Keeping charity records when assisting individuals

BlueJuly

Hi everyone,
As a family established & run,  charitable trust, that makes monetary donations to registered charities, we'd also like to donate directly to individuals in need (both here at home and abroad). Our governing documents allow for this.
Charities ofcourse issue receipts and we're able to keep a full record of our donations, in-case the charities commission should wish to examine us at any point in the future. 
However, any individual we should assist, would not be able to issue a valid receipt and therefore our donations would be open to suspicion/speculation. 

My question is,  how do other small charities address this issue?

Any and all advice/suggestions most appreciated.

Thank you 

Undervalued

BlueJuly said:

Hi everyone,
As a family established & run,  charitable trust, that makes monetary donations to registered charities, we'd also like to donate directly to individuals in need (both here at home and abroad). Our governing documents allow for this.
Charities ofcourse issue receipts and we're able to keep a full record of our donations, in-case the charities commission should wish to examine us at any point in the future. 
However, any individual we should assist, would not be able to issue a valid receipt and therefore our donations would be open to suspicion/speculation. 

My question is,  how do other small charities address this issue?

Any and all advice/suggestions most appreciated.

Thank you 

I am not clear why?

Presumably you could ask the recipient to sign a receipt for any grant / donation paid in cash? You would of course have an audit trail for any other payment method (cheque / bank transfer etc). Otherwise I would have thought a log (ideally administered by two people) would suffice.

tacpot12

Why couldn't an individual give you a valid receipt for any financial help you give them? 

BlueJuly

Thanks you two.
Would such a receipt be one written/typed out entirely by the recipient, or one we provide him/her to sign/acknowledge ? 
thanks again

theoretica

BlueJuly said:

Thanks you two.
Would such a receipt be one written/typed out entirely by the recipient, or one we provide him/her to sign/acknowledge ? 
thanks again

Either would be valid - but probably easier for you to have one for them to sign.

BlueJuly

Thanks theoretica