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Code of Charity Retailing

Why was the Code of Charity Retailing developed?
Self-regulation for fundraising has been debated over the past few years since the government’s recent review of charity law. After consultation with our members, the Association’s Board recommended that the Association should develop this regulation for the charity retail sector in parallel with other self-regulatory initiatives for charity fundraising. The Code was introduced in April 2005 and was initially voluntary for members of the Association. The Code became mandatory upon membership of the Association from 1 April 2008.

What is the Code of Charity Retailing for?
The aims of the Code are:

  • To promote good practice and high standards in charity retailing.
  • To promote public confidence in and support for charity shops.
  • To increase donations to charity shops, both straight into the shops and through house-to-house collections and textile and book banks.
  • To get positive publicity for charity shops.
  • To promote awareness of legitimate charity shops and to help stamp out dishonest and bogus house-to-house activities.

What does being a member of the Code of Charity Retailing mean?
Being a member of the Code of Charity Retailing means that:

  • Your charity undertakes to abide by the mandatory regulations of the Code and to operate under its good practice guidance covering all aspects of charity retailing.
  • You are a registered charity or a trading subsidiary running charity shops.
  • You are a member of the Association of Charity Shops.
  • You meet your statutory obligations and do not bring the sector into disrepute by any inappropriate or illegal activity.
  • Your donations are sold through your shops to raise the most possible for your charity.
  • You treat the public with care and consideration.

What’s in it for us?
The benefits to charities of signing up to the Code are:

  • To highlight the best practice and high standards maintained by your charity shops.
  • To increase public confidence in and support for your charity shops.
  • To allow the public to identify your charity shop as legitimate, thereby helping to eliminate bogus activities.
  • To provide the opportunity for additional marketing of your charity shops in the future.

Do all charity shops have to comply with the Code of Charity Retailing?
From 1 April 2008 the Code is a mandatory part of membership of the Association for UK charity members that run shops. UK charities running shops who wish to join the Association for the first time, but feel unable to sign to the Code, will be able to join as provisional members. In this instance the charity must agree to fully abide by the Code within a period of 12 months, failing which their membership will lapse. This decision has been taken to ensure that smaller, new charities that open shops have the opportunity to access the information, guidance and standards necessary to be able to sign up to the Code and to become full members of the Association.

Where will the public see the Code of Charity Retailing logo?
The Code logo will be displayed in charity shops, on textile and book recycling banks, on house-to-house collection sacks and vans. Members of the Code are required, wherever possible, to display the logo in their shops and on materials seeking donations for their shops. Members of the Code receive 1 free window sticker per shop and can purchase further window stickers and collection sack stickers from the Association.

How will the public know that the most is being made of their donations?
Members signing up to the Code undertake to abide by all their statutory obligations and the Code’s further good practice standards covering all aspects of charity retailing. They sell all that they can of public donations through their shops. As much as possible of the remainder is sold for further reuse and recycling, wasting nothing and thus raising the most money possible for their charity.