As Muslims enter the month of Ramadan, the Charity Commission is
encouraging donors to take simple steps to ensure their donations
reach the intended cause.
Ramadan is a time of huge generosity among British Muslims, with
the Muslim Charities Forum estimating that, in previous years, UK
donors have given over £130m to charity during the holy month
alone*.
Recently, Muslim communities around the country have been part of
efforts to relieve those in need as a result of the coronavirus
emergency, including providing meals to staff at local NHS
hospitals and delivering food parcels to vulnerable people of all
faiths in their communities.
Increased online giving is expected this Ramadan, with a
reduction in cash collections, as mosques and community centres
remain closed to reduce social contact.
Most fundraising is genuine, however fraudsters and criminals may
sometimes take advantage of public generosity at times of
increased giving, using various methods such as fake appeal
websites, email appeals that falsely use the name of genuine
charities, or appeals from fake charities.
The regulator is therefore pointing to simple steps people can
take to make sure donations reach registered charities:
- Check the charity’s name and registration number
at gov.uk/checkcharity. Most
charities with an annual income of £5,000 or more must be
registered.
- Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial
information – it’s ok to decide not to give on the spot. Be wary
of unsolicited emails from charities you have never heard of and
be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within
them.
- Exercise the same caution as with any other internet
transaction, for example, to donate online, visit the charity’s
own website and always type the website address into the browser
yourself.
- Contact or find out more online about the charity that you’re
seeking to donate to or work with to find out more about their
spending. Ask a trusted friend or relative if you are unable to
research this or need a second opinion.
- Ignore requests to donate through a money transfer company.
- If in doubt about an approach, give instead to a charity that
you have an existing relationship with.
The Commission’s online register also
allows donors to search for charities operating within their own
local authority area, or to undertake keyword searches to find
charities providing specific services, such as foodbanks or
support for older people.
Helen Stephenson, CEO of the Charity Commission, said:
We know that Muslim teaching places great emphasis on
supporting those in need; we’ve seen evidence of that
charitable spirit over recent weeks as our society responds to
the pandemic, and we can expect to see enormous generosity
continue as Muslims pay their Zakat and other contributions
during Ramadan, supporting causes close to home and around the
world. By giving to a registered charity, donors can be assured
that their funds will be accounted for in line with the charity
law framework.
Fadi Itani, CEO of the Muslim Charities Forum, said:
Ramadan may feel very different this year, as we are unable to
gather together as families and communities. However, one thing
we expect to remain unchanged is the huge generosity Muslims
display during the Holy Month. We encourage those who can
afford to give to do so generously, but to use their head as
well as their heart before parting with money. That includes
checking that your donations are going to a registered charity,
and thinking purposefully about what you want your donation to
achieve.
Ends.
Notes to editors
- *Figures around donations are always estimates. For more
information please contact the Muslim Charities
Forum.
- The Charity Commission is the independent regulator and
registrar of charities in England and Wales. To find out more
about our work, see the about us page on GOV.UK.
- The National Emergencies Trust, which the Commission helped
establish, has set up a coronavirus appeal,
which will see funds distributed to local communities around
the UK affected by the pandemic.
- The government has published guidance on businesses
and venues that should remain closed.
