About the Code of Charity Retailing
- Code of Charity Retailing 2010-2011
- Why was the Code of Charity Retailing developed?
- What is the Code of Charity Retailing for?
- What does being a member of the Code of Charity Retailing mean?
- What's in it for us?
- Do all charity shops have to comply with the Code of Charity Retailing?
- Where will the public see the Code of Charity Retailing logo?
- How will the public know that the most is being made of their donations?
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 is mandatory upon membership of the Association.
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 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?
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 upon the following membership renewal date. This decision has been taken to ensure
that all 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.
Full UK charity members receive 1 free window sticker per shop and can purchase further window stickers, obtain free
sack stickers (while stocks last) or receive the Code logo from the Association - email Susan.
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.