Charitable Status needs to deliver what it promotes

Have you noticed how Town Centres are beginning to look shabby as more and more retail stores disappear?

Even modern shopping malls are being hit now by increasing empty units.

I was interested to hear that when asked the question recently that management said very firmly they would never consider a Charity Shop in a shopping mall as it would lower the tone.

It’s certainly true that there is no shortage of Charity shops in Town Centres and more and more people are turning to them for bargains.

I have no issues with the great job Charity shops achieve....apart from the fact that they are as ruthless as any business I have encountered.

The positives are the kindness of volunteers who work hard and those who support them by supplying good quality items for the benefit of others.

I was Interested recently in the Governments realisation that they need to review Charitable Status since the numbers registered are enormous.

A genuine charity doing great work to support research or needy parts of society is a fine thing.

I remember my Daughter in her 20s saying she would never go in them.

Years and three children later when times are harder you can’t keep her out of them now and hearing her singing their praises is a good indicator to how they help families budget.

I fight the slightly cynical part of my brain that looks at a highly paid management structure that shouts for unpaid volunteers and too often are removed from the sharp end of the service.

For many it’s just a career that pays as well as others and I doubt many have done a day’s work in any of their own shops, whilst making clear to shop managers enough is never enough.

There are so many needed charities that each of us will pick a couple we favour most.

If someone in our family died from Cancer, research will be close to our hearts.

If animals are a great love for us, then PDSA may be our choice.

We are not short of choices.

The well known names reassure us but the several charity bags that drop through our doors weekly are often unknown and likely not what they seem.

The big issue for the giver is whether what they give largely arrives at the source intended?

It may be possible to check but I would like to think charitable status had enough scrutiny to say in general terms what the percentage of every pound reached the destination we expect....but definitions are often blurred enough to be vague.

If Charities are run like a business they need to be effective and accountable.

They also need to be realistic.

Sometimes their pricing is more than the original purchase price and gaining revenue will only work when it gives something to the buyer who is well tuned in these days.

Stock has no value until it’s sold.

To all the volunteers who work for nothing to benefit others, great commendation is due.

By choosing wisely the rest of us can feel happier that our good Intentions were respected.