Charity Matters April/May 2014 ISSUE 54

WARNINGS OVER SYRIA
Police in Kent have arrested eight men as part of an investigation into charity fraud involving money given to help people in Syria. The arrests follow the seizing at Dover in …

RECOVERY? 
Whilst some sectors of society, politicians perhaps, might be enjoying an economic recovery many are still struggling. A poll by MoneySupermarket.com suggests that…

REPORT THE CRUELTY 
A new charity providing proof of animal cruelty to animal welfare charities is being formed. Ethical Pup will have a website and phone app allowing people to send photos and …

DANGERS OF GLUTEN 
The Coeliac Society has warned that even a crumb of gluten can make someone with Coeliac disease ill, and that around 500,000 people in the UK have the disease and don’t…

IGNORANT REMARK COSTS JOB 
Disability charity Scope has welcomed the resignation of Swindon’s Conservative mayor Nick Martin. Martin, 63, was overheard asking “Are we still letting those Mongols have…

USEFUL SPONSOR? 
Charities working in Third World countries where there are problems getting clean water to drink might want to consider a link-up with the manufacturers of the Water to Go plastic …

FUNDRAISING BY DEGREES 
A three-year BA (Hons) degree course in charity fundraising, Charity Development, has been launched by the University of Chichester and accredited by the Institute of…

WATCH THAT BIRDIE 
The RSPCA has warned people in Hertfordshire not to approach a five foot tall pet South American rhea that has been running wild around Stevenage since it escaped its home…

WARNINGS OVER SYRIA

o Police in Kent have arrested eight men as part of an investigation into charity fraud involving money given to help people in Syria. The arrests follow the seizing at Dover in January of more than £45,000 in sterling, dollars and euros from four charities, money the police believe was to be used for criminal or terrorist activities.

The fact that cash was being transported, rather than payments being made electronically, raised suspicions.

People wanting to give money to help in the Syria crisis are advised to first check a charity’s legitimacy on the website of the Charity Commission, which also now contains Safer Giving advice.

o The head of a Worcester-based charity that has carried out work in Syria, Burma, Kashmir and Palestine was recently filmed with his arms around two masked gunmen carrying AK47 assault rifles, prompting concerns about what the money the charity was raising was being used for.

The charity, Al-Fatiha Global is currently being investigated for its financial dealings by the Charity Commission, and its accounting procedures.

According to the World Economic Forum Syria is the fourth worst place in the world to be a woman. The organisation measures gender disparities in education, economics, health and politics and only Yemen, Pakistan and Chad have higher gender gaps.

RECOVERY?

Whilst some sectors of society, politicians perhaps, might be enjoying an economic recovery many are still struggling.

A poll by MoneySupermarket.com suggests that more than 30 million of us are in the red, excluding mortgages, with 75% having a credit card balance to pay off, and 40% of those using their cards to cover day to day expenses. Banks are owed money by 50% of us, and 10% of us owe payday loan companies, charging usurious rates of interest. The anticipated rise in interest rates may help those who can save but could severely hurt borrowers.

REPORT THE CRUELTY

A new charity providing proof of animal cruelty to animal welfare charities is being formed.

Ethical Pup will have a website and phone app allowing people to send photos and videos of animal cruelty anonymously to charities that have the funds to take legal action, and is being set up by actress Heidi Mumford after being inspired by whistleblowing website WikiLeaks.

Violent criminals, including child-abusers often have a history of animal cruelty when younger.

Meanwhile the RSPCA is investigating reports that two six year-old boys fed a live tabby cat to two dogs in Highfields, Doncaster.

IGNORANT REMARK COSTS JOB

Disability charity Scope has welcomed the resignation of Swindon’s Conservative mayor Nick Martin.

Martin, 63, was overheard asking “Are we still letting those Mongols have sex with each other?” at a presentation to raise awareness of issues affecting adults with disabilities, staged last November.

USEFUL SPONSOR?

Charities working in Third World countries where there are problems getting clean water to drink might want to consider a link-up with the manufacturers of the Water to Go plastic water filter bottles.

These purify 500ml of any water from a non-salt source, with a removable filter that lasts three months. The company have worked with organisations in the Gambia and Sri Lanka.

www.watertogo.eu

FUNDRAISING BY DEGREES

A three-year BA (Hons) degree course in charity fundraising, Charity Development, has been launched by the University of Chichester and accredited by the Institute of Fundraising.

Commencing September, and thought to be the only one of its kind in the world, the course will focus on aspects of marketing, event organisation, planning and presentation skills. It is planned that students will spend one day a week actively fundraising.

WATCH THAT BIRDIE

The RSPCA has warned people in Hertfordshire not to approach a five foot tall pet South American rhea that has been running wild around Stevenage since it escaped its home a month ago.

The ostrich-like flightless bird has six-inch claws, can run at 40 mph and is thought to be strong enough to kill a child.

Event Organisers Update ISSUE 115 April 2014

POLLUTION RISK TO EVENTS? Lots of those hearing about the Saharan sand pollution hitting the UK on April 1st thought it might be an April Fools joke – remember the …

TAKE YOUR PARTNERS Those who regularly travel by train with partners, colleagues or friends, and can travel together after 9.30 am, might find the latest national railcard a …

LOOK AT PORTUGAL Organisers of events overseas are invited to a free London showcase, Visit Portugal. This is being held at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel …

NEW IN MAYFAIR A meeting room for up to 48 for private dining, sixteen boardroom style is offered at a new luxury Mayfair hotel, The Beaumont, planned to open …

CHECK THEM OUT? If you use an event management company would you like to know how they are doing financially? Do you need to care? …

PLACEMENTS The Society of Event Organisers (SEO) has started to build a list of students on event courses currently looking for placements with organisations staging …

SAMPLING OPPORTUNITIES Those organisers wanting and/or needing to improve their knowledge of food and drink should look at the wine and food tasting opportunities …