bogus charity: Everyone's Children's Trust

ju1i3_2

I saw some charity collectors for Everyone's Children's Trust outside my local Sainsburys. Something about them didn't look right so I checked them out at the Charity Commission web site when I got home. They are indeed a registered charity but have not spent any money on "good works". All their collections (about £20,000) have gone to their expenses: stationary, transport, phone, etc. including £2,700 on raffle prizes when they have not even held a raffle.

Their web site and email do not work, nor does their phone number.

I took this up with Sainsburys, both the local manager (who does no vetting whatsoever on charities he allows to collect there - if they are a registered charity they can collect) and Sainsburys HQ who said they would take my feedback on board that charities allowed to collect be vetted in some way. I was shocked that anyway can come along and start collecting - what an easy con, no wonder there are those tempted to do it.

Everyone's Children's Trust is also trading on the name "The Children's Trust" which is a well-known well-respected charity. I have reported ECT to the Charity Commission and am awaiting their response.

If you come across Everyone's Children's Trust - beware!

maninthestreet

ju1i3 wrote: »

I saw some charity collectors for Everyone's Children's Trust outside my local Sainsburys. Something about them didn't look right so I checked them out at the Charity Commission web site when I got home. They are indeed a registered charity but have not spent any money on "good works". All their collections (about £20,000) have gone to their expenses: stationary, transport, phone, etc. including £2,700 on raffle prizes when they have not even held a raffle.

Their web site and email do not work, nor does their phone number.

I took this up with Sainsburys, both the local manager (who does no vetting whatsoever on charities he allows to collect there - if they are a registered charity they can collect) and Sainsburys HQ who said they would take my feedback on board that charities allowed to collect be vetted in some way. I was shocked that anyway can come along and start collecting - what an easy con, no wonder there are those tempted to do it.

Everyone's Children's Trust is also trading on the name "The Children's Trust" which is a well-known well-respected charity. I have reported ECT to the Charity Commission and am awaiting their response.

If you come across Everyone's Children's Trust - beware!

Surely the Charity Commission need to investigate them as well?
No charity should have expenses that exceed 10% of the monies they collect.

trukdiver

maninthestreet wrote: »

Surely the Charity Commission need to investigate them as well?
No charity should have expenses that exceed 10% of the monies they collect.

There's some info here but it doesn't gieve a breakdown of their expenditure.
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1127302&SubsidiaryNumber=0

According to this site, they have one project but it was last updated in September 2009
http://www.thebiggive.org.uk/charity_projects.php?charity_id=6255

ju1i3_2

I requested their accounts from the Charity Commission and they sent them to me immediately. I can post them somewhere (PDF) if anyone is interested. I would say to anyone concerned about a "charity", ask for the accounts if they are not posted at the Charity Commission.

libertysurf

Thanks OP. Funnily enough I gave to a handicapped children's charity yesterday outside Tescos. What struck me as odd was the way the collector actively called out to everyone to give. I thought even jangling the can was not allowed, let alone describing the charity and calling for donations.
And if you are going to con people, then there's not much more heart-tugging than this charity.

Pollycat

libertysurf wrote: »

Thanks OP. Funnily enough I gave to a handicapped children's charity yesterday outside Tescos. What struck me as odd was the way the collector actively called out to everyone to give. I thought even jangling the can was not allowed, let alone describing the charity and calling for donations.
And if you are going to con people, then there's not much more heart-tugging than this charity.

I absolutely HATE this.

I do give to charities of MY choice through direct debit, they are charities that are important to me personally (BHF etc) and I really don't like anybody asking me to put some money in a tin as I'm walking past.
And as for shaking a collecting tin at me......:mad:
I particularly don't like it when they clog up the entrance/exit of a supermarket when I've got other things on my mind.

I do sometimes walk past a collector and clock who they're fund-raising for and then go back and pop some money in.

OP, well done for checking this charity out and raising awareness on here.

heretolearn_2

You can ask the Charity Commission to investigate but don't hold your breath to be honest. They do their best but have very limited resources so tend to concentrate on bigger fish. You want to see a lot of the accounts put in by small charities - absolutely shocking!

trukdiver

libertysurf wrote: »

Thanks OP. Funnily enough I gave to a handicapped children's charity yesterday outside Tescos. What struck me as odd was the way the collector actively called out to everyone to give. I thought even jangling the can was not allowed, let alone describing the charity and calling for donations.
And if you are going to con people, then there's not much more heart-tugging than this charity.

I've collected for the RNLI and we were specifically told NOT to jangle the can or stand in people's way or do anything noisy.

asbokid

heretolearn wrote: »

You want to see a lot of the accounts put in by small charities - absolutely shocking!

Disgusting isn't it.. Some of them aren't really charities at all..

I was looking at the accounts of a "charity" set up by a husband and wife team..

They raised nearly £500,000 from donations, but then paid themselves £250,000 in salaries and charged the charity another £20,000 on rent for premises that they themselves own!

The Charity Commission is a waste of public money.

And now the definition of "charity" has been hugely watered down with the introduction of "community interest companies"... which are often sham outfits that have only nominal benefit to the community.

There is a CIC locally that has been set up to promote the hospitality industry. It's not charity, it's just a way of avoiding tax.

ju1i3_2

heretolearn, you were right! It was the first time I contacted the Charity Commission and was too optimistic. They said they would respond in 15 working days. It is now twice that and they have not responded. I have chased them twice and still nothing. I am disgusted even more now

trukdiver

ju1i3 wrote: »

heretolearn, you were right! It was the first time I contacted the Charity Commission and was too optimistic. They said they would respond in 15 working days. It is now twice that and they have not responded. I have chased them twice and still nothing. I am disgusted even more now

Thanks for letting us know how you got on. The trouble with this sort of thing is that it can put people off genuine charities.