Banks and councils continue to earn their places as our society’s new pariahs, judging by recent articles in our newspapers.

Concern over the banks behaviour in accepting billions of pounds of public money and then refusing to lend it out has led to the setting up of a new watchdog, a “lending panel”. According to the loan advice website Moneyexpert.com “The banks have played a major role in creating this crisis and are making sure customers pay the price for their mistakes”. According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders more than 120 houses a day are currently being repossessed, with the figure expected to “significantly increase” in 2009. (See also BANKERS CHARITY – Charity Matters Issue 15, November 2008). Continue reading →

A report by Business in the Community, one of the charities of which the Prince of Wales is president, has highlighted the fact that country areas of the UK, where thousands of immigrants arrive to work on the land doing jobs that many Brits would rather not, are “culturally unprepared” to aid the effective integration needed.

The attitudes of country residents to immigrants as opposed to those living in large cosmopolitan towns and cities, and not just in the UK have always been less informed and tolerant and generally more hostile, something not always understood by urban-based politicians and a Westminster government.

The report identifies a 186 per cent increase in the number of migrant workers in rural areas since 2002. Areas such as Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Herefordshire have seen especially high concentrations especially at harvest times.

A survey of street fundraisers – “chuggers” – has found that people giving to them should consider giving directly to their chosen charity’s web-site instead.

Intelligent Giving found:

o That all the 50 chuggers they interviewed were being paid – usually around £8.50 per hour – either by the charity (28%) or by for – profit fundraising companies.

o Only 8% complied with the law in stating that they were paid, the basis of the payment and the amount of the payment, without being asked.

o 24% of chuggers did not have a clear idea of what the charity they were collecting for actually did.

o 30% of chuggers would not leave researchers alone when asked.

The BBC have pulled out of televising dog-show Crufts in March 2009 over the “morally unjustifiable” breeding practices for some breeds, which they say amounts to cruelty. (See Charity Matters, October and November issues).

Two charities, the RSPCA and the PDSA have already pulled out of Crufts, staged by the Kennel Club, over the issue.

The charity Oxfam has reported up to a 10% rise in sales through its shops, thought to be a result of more people trading down for Christmas in the current downturn. Most popular sellers are second-hand Christmas decorations and second-hand books.

However donations to charity shops generally have suffered as more people find they can get good prices for their unwanted stuff by auctioning it on web-sites such as e-bay or are holding onto it longer.

Police and council risk assessors have caused the cancellation of a charity raft race (Daily Telegraph).

Demands for the event, the 27 year old and accident free River Rother race at Midhurst, West Sussex included lavatories for the disabled and the course fenced to stop spectators falling in.

A one-day conference on e-marketing is being offered by Third Sector magazine.

Cost Effective E-Communications Social Networking and Blogging takes place on Tuesday 17 March at the Ibis Hotel, Earls Court, London and costs from £349 + VAT with a 50% discount for the 3rd attendee.

www.thirdsectorcommsconference.com

The cholesterol charity Heart UK has opened a pilot drop-in centre in the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead for those concerned about their cholesterol levels, often a cause of heart disease and premature death.

Medical, dietetic and exercise advice is now available in person or at the end of a phone. The manufacturers of two food products Shredded Wheat (Cereal Partners UK) and Flora margarine (Unilever) are providing funding as is money raised by runners in this years Flora London Marathon.

www.heartuk.org.uk

Those readers spending money on food and drink at railway stations might like to know about the free BITE card.

This saves 20% on food and drink purchased from Upper Crust, Burger King, Café Ritazza, Pumpkin and the Pasty Shop.

www.bitecard.co.uk