One bank that continues to have a serious ethical problem – though arguably they all do – is Northern Rock, the first financial failure to be bailed out with lots of our money.

Readers of Charity Matters, the Daily Telegraph and other top publications will know that caring Northern Rock has set up a separate company with some of its staff, Keilder Property Management Ltd, to profit from the misery of the customers to whom Northern Rock had enthusiastically lent impudently large sums to buy houses only to equally enthusiastically repossess them when the payments were not kept up. (Issue 10, MORE GRUBBING AT NORTHERN ROCK). Continue reading →

According to charity Gamecare the number of people addicted to gambling has soared by 25% since the gambling laws were relaxed by the government.

The charity is particularly concerned that the average gambling debt has risen from £13,800 to £17,500 in the last 12 months with 7 percent of the 38,000 callers to their helpline admitting debts in excess of £100,000. This is a total of more than £600 million.

Gamecare has warned that the problem will only get worse as the UK economy goes into free-fall and gamblers look for a way out.

The veterinary charity the PDSA has joined the RSPCA in belatedly pulling out of Kennel Club events, including Crufts, over the “unacceptable” breeding practices affecting some pedigree breeds. (See CHARITY FINALLY CALLS TIME ON MORALITY, Charity Matters, Issue 4).

The PDSA provides free veterinary care for the pets of people in need and has been working with the Kennel Club for the last 30 years, whilst its staff have been dealing with the serious health problems caused by the Kennel Club’s resistance to change in the way pedigree dogs are bred, specifically putting appearance before the dog’s quality of life. Continue reading →

A bundle of old Christmas cards signed by the late Queen Mother has been found in a bag of donations made to a charity shop in Edinburgh. The 19 cards were dated from 1956 and could fetch up to £1000 at auction.

And in Texas two pieces of lost Australian art bought from charity shops for £44 have been valued at more than £40,000. (Source: Daily Telegraph).

Organisations in the catering and hotel sector are being encouraged to be more charitable to discharge their corporate social responsibility (CSR).

A list published by industry trade magazine Caterer and Hotelkeeper suggests releasing staff for voluntary work, asking customers to make charitable contributions, setting up fundraising activities for staff, and setting up charities.

Only seven percent of the population leave money to charity in their wills, amounting to £1.8 billion a year.

This is according to Remember a Charity, a consortium of more than 140 charities working to raise awareness of the importance of legacies. They say that there is a misconception by millions of potential donors that their contribution will be too small to be appreciated or do much good.

Some may not also realise that charities can re-claim the tax on donations, giving the tiny percentage of people who think our government cannot be trusted to spend money wisely (as if) a final chance to deprive it of some income.

Have you check for opportunities of support and/or finance available from your local groups such as Round Table, Lions, Rotary and Ladies Circle?

Time to check it out?

www.roundtable.co.uk
www.ladies-circle.org.uk
www.rotary-ribi.org
www.lionsmd105.org