The Fundraising Regulator, Charity Commission for England and Wales and Action Fraud have joined forces to encourage people to give safely this winter
To mark ‘Giving Tuesday’, an international day of increased generosity, the Fundraising Regulator, Charity Commission for England and Wales (CCEW) and Action Fraud have today launched their annual safer giving campaign to remind people how to give safely to charities.
The campaign launch comes as new data from Action Fraud reveals fraudsters diverted more than £2.7m from charities in the last year. The data also revealed there were 501 charity fraud crime reports between 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023.
The regulators stress that most charity fundraising is genuine. However, fraudsters and criminals sometimes take advantage of public generosity at times of increased giving, using methods such as fake appeal websites, email appeals that falsely use the name of genuine charities, or appeals from fake charities.
Helping to ensure donations reach their intended cause remains vital as the cost-of-living crisis continues to have a significant impact. According to recent research from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, nearly one in five charities are at risk of stopping operations this winter, mostly due to lower incomes, higher costs and increased demand.
Upon launching the campaign, which spans the festive period, the regulators highlighted that following safer giving steps should empower people to feel reassured as they donate to genuine good causes, and not feel disheartened by the data.
People who want to donate to charity this winter can do so with confidence by following some simple steps and top tips for giving safely:
Those seeking to support local causes with an income of less than £5,000 (which are not required to be on the Charity Register) are encouraged to follow other recommended steps aside from checking our register, including getting in touch with the charity for more information.
The campaign comes ahead of the festive season, during which appeals for charitable donations increase and the British public is more likely to give than during the rest of the year. A recent study by the Charitable Aid Foundation put the UK third in world rankings of giving, with 71 percent of people regularly donating money to charitable causes.
In light of Action Fraud’s data, the regulators are also reminding charities to protect themselves against fraud this Charity Fraud Awareness Week.
Dr Helen Stephenson CBE , Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said:
Gerald Oppenheim, CEO of the Fundraising Regulator, said:
Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said:
Notes to Editors