a pound goes to help people affected by poverty and social injustice to transform their lives. It is able to keep this promise because the costs of running Comic Relief are met in cash or in kind from all kinds of other sources including Government, corporate donors and individual suppliers as well as through the interest generated on funds. • Comic Relief is starting to get involved with other activities between Red Nose Days. These include supporting the ‘Drop the Debt’ campaign and promoting its fair trade chocolate bar, Dubble.

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Major National Charity Appeals

while belting out ‘I Can’t Live If Living Is Without You’ and a lingering kiss between Hugh Grant and Dawn French. 1997 – Small change – big difference 1997 included a marathon Spice Girls snog with Jonathan Ross, Griff Rhys Jones and Lenny Henry. 1999 – the record breaker Red Nose Day 1999 raised more than £35 million and broke the record for ‘The most naked people on stage at one time’, when 101 brave people bared their all. 2001 – Say pants to poverty A total of £55 million was raised and £6 million was brought in from the international sales of JK Rowling’s special edition Harry Potter books. Entertainment included Billy Connolly’s naked streak around Piccadilly Circus, Jack Dee’s victory in the celebrity Big Brother house and Ali G’s interview with Posh and Becks. 2003 – The big hair do The big hair do raised at least £59 million. Entertainment included Celebrity Fame Academy, and a special edition of Driving School.

• In 2001, Comic Relief held ‘Sport Relief ’ with the BBC, which raised more than £10 million. • Red Nose Day is the biggest TV fundraising event in the UK calendar. www.comicrelief.com and www.rednoseday.com t: 020 7820 5555

The London Marathon The London Marathon is the largest fundraising race of its kind.5 It is one of the rare occasions where top athletes, such as Paula Radcliffe and Sonia O’Sullivan, run the same race as charity supporters clad in unlikely running gear such as antique diving suits and rhino costumes. The race is held annually in April, and each year an official charity is chosen. On some occasions there are two official charities, one named by the race organisers and one by the sponsor. The official charities receive

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The Good Giving Guide between 250 and 350 guaranteed runner places, a valuable commodity given that competition for places is tight. The official charity not only has the chance to raise vast sums (often millions of pounds) but can also use the occasion to raise its profile to help secure more donors and more corporate supporters in the future. Hundreds of other charities also take part in the day. Many have guaranteed places in the race and grant these to supporters that agree to raise a specific amount of money for the charity in sponsorship. The London Marathon also has its own Charitable Trust. The trust distributes all profits made from the event to fund recreational projects across London. Official race charities

2004 – Sense and the British Heart Foundation 2003 – Shelter 2002 – Children with Leukaemia 2001 – Multiple Sclerosis Society Income

In 2004, 33,000 London marathon runners raised around £36m for hundreds of good causes. This amount has more than trebled in seven years, up from £10 million in 1996.6 History

The London Marathon was first run on 29 March 1981. The event had been the brainchild of former Olympic champion Chris Brasher, who organised the first event after taking part in the 1979 New York Marathon. Since 1981 it is estimated that more than £200 million has been raised for charities worldwide, with 76 per cent of competitors running for a cause close to their heart. In that time, the London Marathon Charitable Trust has also given more than £12 million in grants to local community projects. This has funded sports equipment for schools and community groups, ramps and lifts to help disabled people enjoy sports and nature trails, and improvements to existing leisure facilities. In 1991, the Trust purchased some playing fields in Greenwich as a way of keeping land for sport rather than possible development. The idea was such a success that the Trust has established a dedicated fund to enable it to buy more playing fields in the future. www.london-marathon.co.uk t: 020 7902 0200

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The National Lottery For every £1 spent on the National Lottery, 28p goes to good causes. Meanwhile, 50p goes to the winners fund, 12p goes to the Government in tax, 5p is spent paying commission to retailers who sell lottery tickets, 4.5p is spent on operating costs and Camelot takes 0.5p in profit.7 Income

Total ticket sales for the financial year March 2003 to March 2004 was £4.61 billion. This equates to £1.29 billion for good causes. How charities benefit

The National Lottery supports six good causes: • • • • • •

Sports Charities Heritage Education Health Environment

Lottery money is allocated via specially established lottery distributor organisations, including The Big Lottery Fund, The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Sports Councils and the Arts Councils. Each distributor has its own criteria setting out the types of organisations and projects that it will support. Charities and non-profits apply to the distributor to ask for a grant and to explain how they meet the distributor’s criteria. In 2003–2004, Lottery good cause money was distributed as follows: 33.33 per cent to health, education and the environment and 16.67 per cent each to sports, arts, heritage and charities.8 How people get involved

At the moment, people get involved simply by buying a ticket. However, the level of engagement could increase in the future. Several suggestions have been made, including the idea that people buying lottery tickets could somehow indicate where they would like to see the money going. However, this suggestion has caused controversy because one of the most important functions of Lottery good cause money has been helping less-popular causes that find it more

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The Good Giving Guide difficult to raise money ordinarily. Some charities and non-profits fear that by giving individual lottery players a chance to ‘vote’ on which cause they would like to see they money go to, this benefit could be lost. History

Since the Lottery began in 1994, more than £15.6 billion has been given to good causes and the Lottery has become an important source of funding for medium-sized charities. So far, the money has funded more than 160,000 individual projects throughout Britain. However, overall, the amount of lottery money going to good causes has dropped 20 per cent since 1997–98, when good causes received £1.5bn. This is because ticket sales have fallen from £5.5bn in 1997–98 to £4.6bn in 2003–04.9 The amount received by registered charities has also fallen accordingly. In 2001–02, they received £550 million – £16 million less than they got in the previous year.10 www.national-lottery.co.uk t: 0845 910 0000

Make a Difference Day Make a Difference Day is Community Service Volunteers’ annual flagship campaign to introduce people to volunteering. For one day each year, the charity asks everybody to donate time, rather than money, to make a real difference to their local community. The day offers the chance to experience a taste of volunteering for the first time and encourages people to continue volunteering in the future. The campaign falls on the last Saturday in October each year and has become the UK’s biggest ever day of volunteering action. How many people get involved?

In October 2003, 88,000 people helped to make a difference to their community. How does it work?

Many charities hold specific Make a Difference Day events for volunteers to take part in. In 2003, the disability charity Scope organised a day of action to raise awareness of the problems faced by disabled people using public transport. Meanwhile, the Muslim Youth Helpline held an

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Major National Charity Appeals open day to recruit new volunteers for its telephone counselling and outreach service. Community Service Volunteers is able to advise volunteers about the many opportunities open. Volunteers can also come up with their own activity by simply looking around their community and thinking about what they could do to help. Community Service Volunteers provides action packs filled with useful information and tips to help volunteers plan a successful day. Packs are sent out to all those who register to take part in the day. Registration forms are available online or from Community Service Volunteers’ helpline. Volunteers do not have to make a regular commitment to coming events. They can attend as many or as few events as they like. How do charities benefit?

Make a Difference Day is a prime opportunity for charities and nonprofits to recruit potential volunteers. It is also an ideal chance to gain publicity. In October 2002, 77 per cent of organisations who wished to attract new volunteers through Make a Difference Day succeeded in doing so and 76 per cent of activities received media coverage. www.csv.org.uk t: 0800 284533

Further information The ‘Count me in’ website provides a full calendar detailing all of the major charity events through the year. See www.countmeincalendar.info.

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Charit y Listings Listed below are contact details for all the charities mentioned in this book. 4Children (formerly Kids’ Clubs Network) www.4children.org.uk 0870 770 2498 4 Nations Child Policy Network www.childpolicy.org.uk Aberlour Child Care Trust www.aberlour.org.uk 01786 895002 Action for Blind People www.afbp.org 020 7635 4919 Action for ME www.afme.org.uk 01749 670799 Action Medical Research www.action.org.uk 01403 210406 Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) www.acre.org.uk 01285 653 477 ActionAid www.actionaid.org.uk 020 7561 7561 Addaction www.addaction.org.uk 020 7251 5860 African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust www.aclt.org 020 8667 1122 Age Concern www.ageconcern.org.uk 020 8765 7200 Alertnet www.alertnet.org 020 7278 9345

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Alzheimer’s Society www.alzheimers.org.uk 020 7306 0606 Amnesty International UK www.amnesty.org.uk 020 7814 6200 Asthma UK www.asthma.org.uk 0131 226 2544 Asylum Aid www.asylumaid.org.uk Baby Milk Action www.babymilkaction.org 01223 464420 Badger Protection Society 020 8651 0104 Ballynafeigh Community Development Association www.bcda.net/welcome%20naviga tion%20page.htm 028 9049 1161 Barnardo’s www.barnardos.org.uk 020 8551 0011 Battersea Dogs Home www.dogshome.org 020 7622 3626 BBC Children in Need www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey 020 8576 7788 Big Brothers Big Sisters www.bbbsi.org 020 8673 3030 Birth Defects Foundation www.bdfcharity.co.uk 01543 468888

Charity Listings Blue Cross www.bluecross.org.uk 01993 825500 Bond www.bond.org.uk 020 7837 8344 Born Free Foundation www.bornfree.org.uk 01403 240170 Breakthrough Breast Cancer www.breakthrough.org.uk 020 7025 2400 Breast Cancer Campaign 020 7749 3700 Breast Cancer Care www.breastcancercare.org.uk 020 7384 2984 British Association for the Advancement of Science www.the-ba.net 0870 770 7101 British Council of Disabled People www.bcodp.org.uk 01332 295551 British Executive Services Overseas (BESO) www.beso.org 020 7630 0644 British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk 020 7935 0185 British Helsinki Human Rights Group www.bhhrg.org 01865 439483 British Red Cross www.redcross.org.uk 020 7235 5027 British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) www.buav.org 020 7700 4888 Brooke Hospital for Animals www.thebrooke.org 020 7930 0210

BTCV www.btcv.org 01302 572244 Burma Campaign www.burmacampaign.org.uk 020 7324 4710 Cambridgeshire Community Network www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk 01223 717111 Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) www.caat.org.uk 020 7281 0297 Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) www.cpre.org.uk 020 7981 2800 Cancer Research UK www.cruk.org.uk 020 7009 8820 Capability Scotland www.capability-scotland.org.uk 0131 337 9876 Cardiff Diabetes UK voluntary group 029 2066 8276 CARE International www.careinternational.org.uk 020 7934 9334 Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) www.cafod.org.uk 020 7733 7900 Cats Protection www.cats.org.uk 08702 099 099 Centrepoint www.centrepoint.org.uk 020 7426 5300 Changing Faces www.changingfaces.co.uk 0845 4500 275 Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) www.cafonline.org

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The Good Giving Guide Charity Bank www.charitybank.org 01732 520029 Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) www.capt.org.uk 020 7608 3828 Child Poverty Action Group www.cpag.org.uk 020 7837 7979 ChildLine www.childline.org.uk 020 7650 3200 Children in Crisis www.childrenincrisis.org.uk 020 8542 2000 Children in Scotland www.childreninscotland.org.uk 0131 228 8484 Children in Wales www.childreninwales.org.uk 029 2034 2434 Children’s Society www.the-childrens-society.org.uk 0845 300 1128 Chin Up www.chinchillas2home.co.uk Christian Aid www.christianaid.org.uk 020 7620 4444 Civicus www.civicus.org 00 1 202 331 8518 (USA) Comic Relief www.comicrelief.com 020 7820 5555 Committee on the Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) www.caj.org.uk 028 90 961 122 Community Action Network www.can-online.org.uk 0845 456 2537

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Community Development Exchange (CDX) www.cdx.org.uk 0114 270 1718 Community Development Foundation www.cdf.org.uk Community Foundation Network www.communityfoundations.org.uk 020 7713 9326 Community Matters www.communitymatters.org.uk 020 7837 7887 Community Service Volunteers (CSV) www.csv.org.uk 020 7278 6601 Conscience (the peace tax campaign) www.conscienceonline.org.uk 020 7705 1061 Crisis www.crisis.org.uk 0870 011 3335 Daycare Trust www.daycaretrust.org.uk 020 7840 3350 Diabetes UK www.diabetes.org.uk 020 7424 1010 Directory of Social Change www.dsc.org.uk 08450 77 77 07 Disability Alliance www.disabilityalliance.org 020 7247 8776 Disability Rights Commission www.drc-gb.org 08457 622 633 Dogs Trust (formerly the National Canine Defence League) www.dogstrust.org.uk 020 7837 0006 DrugScope www.drugscope.org.uk 020 7928 1211

Charity Listings EarthWatch Institute www.earthwatch.org.uk 01865 318 838 Edinburgh Direct Aid www.edinburghdirectaid.org 0131 552 1545 Emmaus UK www.emmaus.org.uk 01223 576103 Employee Volunteering www.employeevolunteering.org.uk 0800 028 3304 Encams www.encams.org.uk 01942 612639 English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk 0870 333 1181 Epilepsy Action www.epilepsy.org.uk 0808 800 5050 EveryChild www.everychild.org.uk 020 7749 2468 Experience Corps www.experiencecorps.co.uk 020 7921 0565 Experience Mexico www.experiencemexico.co.uk 07795 177099 Fairtrade Foundation (the) www.fairtrade.org.uk 020 7405 5942 Fathers 4 Justice www.fathers-4-justice.org 01787 281 922 Fax Your MP www.faxyourmp.com Flora & Fauna www.fauna-flora.org 01223 571000 Free Tibet www.freetibet.org 020 7324 4605

Friends of the Earth www.foe.co.uk 0808 800 1111 Funding Network (the) www.thefundingnetwork.co.uk 0845 345 0242 Global Witness www.globalwitness.org 020 7272 6731 Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People www.gmcdp.com 0161 273 5153 Greenpeace www.greenpeace.org.uk 020 7865 8100 Guide Association (the) www.girlguiding.org.uk 0800 1 69 59 01 Guide Dogs for the Blind Association www.guidedogs.org.uk 0118 983 5555 Help a London Child www.capitalradio.com/halc Help the Aged www.helptheaged.org.uk Help the Hospices www.helpthehospices.org.uk 020 7520 8200 Holiday Care www.holidaycare.org 0845 124 9971 HopeHIV www.hopehiv.org 020 8288 1196 Howard League for Penal Reform www.howardleague.org.uk 020 7249 7373 Human Rights Watch www.hrw.org 020 7713 1995 Hungersite www.hungersite.com

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The Good Giving Guide ICAN www.ican.org.uk 0845 225 4071 Independent Living Alternatives www.i-l-a.fsnet.co.uk/i-l-a.fsnet.co.uk 020 8906 9265 International Forum for Child Welfare www.ifcw.org International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) www.ifaw.org 020 7587 6700 John Grooms www.johngrooms.org.uk 020 7452 2000 Jubilee Debt Campaign www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk 020 7324 4722 Just Do Something www.justdosomething.net 020 7608 8100 Landmine Action www.landmineaction.org 020 7820 0222 Leonard Cheshire www.leonard-cheshire.org 020 7802 8200 Lesbian and Gay Vegan Group Berkeley, Box 42 Greenleaf Bookshop 82 Colston Street Bristol BS1 5BB Liberty www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk 020 7403 3888 Lifeline www.lifeline.org.uk 0161 834 7160 Macmillan Cancer Relief www.macmillan.org.uk Make Trade Fair (Oxfam) www.maketradefair.com 0870 333 2700

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Manchester Disabled People’s Access Group www.mdpag.org.uk Marie Curie Cancer Care www.mariecurie.org.uk 020 7599 7777 Marine Conservation Society www.mcsuk.org 01989 566017 McSpotlight www.mcspotlight.org Medecins Sans Frontieres www.uk.msf.org 020 7404 6600 Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) www.map-uk.org 020 7226 4114 Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture www.torturecare.org.uk 020 7697 7777 Mencap www.mencap.org.uk 020 7454 0454 Mental Health Foundation www.mhf.org.uk 020 7802 0300 Merlin www.merlin.org.uk 020 7065 0800 Millennium Volunteers www.millenniumvolunteers.gov.uk MIND www.mind.org.uk 020 8519 2122 Motability www.motability.co.uk 0845 456 4566 Mothers’ Union (the) www.themothersunion.org 020 7222 5533 Multiple Sclerosis Society www.mssociety.org.uk 020 8438 0700

Charity Listings Muscular Dystrophy Campaign www.muscular-dystrophy.org 020 7720 8055 National Aids Trust www.nat.org.uk 020 7814 6767 National Association of Councils for Voluntary Services (NACVS) www.nacvs.org.uk National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) www.ncvo-vol.org.uk 020 7713 6161 National Council of Voluntary Childcare Organisations www.ncvcco.org 020 7833 3319 National Lottery www.national-lottery.co.uk 0845 910 0000 National Mentoring Network www.nmn.org.uk 0161 787 8600 National Neighbourhood Watch Association www.neighbourhoodwatch.net 020 7963 0160 National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) www.nspcc.org.uk 020 7825 2500 National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk 0870 458 4000 NCH (formerly National Children’s Homes) www.nch.org.uk 0845 7 626 579 New Philanthropy Capital www.philanthropycapital.org 020 7401 8080 No Sweat www.nosweat.org.uk 07904 431 959

Occupational Benevolent Funds Alliance www.joblinks.org.uk 01707 651777 OneWorld www.oneworld.net 020 7239 1400 Outreach International www.outreachinternational.co.uk 01458 274957 Oxfam www.oxfam.org.uk 0870 333 2700 Peabody Trust www.peabody.org.uk 020 7021 4000 People & Planet www.peopleandplanet.org.uk 01865 245678 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) www.peta.org.uk 020 7357 9229 People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) www.pdsa.org.uk 0800 917 2509 Positively Women www.positivelywomen.org.uk 020 7713 0444 Prince’s Trust www.princes-trust.org.uk 0800 842 842 RADAR www.radar.org.uk 020 7250 3222 Ramblers Association www.ramblers.org.uk 020 7339 8500 Reach (volunteering) www.volwork.org.uk 020 7582 6543 Refuge www.refuge.org.uk 020 7395 7772

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The Good Giving Guide Refugee Council www.refugeecouncil.org.uk 020 7346 6700 Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation www.roycastle.org 0871 220 5426 Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund www.raf-benfund.org.uk 020 7580 8343 Royal British Legion (Poppy Appeal) www.britishlegion.org.uk www.poppy.org.uk 020 7973 7200 Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) www.rnid.org.uk 0808 808 0123 Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) www.rnib.org.uk 020 7388 1266 Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) www.rnli.org.uk 0845 122 6999 Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) www.rspca.org.uk 0870 3335 999 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) www.rspb.org.uk 01767 680551 Salvation Army www.salvationarmy.org.uk 0845 634 0101 Samaritans www.samaritans.org.uk SANE www.sane.org.uk 020 7375 1002 Sargent Cancer Care for Children www.sargent.org 020 8752 2800

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Save the Children www.savethechildren.org.uk 020 7012 6400 Scarman Trust (the) www.thescarmantrust.org 020 7689 6366 School Governor’s One-Stop Shop www.sgoss.org.uk 0870 241 3883 Scope www.scope.org.uk 0808 800 33 33 Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) www.scottishspca.org 0131 339 0222 Shelter www.shelter.org.uk 020 7505 4699 Sight Savers International www.sightsavers.org.uk 01444 446600 Sign www.signcharity.org.uk 01494 687600 Skill: The National Bureau for Students With Disabilities www.skill.org.uk 020 7450 0620 Soil Association www.soilassociation.org.uk 0117 314 5000 SOS Children’s Villages www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk 01223 365589 Sport Relief (Comic Relief) www.sportrelief.com 020 7820 5555 St John Ambulance www.sja.org.uk 08700 10 49 50 St Mungos www.mungos.org 020 8740 9968

Charity Listings Stonewall www.stonewall.org.uk 020 7881 9440 Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) www.shac.net 0845 458 0630 Stop the War Coalition www.stopwar.org.uk 020 7278 6694 StopEsso www.stopesso.com 0870 010 9510 Student Volunteering England www.studentvol.org.uk 0845 4500 219 Sue Ryder Care www.suerydercare.org.uk 020 7400 0440 Survival International www.survival-international.org 020 7687 8700 Suzy Lamplugh Trust www.suzylamplugh.org 020 8876 0305 Tearfund www.tearfund.org 020 8977 9144 Terrence Higgins Trust (the) www.tht.org.uk 020 7831 0330 The East London Communities Organisation (Telco) www.telcocitizens.org.uk 020 7375 1658 TimeBank www.timebank.org.uk 020 7401 5420 Time Banks UK www.timebanks.co.uk 01452 541439 Tommy’s www.tommys-campaign.org 08707 70 70 70

Turning Point www.turning-point.co.uk 020 7702 2300 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) www.unicef.org.uk 020 7405 5592 Unlock www.unlockprison.org.uk 01634 247350 Victim Support www.victimsupport.org.uk Victoria Baths Trust www.victoriabaths.org.uk 0161 224 2020 Viva! (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals) www.viva.org.uk 0117 944 1000 VolunQueer www.volunqueer.org.uk 020 7437 6063 Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) www.vso.org.uk 020 8780 7200 Volunteer Development Agency (NI) www.volunteering-ni.org 028 9023 6100 Volunteer Development Scotland www.vds.org.uk 01786 479593 Volunteering England www.volunteering.org.uk 0845 305 6979 Wales Council for Voluntary Action www.volunteering-wales.net 0870 607 1666 War On Want www.waronwant.org 020 7620 1111 WaterAid www.wateraid.org.uk 020 7793 4500

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The Good Giving Guide Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) www.wdcs.org.uk 0870 870 0027 Whizz-Kidz www.whizz-kidz.org.uk 020 7233 6600 Who Cares? Trust (the) www.thewhocarestrust.org.uk 020 7251 3117 Wildlife Trusts (the) www.wildlifetrust.org.uk 0870 0367711 Winston’s Wish www.winstonswish.org.uk 01242 515157 Wombles www.wombles.org.uk Women’s Aid www.womensaid.org.uk 0117 944 4411 Women’s Environmental Network www.wen.org.uk 020 7481 9004 Working Families www.workingfamilies.org.uk 020 7253 7243 World Land Trust www.worldlandtrust.org 0845 054 4422 World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) www.wspa.org.uk 020 7587 5000 World Vision www.worldvision.org.uk 01908 84 10 10 Worldwide Volunteering www.worldwidevolunteering.org.uk 01935 825588 WRVS (volunteering) www.wrvs.org.uk 01235 442900

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WWF-UK www.wwf-uk.org 01483 426444 Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust 0191 234 1025 YMCA www.ymca.org.uk YoungMinds www.youngminds.org.uk 020 7336 8445 Youth Sport Trust www.youthsporttrust.org 01509 226600 YouthNet (volunteering) www.do-it.org.uk 020 7226 8008 YWCA www.ywca-gb.org.uk 01865 304200

G lo s s a ry Activist A person who gets involved in campaigning with or on behalf of a charity or campaigning group to bring about some social, political or environmental change. This can range from signing petitions to attending protest rallies. Campaigning group An organisation that exists primarily to campaign and lobby around a specific issue or set of issues. Usually used to describe organisations that do not have charitable status. Charitable foundation/trust (also know as grant-giving trust/foundation) An organisation that gives money in the form of grants to other charities and non-profit groups. Foundations may raise money to distribute, or may use the interest earned on an investment to make grants. Foundations often have a specific interest, such as poverty, children or animals, and use specified criteria to decide whether organisations and projects that apply for grant are eligible. Charitable purpose To be recognised as a registered charity, an organisation must have purposes that are charitable. Objectives that are considered charitable have been set out and developed by case law and the Charity Commission over centuries. There are four main charitable purposes: the relief of poverty, the advancement of education, the advancement of religion and other purposes for the benefit of the community. However, in both Scotland and in England and Wales, legislation is currently being proposed to update these criteria. This is expected to open the possibility of charitable status to more organisations. Charity An organisation recognised by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Inland Revenue. To register as a charity, an organisation must have purposes that are recognised as charitable. Charity Commission A non-departmental Government organisation that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. It investigates complaints about charities and has the power to revoke charitable status. It also provides support, information and advice to charities.

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The Good Giving Guide Corporates Term referring to a domestic or international corporation, business or other money-making enterprise. Donor A person who gives either money or gifts in kind to a charity or campaigning group. Donors may give a one-off gift or may commit to a regular donation. Face-to-face fundraising (also called street-fundraising or chugging) The practice of charities and campaigning groups sending collectors into public places to stop passers-by to ask them to sign up to a regular direct debit or standing order donation or to become a member of the organisation. Collectors may be charity employees, volunteers or staff of an outside company that specialises in fundraising. Gift Aid A Government scheme that allows charities to reclaim the tax paid on donations made by UK taxpayers. For every £1 donated, the charity can reclaim a further 28p at no cost to the donor. Member A person who joins an organisation, usually by paying an annual fee. Members differ from donors because they usually receive some member benefits such as the organisation’s magazine, or reduced rates on some products and services. Many members also have the right to vote on future direction of the organisation that they have joined, usually at an Annual General Meeting. NGO (non-governmental organisation) A term first coined by the United Nations that is used to refer to non-profits and campaigning organisations internationally. Non-profit An organisation that does not seek to make a profit and instead works for social outcomes. Generally used to describe charities and campaigning organisations. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator A Scottish Executive Agency set up to regulate charities in Scotland. OSCR is developing a regulatory framework for charities. When proposed charity legislation becomes law, OSCR will change from being an Executive Agency to become a statutory public body. Eventually it is expected to play a similar role to the Charity Commission.

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Glossary Third sector Generic term referring to charity, voluntary and campaigning organisations in a collective sense. Trustee Someone who sits on the governing board of a charity. Trustee boards are legally responsible for the overall management and decision making at the charity and trustees are obliged to act in the best interests of the charity. Voluntary sector Generic term referring to charity, voluntary and campaigning organisations in a collective sense. Volunteer A person who gives their time and skills to an organisation without payment. Volunteers may give time as part of a one-off activity, they may help out on a regular basis or they may commit to full-time volunteering for a specified period of time. Opportunities are available in the UK and abroad. Charities sometimes compensate for volunteers’ travel and related expenses.

259

N ot e s PART ONE 1 What Charities and Campaigning Groups Are and Do 1 Karl Wilding, Graham Collins, Véronique Jochum and Susan Wainwright (2004), The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac, National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications: London, p139 2 Nicholas Hellen and Jonathan Carr-Brown (2002), ‘Charities may be asked to run ‘Cinderella’ public services’, The Times, 2 May 2002 3 Cathy Pharoah (2002), ‘Dimensions 2002: Annual Update of CAF’s Top 500 Fundraising Charities’, Charities Aid Foundation: London 4 As cited above, Wilding et al (2004), p49 5 As for note immediately above, p139 6 Mark Lattimer (2000), The Campaigning Handbook (2nd edn), Directory of Social Change: London, pp29–30; Christopher Carnie (1997), ‘Fundraising and the public’ in Caroline Hartnell (ed), The non-profit sector in the UK (1st edn), Charities Aid Foundation: West Malling, pp76–7 7 As cited above, Wilding et al (2004), p107 8 United Nations Regulation 1996/31 9 The International Committee of the Red Cross, ‘International Humanitarian Law’, www.redcross.lv/en/conventions.htm 10 RPSCA, ‘Principle Animal Welfare Legislation – Acts of Parliament’, www.rspca.org.uk

11 Claudia Botham (2003), ‘Domestic Violence’, New Philanthropy Capital briefing, pp2–4 12 ‘Amnesty International Works’, www.amnesty.org.uk/amnesty/works 13 ‘The History of the NSPCC’, www.nspcc.org.uk 14 ‘PETA Milestones’, www.petauk.org/about/milestones 15 See www.capability-scotland.org.uk 16 See www.rnli.org.uk/fact

2 Picking your Charity 1 Quotes taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. 2 National Council for Voluntary Organisations/Charities Aid Foundation ‘Inside Research 2002’ briefing paper, p3 3 Cancer Research UK, www.cancerresearchuk.org/aboutcancer/whatiscancer/ 4 Quote taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. 5 Quote taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. 6 As cited above National Council for Voluntary Organisations/Charities Aid Foundation (2002), p3

260

Notes 7 8 9

Third Sector (2003), ‘Giving is determined by politics’, 16 July 2003 www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=7510 Quote taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. Third Sector (2003), ‘WWF sells BP shares’, 5 February 2003, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=5694

10 Euromonitor International, ‘Petroleum Refining in UK’, www.euromonitor.com/Petroleum_refining_in_UK_(mmp) 11 Annie Kelly (2003), ‘Corporates can be risky bedfellows for charities’, Third Sector, 3 February 2003, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=5735 12 Third Sector (2003), ‘Tobacco giant sparks ethical row’, 9 April 2003, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=6417

13 Third Sector (2003), ‘WWF sells BP shares’, 5 February 2003, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=5694

14 Kirsten Downer (2002), ‘Environment: the greening of HSBC’ Third Sector, 4 July 2002, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=3119 15 Henri E Cauvin, ‘Mining Company to offer HIV drugs to Employees’, New York Times, 7 August 2002 16 Charlotte Denny (2002), ‘Retreat by Nestlé on Ethiopia’s $6 million debt’, Guardian, 20 December 2002 17 See www.burmacampaign.co.uk 18 BBC News (2002), ‘Arms firm attacked over poppy gift’, 8 November 2002, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2420285.stm

19 Felicity Lawrence (2003), ‘How much chocolate do you need to eat to get a free netball from Cadbury?’, Guardian, 29 April 2003, http://society.guardian.co.uk/publichealth/story /0,11098,945696,00.html

20 ICM opinion poll. See National Council for Voluntary Organisations (2004), ‘Charities take on delivery of public services while stepping up their political campaigning’, www.ncvovol.org.uk/asp/search/ncvo/main.aspx?siteID=1&sID=8&subSID=116 &documentID=1937, accessed 12 June 2004 21 Karl Wilding, Graham Collins, Véronique Jochum, and Susan Wainwright, (2004), The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac 2004 (5th edn), National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications: London, p61 22 Kirsten Downer (2002), ‘RNLI lifeboat appears in advert for French cars’, Third Sector, 4 September 2002, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=4289 23 Third Sector (2003), ‘Cancer charities split over wine sponsorship’, 29 January 2003, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=5604 24 Maxine Frith (2004), ‘Breast cancer charity rejects Nestlé’s £1m’, Independent, 6 May 2004, http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=518605 25 See the CAAT website at www.caat.org.uk 26 NOP research commissioned by the Charities Aid Foundation, April 2001. See www.cafonline.org/research/ethical_investment.cfm

27 28 29 30

Quote taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. Cabinet Office Strategy Unit (2002), ‘Private action, public benefit’ See the Telco website at www.telcocitizens.org.uk Available from the PETA website at: www.petauk.org/cmp/viv-charlist.asp

261

The Good Giving Guide 31 Daily Mail (2002), editorial leader: ‘A cause unworthy of your support’, 17 May 2002 32 John Plummer (2003), ‘What should charities do when the media attacks?’, Third Sector, 29 May 2003, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=2459 33 Kevin Maguire (2003), ‘How British charity was silenced on Iraq’, Guardian, 28 November 2003, www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1095116,00.html 34 Channel 4 News (2003), ‘Red Cross closes offices in Iraq’, 8 November 2003. See www.channel4.com/news/2003/11/week_1/08-iraq.html

35 As cited above, Wilding (2004), p59 36 Quotes taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. 37 Jacqueline Rae (1997), ‘What is the non-profit sector?’ in Caroline Hartnell (ed), The non-profit sector in the UK (1st edn), Charities Aid Foundation: West Malling, p104 38 As cited above, Wilding (2004), p50 39 Quotes taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book.

3 How You Fit In 1 Leonard Cheshire supporter factsheet available from www.leonardcheshire.org.uk 2 Quotes from a survey conducted by the authors while researching this book. 3 Brian Lamb (1997), The Good Campaigns Guide, National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications: London, 138, p2; Mark Lattimer (2000), The Campaigning Handbook, Directory of Social Change: London, p11; Wyn Grant (2001), ‘Pressure Politics: From “Insider” Politics to Direct Action?’, Parliamentary Affairs 54, pp337–338 4 Quote from a survey conducted by the authors while researching this book. 5 Chris Attwood, Gurchand Singh, Duncan Prime and Rebecca Creasy (2003), ‘2001 Home Office citizenship survey: people, families and communities’, Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate: London, p112 6 Development Dimensions International, March 2003 7 Excerpt from ‘The Green Gym: An Evaluation of a Pilot Project in Sonning Common, Oxfordshire’, available from www.btcv.org/greengym_old/health/health.html

4 Donating Money 1 Karl Wilding, Graham Collins, Véronique Jochum and Susan Wainwright (2004), The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac 2004 (5th edn), National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications: London, p101 2 Charities Aid Foundation (2000), ‘The Culture of Giving’ Charities Aid Foundation Online Research – www.cafonline.org/research/culture_of_giving.cfm 3 As cited above, Wilding et al (2004), p87 4 Cathy Pharoah and Cathy Walker (eds) (2003), ‘A lot of give: trends in charitable giving for the 21st century’, Hodder and Stoughton: Bath

262

Notes 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

As for note immediately above As for note immediately above The Giving Campaign, ‘Information for Donors’. See www.givingcampaign.org.uk All information provided by the Giving Campaign. See www.givingcampaign.org.uk The Giving Campaign. See www.givingcampaign.org.uk Christian Aid website, www.christianaid.org.uk The Giving Campaign (2003), ‘Charity financial products: a new approach to giving’, available from www.givingcampaign.org.uk 12 Howard Lake (2002), ‘The potential of the internet for future charitable giving’ in As cited above Pharoah et al, p58 13 As for note immediately above, p57 14 Business in the Community (2002), ‘2002 Cause Related Marketing Tracker’, www.bitc.org.uk/resources/research/research_publications/crmtracker2002.html

15 Business in the Community (1999), ‘Cause Related Marketing – The Ultimate Win Win Win’, www.bitc.org.uk 16 Association for Charity shops, available from www.charityshops.org.uk, accessed 21 May 2004 17 As cited above Wilding et al (2004), p71 18 As cited above Lake (2002), pp56–7 19 Figures from www.justgiving.com 20 Graham Burrough, director smstextgiving. See www.smstextgiving.com for more information. 21 As cited above Wilding et al (2004), p65 22 Raquel Newman (2000), Giving Away Your Money: A Personal Guide to Philanthropy, Schreiber Publishing: Maryland, USA, p36 23 Ron Jordan and Katelyn L Quynn (2001), ‘Invest in giving: a donor’s guide to charitable planned giving’, John Wiley and Sons Inc: New York, p48,The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac, 49 24 As cited above Newman (2000), p99 25 Charity Commission, ‘Rip-off Tip-off ’, www.ripofftipoff.net/charity.htm 5 Becoming an Activist 1 Wikipedia, ‘ArtPolitic Political Encyclopedia: activism’, available from www.artpolitic.org/infopedia/ac/Activism.html, accessed 6 June 2004 2 Chris Attwood, Gurchand Singh, Duncan Prime and Rebecca Creasy (2003), ‘2001 Home Office citizenship survey: people, families and communities’, Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate: London, p97 3 Women’s Environmental Network (2003), ‘Ending the Cosmetics Coverup’, available from www.wen.org.uk/cosmetics/facts.htm 4 The Co-Operative Bank (2003), ‘Ethical policy’, available from www.co-operative5 6 7

bank.co.uk/ethics/ethicalpolicy_consumerism.html See Fairtrade Foundation, www.fairtrade.org.uk/about_sales.htm

Mark Sweney (2004) ‘Nescafe plots entry into fair trade coffee market’, Marketing, 5 June 2004 See www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/real_food/news/2004/june/bayer/how_to_obtain.html

263

The Good Giving Guide 8

Franny Armstrong (2003), ‘Small Furry Mammals’, available from www.n5m.org/n5m3/pages/programme/articles/franny.html

9 As for note immediately above 10 Mark Lattimer (2000), The Campaigning Handbook (2nd edn), Directory of Social Change: London, pp126–7 11 The electrohippies collective, ‘Client-side Distributed Denial of Service: valid campaign tactic or terrorist act?’, available from www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/ehippies/ 12 As cited above Lattimer (2000), p127 13 Paul Mobbs (2002), ‘Campaigning Online: using the internet to get your point across’, GreenNet Civil Society Uinternet Rights Project www.internetrights.org.uk; As cited above Lattimer (2000), p127 14 Scope, ‘Over one-third of British population cannot name a famous disabled person’, 7 June 2004, www.scope.org.uk/cgi-bin/np/viewnews.cgi?id=1086608160 15 As cited above Lattimer (2000), p204 16 Quote taken from a survey conducted by the authors for this book 17 Road Alert, Road Protest Camp Tips, chapter 1, www.eco-action.org/rr/ch1.html#what 18 Rich Cowan (1995), The Campus Organizing Guide for Peace and Justice Groups’, Center for Campus Organizing: Cambridge, Massachusetts www.ibiblio.org/netchange/cco/

19 As cited above Road Alert 20 As for note immediately above 21 Hugo Bedau (1988), ‘On Civil Disobedience’, in RM Baird and SE Rosenburg (eds), Morality And The Law, Prometheus Books: New York, p72 22 Henry David Thoreau (1849), On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience 23 John Rawls (1999), (edited by Samuel Freeman), Collected Papers, Harvard UP: London, p181; As cited above Bedau (1988), p77 24 Third Sector (2003), ‘Mactaggart urges citizens to be “bad” for good of society’, 5 November 2003 25 Alexandra Plows, Derek Wall and Brian Doherty, ‘Covert Repertoires: Ecotage in the UK’, not yet published 26 As cited above Lattimer (2000), p202 27 As cited above Lattimer (2000), p206

6 Volunteering 1 Community Services Volunteers (2002), ‘State of the Volunteering Nation 2002’, p2 2 As for note immediately above, p3 3 Chris Attwood, Gurchand Singh, Duncan Prime and Rebecca Creasy (2003), ‘2001 Home Office citizenship survey: people, families and communities’, Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate: London, p104 4 As for note immediately above 5 CSV website, www.csv.org.uk/makeadifferenceday 6 Mentoring Skills, www.justdosomething.net 7 See www.youth-justiceboard.gov.uk/PractitionersPortal/PreventionAndInterventions /Mentoring/RunningAProject/OnGoiningTraining/AccreditationAndQualifications.htm

264

Notes 8

Statistics from TeacherNet. See www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/atoz/g/Governor_ recruitment/

9 TimeBank research. See www.timebank.org.uk/aboutgiving/olderpeople.htm 10 Volunteer England ‘Volunteering overseas information sheet’, available from www.volunteering.org.uk/missions.php?id=345, accessed 5 April 2004 11 As for note immediately above

7 Taking Things a Step Further 1 Karl Wilding, Graham Collins, Véronique Jochum and Susan Wainwright (2004), The UK Voluntary Sector Almanac 2004 (5th edn), National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications: London, p17 2 David Shacklady (2002), ‘Explore job sectors: voluntary sector’, Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS), available at www.prospects.ac.uk, and as cited above Wilding et al (2004), p119 3 As cited above Wilding et al (2004), p119 4 As cited above Shacklady (2002); Karl Wilding, Bryan Collis, Marion Lacey and Gordon McCullough (2003), ‘Futureskills 2003: A skills foresight research report on the voluntary sector paid workforce’, Voluntary Sector National Training Organisation: London, p13 5 As cited above Wilding et al (2004), p116 6 VSNTO, www.voluntarysectorskills.org.uk 7 As cited above Wilding et al (2003), p14 8 Liza Ramryka (2000), ‘How to get ahead in fundraising’, Guardian – Society, 13 November http://society.guardian.co.uk/voluntary/story/0,7890,396952,00.html 9 Nicola Hill (2003), ‘Get in the money’, Guardian, 2 June http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/fundraising/story/0,13338,967201,00.html

10 Jacqueline Rae (1997), ‘What is the non-profit sector?’ in Caroline Hartnell (ed), ‘The non-profit sector in the UK’ (1st edn), Charities Aid Foundation: West Malling, p108 11 VSNTO, www.voluntarysectorskills.org.uk 12 Remuneration Economics (2002), ‘15th annual voluntary sector pay survey’, www.celre.co.uk/charity/index.asp, accessed 31 March 2004 13 As cited above Wilding et al (2003), p14 14 John Crace (2003), ‘Forget the tin. They mean business now’, Guardian – Jobs and Money, 22 March, www.guardian.co.uk/guardian_jobs_and_money/story/0,3605,919065,00.html

15 As for note immediately above, Catherine Quinn (2004), ‘Philanthropy as you earn’, Independent, 19 February http://education.independent.co.uk/graduate_options/story.jsp ?story=492539

16 Steve McCormack (2004), ‘Charitable intentions’, Independent, 25 March http://education.independent.co.uk/graduate_options/story.jsp?story=504824

17 Guidelines suggested by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. See www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

265

The Good Giving Guide 8 Charity Spending 1 Comic Relief website: www.comicrelief.org.uk/allaboutus/ourpromise.shtml 2 Quotes taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. 3 Karl Wilding, Graham Collins, Véronique Jochum and Susan Wainwright (2004), ‘The UK voluntary sector almanac 2004’ (5th edn), National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications: London, p156. (Figures rounded to nearest whole number.) 4 As for note immediately above, p156 5 As for note immediately above, p156 6 Ken Burnett (2002), Relationship Fundraising, Jossey-Bass Inc: San Francisco, chapter 2 7 As for note immediately above 8 Jacqueline Rae (1997), ‘What is the non-profit sector?’, in Caroline Hartnell (ed), ‘The non-profit sector in the UK’ (1st edn), Charities Aid Foundation: West Malling, p108 9 As cited above Burnett (2002); Luke FitzHerbert, and Kathryn Becher (2002), ‘The major charities: an independent guide’, Directory of Social Change: London, p22 10 As cited above Wilding (2004), p156. (Figures rounded to the nearest whole number.) 11 As for note immediately above, p156 12 One World website: www.oneworld.org/tvandradio/live_aid 13 Third Sector (2002), ‘Battersea Dogs Home to form fundraising team for first time’, July 24 2002, available from www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=3509 14 Adrian Gillan (2004) ‘Nothing to hide, much to lose’, Professional Fundraising, February 2004, p20 15 Information provided by Alan Gosschalk, director of fundraising at Shelter. 16 Research conducted by the Centre for Voluntary Sector Management at Henley Management College, reported in Third Sector. See www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity _news/full_news.cfm?ID=7033, accessed 28 March 2004 17 Information provided by Alan Gosschalk, director of fundraising at Shelter. 18 As cited above Wilding (2004) p139. (Figures rounded to nearest whole number.) 19 As for note immediately above, p139 20 As for note immediately above, p156. (Figures rounded to nearest whole number.) 21 As for note immediately above, p147 22 As for note immediately above, p156 23 According to a survey conducted in 2002 by the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, reported in Third Sector. See: www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=4923, accessed 28 March 2004 24 As for note immediately above 25 All data relating to charities in this table is from Guardian (2003), ‘Salary survey: charity chief executives’ pay sorted by salary’. http://society.guardian.co.uk/salarysurvey /table/0,12406,1043285,00.html

26 All data relating to companies in this table is from Guardian (2003), ‘Salary survey: private sector chief executives’ pay sorted by salary’. http://society.guardian.co.uk /salarysurvey/table/0,12406,1034909,00.html

266

Notes 27 Speech by then chief charity commissioner John Stoker at the 2001 Charity Finance Director’s Group annual conference. Reported by the Guardian, http://society.guardian.co.uk/charitymanagement/story/0,8150,485298,00.html

9 Common Concerns 1 Quotes taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book 2 The Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority figures. See www.pfra.org.uk/facts_figures.htm?sectionSet=charities&menuSet=down

3 4 5

As for note immediately above Adrian Gillan (2004) ‘Nothing to hide, much to lose’, Professional Fundraising, February 2004, p20 The Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority figures. See www.pfra.org.uk/facts_fig-

6

The Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority figures. See www.pfra.org.uk/facts_fig-

7 8

As cited above The Public Fundraising Regulatory Authority SocietyGuardian.co.uk, ‘Tips on face-to-face fundraising’, July 18 2001, http://soci-

ures.htm?sectionSet=charities&menuSet=down ures.htm?sectionSet=charities&menuSet=down

ety.guardian.co.uk/fundraising/story/0,8150,523616,00.html

9

M Daniels and D Goldstein (2002), ‘Giving Barnardo’s Back Its Future’. IPA Effectiveness Awards briefing commissioned by BBH/Barnardo’s 10 Tash Shifrin (2004), ‘Charity advert provokes record number of complaints’, SocietyGuardian.co.uk, 23 April 2004 http://society.guardian.co.uk/charitymanagement /story/0,8150,1201883,00.html

11 British Heart Foundation’s anti-smoking campaign feedback (2004), ‘Topline summary of results’, p2 12 A Mathers (2002) ‘Tommy’s: The Baby Charity’, IPA Effectiveness Awards briefing commissioned by J Walker Thompson 13 As for note immediately above 14 As for note immediately above 15 John Plummer (2002), ‘How can charities best manage reserve funds?’, Third Sector, 16 October 2002, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=4685 16 As for note immediately above 17 Julie Pybus (2002), ‘Cash Balancing Act’, SocietyGuardian.co.uk, 10 April 2002 http://society.guardian.co.uk/charityfinance/story/0,8150,681430,00.html

18 Charity Commission (2003), ‘RS3 – Charity Reserves’ and Charity Commission (2002), ‘CC19 – Charities’ Reserves’, both available from www.charitycommission.gov.uk 19 Charity Finance (2003), ‘Shops Survey 2003’, Charity Finance, September 2003, pp28–29 20 See www.bized.ac.uk/compfact/ratios/profit_add6a.htm 21 Association for Charity Shops, available from www.charityshops.org.uk 22 Michelle Chambers and John Tough (1997), ‘Trading’ in Caroline Hartnell (ed), ‘The non-profit sector in the UK’ (1st edn), Charities Aid Foundation: West Malling, pp84–6

267

The Good Giving Guide 10 The Real World 1 Christopher Carnie (1997), ‘Fundraising and the public’ in Caroline Hartnell (ed), ‘The non-profit sector in the UK’ (1st edn), Charities Aid Foundation: West Malling, p79 2 Quotes taken from a survey conducted by the authors when researching this book. 3 BBC, ‘Guide: How to protect your information using the Data Protection Act’, available from www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ican/A2404054. Accessed 13 June 2004 4 Charity Commission. See www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/rs7a.asp#n1 5 Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, ‘Law – Organisation. Accountability’, www.scvo.org.uk/information/law/organisations/b11.html 6 Charity Commission. See www.charity-commission.gov.uk/enhancingcharities/thematic.asp 7 As cited above Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations 8 As for note immediately above 9 Government recommendations relating to accountability from ‘Charities and Not-for-Profits: A Modern Legal Framework’, as summarised by the One World Trust at www.oneworldtrust.org/htmlGAP/method/ACC/ngoacclaw.htm#9

PART TWO 11 International Development and Poverty Relief 1 Extrapolated from figures quoted in Cathy Pharoah Charity Trends 2003 (24th edn), Charities Aid Foundation: London, p16 2 David Campbell (2004), ‘Aid Workers Killed in Afghan Ambush’, Guardian, 3 June 2004, http://society.guardian.co.uk/aid/story/0,14178,1230358,00.html

13 Children and Young People 1 Anon (2003), ‘NSPCC told to spend its cash on children not campaigning’, Daily Telegraph 24/02/2003, www.telegraph.co.uk 2 Extrapolated from figures quoted in Cathy Pharoah (2003), Charity Trends 2003 (24th edn), Charities Aid Foundation: London, p18

14 Animal Protection 1 Extrapolated from figures quoted in Cathy Pharoah (2003), Charity Trends 2003 (24th edn), Charities Aid Foundation: London, p17

16 Disability 1 Disability Rights Commission (2004), ‘Disability briefing – January 2004’, www.drc-gb.org/publicationsandreports/disability_brief_0104.asp?page=1

2

Extrapolated from figures quoted in Cathy Pharoah (2003), Charity Trends 2003 (24th edn), Charities Aid Foundation: London, p16

268

Notes 19 Major National Charity Appeals 1 See www.rednoseday.com 2 London Marathon (2003), ‘The British Heart Foundation and Sense Official Charities for the 2004 Flora London Marathon’, 9 May 2003, www.londonmarathon.co.uk/pressrelease/2003_29.shtml

3 4

Quote from a survey conducted by the authors during research for this book. Patrick McCurry (2003), ‘Pink ribbons and bangers but check your diary first’, 22 October 2003, www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity_news/full_news.cfm?ID=8364 5 London Marathon, ‘The charitable aspect of the Flora London Marathon’, www.london-marathon.co.uk/marathoninfo/charity.shtml. 6 Annie Kelly (2004), ‘Society Facts – the London Marathon’, Guardian – Society, 21 April 2004 7 National Lottery website: www.national-lottery.co.uk/player/p/goodcauses/whereThe MoneyGoes.jsp. 8 As for note immediately above 9 Annie Kelly (2004), ‘Society Facts – the National Lottery’, Guardian – Society, 5 May 2004 10 Karl Wilding, Graham Collins, Véronique Jochum and Susan Wainwright (2004), The UK voluntary sector almanac 2004 (5th edn), National Council for Voluntary Organisations Publications: London, p101

269

Index 4 Children 179 4 Nations Child Policy Network 183 ActionAid 30, 31, 153, 154, 149 Action for Blind People 210 Action for ME 220 activism activists 4, 14, 21, 37, 137–138, 142, 257 rights of 138 animal rights 184 civil disobedience 74–75 non-payment of taxes 75 sabotage 74 trespass and obstruction 74 consumer 67–68 definition of 39–41, 64–65 direct action 72–73 non-violent 73 see also demonstrations and marches email bombing 70 hacktivism 70 involvement 64–84 letter writing 66 petitions 66 partnerships 67 legal 75–76 major campaigns 79 networks 4, 79–80, 207 see also Women’s Environmental Network, No Sweat, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Burma Campaign online 69–70 organisations 158, 165, 167, 175, 167, 187, 189, 193, 196, 204, 218, 224, 228 public action 71–72 resources 81–84 web resources 83–84 see also campaigning Addaction 232, 279

270

African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) 220 Age Concern 225–226 AIDS see HIV Alzheimer’s Society 221 Amnesty International 8, 10, 20, 32, 40, 45, 164, 165–166, 172, 202, 279 Animal Contacts Directory (The) 192 animals abuse of 10, 67 and business 21, 41 see also The Ethical Company Organisation donating to 14–17, 59, 184 endangered fur 68 see also The Animal Contacts Directory, World Animal Net protection 184 rights 10, 11, 41, 184 sponsorship 50, 184 testing 11, 18, 25, 41, 68, 69, 184 volunteering 86 Asthma UK 221 Asylum Aid 235 Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) 224 Ballynafeigh Community Development Association 178–179 Barnardo’s 107, 127–128, 129, 131, 174–175, 176 Battersea Dog’s Home 50, 116, 184, 190 Birth Defects Foundation 221–222 Blue Cross 185 Born Free Foundation 190 Breakthrough Breast Cancer 11, 22–23, 130, 239

Index Breast Cancer Campaign 55, 130, 239 Breast Cancer Care 130, 221, 239 Breast Cancer Coalition 224 Breast Cancer Relief 130 Breast Cancer Research Scotland 130 British Heart Foundation 28, 128, 215, 216–217, 244 British Helsinki Human Rights Group 172 British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection 190 British Youth Council 183 Brooke Hospital for Animals 191 BTCV 44, 92, 98 Burma Campaign 22, 24, 80 business and charities 21–23, 67, 106, 110, 112, 118 cause-related marketing 55 community 9, 230–231 see also social enterprise donations 47, 57, 228 eco-friendly 68, 194 ethical 23, 82, 65 experience 109 practices 20, 22, 67–68 start-up 236 volunteer 93, 94, 126 see also investment Campaign Against Arms Trade 80 campaigning 3–4, 18, 37, 41, 86, 103, 257 and disability 204, 207, 210, 213 and health 222, 226, 227 and human rights 164–167 see also Amnesty International and social welfare 235, 237 and the environment 193–194, 196, 200, 202 and the system 19–21 careers 43 corporate effects 21–23 experience 137–138 freedom 26

groups checking the legitimacy of 60–61 definitions 6–11, 257 giving to 45–46 your rights 143 see also NGOs, Third Sector, Voluntary Sector, lobbying major campaigns 79 online 69 opportunities 65–84, 156, 158, 174, 175, 179, 188, 189, 192 definition 8 public action 71 recruiting 125 spending on 113, 116 websites 69–70, 82–84 see also activism cancer 3 breast cancer 22, 23 awareness month 238–239 family support 181–182 research 11, 120, 121, 198, 214 giving to 7, 14–16, 27, 28, 76, 124 Cancer Research UK 11, 24, 107, 120, 128, 215, 239 Race for Life 47 Capability Scotland 11, 210–211 Cardiff Diabetes UK voluntary group 219–220 CARE International 160 Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) 154 Cats Protection 185, 200 Centrepoint 233, 234 Changing Faces 222 charities accountability 141 see also Standard Information Return achievements 6–7, 10–12 administration 60, 87, 104, 106, 112, 113, 114–115, 118, 131, 158, 176, 208, 228, 241 AGMs 140, 169 careers 103–111

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The Good Giving Guide chief executives 105, 120–121 choosing one 13–36 definition 7–8 membership 34, 35, 40, 47, 73, 136, 140, 146, 166, 193, 198, 204, 207, 210, 212, 213, 230 registered 8, 142 regulation 8, 33, 60, 61, 115, 126, 131, 142, 143, 144–147, 257, 258 trustee 37, 103, 108–111, 120, 140, 173, 210, 212, 232, 259 popularity 16–17 Charities Aid Foundation 7, 9, 17, 47, 53, 58, 62 charity shops 55–56, 62, 132–133, 156, 162, 176, 202, 206, 207, 216, 217, 232, 241 Association of 62 Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) 180 Child Poverty Action Group 180 Childline 174 children bereavement see Winston’s Wish campaigns 22, 127–128 cancer see Children with Leukaemia, Sargent’s Cancer Care child abuse 3, 16, 19, 67, 128, 131, 174 disabled see SCOPE, Whizz-Kidz education 85, 189 gift ideas 56 homes 173 mental health see Young Minds poverty 30, 54, 80 sponsoring 50 rights 11, 173 working with 91, 173 Children in Crisis 49 Children in Need 7, 115, 238, 239 Children in Scotland 183 Children in Wales 183 Children’s Society, The 129, 174 Children with Leukaemia 244

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Chin Up Animal Sanctuary (The) 188–190 Christian Aid 19, 31, 54, 154, 160, 238 ‘chuggers’ 3, 123–124, 126 Committee on Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) 168–169 Community Foundation Network 53, 62 ‘compassion fatigue’ 3, 6 corporate see business CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) 200 Crisis 30, 49, 234 CSV 85, 86, 92, 99, 100, 247 Data Protection Act 138–140 Daycare Trust 180 demonstrations 65–66, 71–72 capitalism 72 fuel 41 Iraq war 72 nuclear weapons 72 poll tax 72 organisations involved in 73, 187 rural 72 Vietnam war 72 vivisection 72 see also activism and marches Diabetes UK 215 disability 38, 71, 80, 85, 117, 169, 173– 175, 204, 205, 209, 211–213, 216, 217, 236, 246 learning 49 Disability Alliance 211 Dogs Trust 185 domestic violence 10, 32, 49, 165 donating 3, 14, 37 and animals 15 and children 15 collection sacks 62 computer 63 donor’s charter, the 135 issues surrounding 25 mobile phones 63

Index money 37–39, 45–63 affinity credit cards 54 amount 58–59 cause-related marketing 55 charity financial products 34 checking legitimacy 60–61 legacies 63, 117 gift aid 53, 258 how 47 online 54 resources 62–63 organisations 62 shares 52, 62 tax efficient 62 tax rebate 53 where to give 59–60 printer cartridges 63 regulation 143 time 39 see also volunteering what to expect 134–136 see also donations, giving and sponsorship donations 40 and public services 27 and type of organisation 29 competition for 131 corporate 176 increasing, ways of 56 need for 37–39, 131–132 public 38–39 organisations seeking 94, 156–160, 166, 169, 174, 177–179, 184, 187–190, 196–197, 199, 205–207, 218–219, 218–220, 226, 228, 230, 240–241, 258 spending 45–46, 48, 61, 108, 114, 116– 117, 153 top causes 15–16 see also donating and sponsorship drugs 7, 16, 19, 21, 26, 31, 49, 159, 161, 162, 173, 178, 255, 233, 236 DrugScope 233 Earthwatch 32, 200 Eco-action 83, 203

Edinburgh Direct Aid 158–160 Emmaus Cambridge 230–232 Employee Volunteering 90 Encams 200 English Heritage 200–201 environment 40, 67 abuse 21 activism 17, 18, 39, 64, 71, 193, 257 and business 41, 19–20, 21 friendly products 9, 69, 133 funding 16, 245 information 31, 82–83 Minister for 32 policies 24–25 protection 42, 44, 116 volunteering 86, 104, 137 Epilepsy Action 222 Ethical Company Organisation (The) 82 EveryChild 160 Experience Mexico 97 FairTrade Foundation 160 Flora & Fauna International 201 fundraising advertising 99, 129 and business 22–23 appeals 238–247 careers 105–111 salaries 105 charities 34, 81, 120, 121, 158, 160, 166, 169, 176, 177, 188, 196, 208, 210, 218–220, 228, 230 checklist 119 community 40 donations 45, 47, 50, 57, 61, 136 partnerships 20 overseas volunteering 96 regulation of 143 spending 112–114, 116–119 street-fundraising 123–127, 258 techniques and practices 3, 62, 123, 132, 184 see also Institute of Fundraising and sponsorship

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The Good Giving Guide Free Tibet 169–170 Friends of the Earth 8, 20, 32, 69, 79, 193, 210, 203 giving 3, 10, 13–15, 28 information on 148 money 37–38, 40, 45–63 obstacles to 112, 123, 134 ways of direct debit 48, 53 internet 58 ‘loose change’ culture 48 payroll 51–53, 217 share 52, 62 supplementary 53–54 tax efficient 50, 62 text 58 see also donating global warming 3, 79 Global Witness 166–168 Government accountability 40, 41 Charities Bill 164 consultations 229 funding 38, 39, 95, 141, 156, 166, 178, 191, 194–195, 206, 208, 230, 231, 242 independence from 7, 18, 25–26, 37, 153 influence on 8, 9, 11, 13, 2166, 70, 74, 156, 157, 160, 164, 165, 167, 169, 170, 172, 179, 180, 186, 190, 193, 202, 205, 213, 223 legal activism 75 minister for charities 74 policies 30, 100, 131, 143, 148, 157–158, 197, 226 poll tax 72, 75 public services 27 report on investing ethically 24 representing 224 working with 4, 20, 180, 201, 236 see also National Lottery grant-making charities 113, 114, 241 trusts and foundations 9, 37, 177, 198, 206, 257

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Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People(GMCDP) 208–210 Greenpeace 20, 32, 79, 80, 125, 193, 194– 196, 203, 279 Guide Association (The) 180–181, 279 Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (The) 207–208 Help the Aged 55, 56, 87, 226 Help the Hospices 222–223 heritage 17, 94, 121, 164, 245 sector 193–203 HIV 7, 31, 34, 155, 161, 163, 175, 223 Holiday Care 211 homelessness 11, 29, 30, 117, 173, 175, 225, 233 HopeHIV 31, 161 Howard League for Penal Reform 170 human rights 10, 22, 40, 64, 83, 86, 155, 164–172, 180, 202, 235 Human Rights Watch 164, 170 I CAN 181 IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) 185 Independent Living Alternatives 92 Inland Revenue 8, 50–53, 62, 75, 145, 147, 257 Institute of Fundraising 62, 106–107, 136, 143 interest groups 8, 10 see also pressure groups international development 19, 28, 121, 142, 153–163 International Forum for Child Welfare 183 investment Alternative Investment Market 52 Clean Investment Campaign 23 ethical 23–24, 143 within charities 46, 109, 116, 117, 119, 126, 257 John Grooms 211

Index Landmine Action 161 law 18 breaking the 65, 74–76, 225, 236 see also activism, civil disobedience reforms 10 governing charities 9, 61, 109, 126, 131, 138, 141, 142, 145–146, 257 see also activists, your rights and Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator pressure for change 41, 164, 170, 172, 174, 180, 189, 205, 227 see also legal activism study of 94 Leonard Cheshire 38, 212 Liberty 8, 74, 76, 170, 172 Lifeline 233 lobbying 4, 137 environmental 24 health 31 human rights 40 media 71 organisations 168, 171, 174–176, 180, 186, 189, 109, 193, 196 partnerships 67 success of 11 see also campaigning groups London Marathon 57, 219, 238, 243–244 Make a Difference Day 86, 246–247 marches 40, 71–72, 76 Marine Conservation Society 193, 201 Medical Aid for Palestinians 171 Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, (The) 171, 259 medical research 22, 121 achievements 7, 11 and animal testing 25 centres 11 organisations 113 see also Association of Medical Research Charities support of 15–17, 130, 214, 218 vaccines 11 Medicines Sans Frontieres 15, 59, 153, 155, 279 Mencap 49, 212

mental health 7, 19, 29, 173, 226, 229–230, 234–236, 238

Mental Health Foundation 234 Merlin 161–162 MIND 226 Motability 212 Mothers’ Union 162 Multiple Sclerosis Society 216, 244 Muscular Dystrophy Campaign 217–219 National AIDS Trust (The) 31 National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) 17, 34, 35, 46, 111, 119, 148 National Council for Volunteering Youth Services 183 National Council of Voluntary Childcare Organisations 182 National Lottery 245–246 National Neighbourhood Watch Association 232 National Trust (The) 47, 98, 99, 121, 140, 193, 194 National Youth Agency 183 NCH 129, 173 No Sweat 68, 80 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) 3, 10 definition 9, 258 information on index of NGO networks, Alertnet 171 overseas 153, 191, 200 Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa (ANGOA) 148 South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) 148 see also Merlin work of 21 non-profit organisations 9 overseas 148 see also not-for-profit organisations not-for-profit organisations 8, 9 see also non-profit organisations

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The Good Giving Guide Northern Ireland Youth Council 183 NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) 11, 15, 19, 67, 71, 107, 129, 173, 174, 186 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator 8, 33, 115, 142, 145, 257, 258 Oxfam 21, 30, 36, 49, 56, 57, 66, 70, 79, 87, 121, 125, 132, 154, 155–156, 160, 202 Make Trade Fair campaign 30, 69, 79 PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) 16, 184, 185–186 Peabody Trust 235 People and Planet 79, 202 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) 11, 25, 191 personal audit 17 Positive Futures 224 Positively Women 223 poverty 19, 35, 128, 131, 173, 175, 180, 202, 211, 226, 235, 239, 240, 242, 243, 257 global 30, 40, 79 relief organisations 154–163 prejudice 3, 11, 212 pressure groups 3, 10 definition of 8 example of 201 see also interest groups Prince’s Trust 236 public services 26, 27, 85, 141 RADAR 212 Rambler’s Association (The) 202 Red Cross 10, 16, 25–26, 49, 88, 98, 132, 154 Red Nose Day 238, 239, 240–243 Refuge 32 Refugee Council 235 refugees 25, 40, 154, 159, 170, 171, 174, 225, 235, 241 Remember a Charity 62 rescue services 6, 17 Royal British Legion 22, 226–227

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Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) 193, 194 RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) 104, 205 RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) 11, 205 RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) 12, 15, 16, 131, 226 RSPCA (Royal Society for the Protections of Animals) 10, 15, 16, 67, 131, 185, 186–187 Salvation Army 121, 132, 227 Samaritans 7, 12, 15, 115, 225, 227–229 SANE 234–235 Sargent Cancer Care for Children 181–182 Save the Children 28, 56, 175 Save the Children US 26 SCOPE 14, 15, 71, 130, 205–207, 246 Scottish SPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) 191 service provision 12, 130 SHAC (Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty) 187–188 Share Gift 62 Shelter 30, 117–118, 227, 244 Sight Savers International 15, 56, 106, 162 Sign 235 social attitudes changing 11 social enterprises 9, 231 support for 82 social exclusion addressing 11, 19, 162, 236 social inclusion 109, 236 social policies 24 Social Science Information Gateway (The) 237 Soil Association (The) 202 SOS Children’s Villages 181 sponsorship 57 animal 184

Index charities using 112, 176, 198, 214, 219, 240 corporate 22, 106 fundraising 15, 47, 57, 96, 140–141 schemes 50 online 57 partnerships 67 St John Ambulance 98, 236 St Mungos 30 Standard Information Return 142–143 Stonewall 171 StopEsso 79 Sue Ryder Care 227 Survival International 171–172 Suzy Lamplugh Trust 232 Tearfund 155 Terrence Higgins Trust (The) 31 third sector 25, 259 Third Sector (publication) 108, 111, 279 torture 3, 10, 165, 166, 171, 172 Turning Point 236 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 155 Unlock 232 Victoria Baths Trust 198 Viva! (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals) 192, 156 voluntary sector 8, 26, 211, 259, 279 and Government partnerships 27 careers 43, 103–108 diversity in 100 health care 214 networks 35, 101 pay 120 social welfare 225 spending 112, 119 see also third sector Voluntary Sector 279 Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) 43, 92, 93, 100 volunteering 3, 37, 41, 81–105, 103, 123, 259 agencies 92–93, 98

advertising 99 benefits of 4, 41–44 career-break 43 careers 43 community 91 employee 90 experience 104, 107, 137 full-time 91–92 mentoring 88 online 90 opportunities 35, 94, 98, 133, 156, 160, 176, 179, 206, 246 overseas 92, 95–97 see Experience Mexico, VSO resources 100–102 school governors 89 time banks 90 Wales Youth Agency 183 war 3, 10, 15, 25, 27, 64, 158 Balkan war 158 Iraq war 26, 72 Second World War 9, 27 Vietnam War 39, 72 War on Want 162 WaterAid 157–158 Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society 32 Whizz-Kidz 104, 213 Who Cares? Trust (The) 182 Wildlife Trusts (The) 193, 202 Winston’s Wish 176–178 Women’s Aid 32, 49, 172 Women’s Environmental Network 80, 196–198, 279 Working Families 182 World Animal Net 192 World Vision 49, 56, 163 WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) 192 WWF 19, 20, 193, 194 Young Minds 229–230 Youth Scotland 183

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A b o u t t h e Au t h o r s Annie Kelly Annie is a freelance journalist specialising in charities and voluntary sector issues. She writes for a number of publications including the Guardian, the New Statesman, Young People Now and Time Out magazine. Prior to going freelance she spent two years as a reporter on Third Sector magazine. She is a regular supporter of charities including Addaction, Westminster Women’s Aid, Medecins Sans Frontieres and the Prince’s Trust. She is also part of the Greenpeace campaigners network. In the past she has volunteered on an organic farm in Costa Rica and for a local young people’s charity.

Emma Maier Emma is features editor of Third Sector magazine and also deputy editor of Voluntary Sector, the magazine of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. She is a member of the Women’s Environmental Network, the Centre for Alternative Technology and the Vegetarian Society. She also regularly supports Amnesty International, the YWCA and Womankind. In the past she has volunteered for a local hospital radio station, the Girl Guide Association and at the World Wheelchair games.

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