# BHF loses £3 million a year to 'commercial' doorstep collectors

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2010/07/21/bhf-loses-3-million-year-039commercial039-doorstep-collectors/
- Published: 2010-07-21T11:11:23+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

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The British Heart Foundation is warning households to make sure that their doorstep
donations of second-hand goods are raising as much as possible for charity. It is
hoping to raise awareness of the effect that third party commercial collection organisations
are having on the charity and other charities. The BHF claims that “in some cases,
as little as 5% of the income is paid to the charity”, quoting the Association of
Charity Shops.

The BHF accepts that commercial collection organisations operate legally, it feels
that “too often charities who form partnerships with these companies are being short-
changed”. For example, it explains that “in some cases, charities are getting £50
to £100 per tonne of goods collected when, in fact, the goods can sell abroad for
an average of around £500 per tonne but can reach up to £1,800 for top-quality, 
sorted textiles”.

The BHF has not formed a partnership with any of these commercial ‘middlemen’. It
carries out doorstep collections using clearly identified vans and drivers.

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It is therefore encouraging people to ‘check before you give’. It is asking supporters
to help it raise awareness of the problem in their area by writing to their local
newspaper.

Mike Lucas, Retail Director for the BHF said: “Companies working for commercial 
gain are a huge problem for charities. At the BHF, we have seen a 25% drop in our
household collections due to this commercial activity and we believe it will cost
us £3 million in the next year – money which could be spent in the fight against
heart disease. 100 percent of the profits made from donations to the BHF stay with
the charity and help us continue our lifesaving work, whereas as little as 5 percent
can go to the charity via a third party collection”.

He added: “The BHF believes it’s only right householders are given clear information
from collectors about where the proceeds of their goods are going so they can make
an informed choice.”

The charity’s advice to householders is to:

* Take your donations directly into your local charity shop or donate to a charity
that organises its own collections

* Ask the collector for identification – sometimes donations are stolen from doorsteps
before official collectors get there

* Check collection bags and leaflets for clear information about how much of the
proceeds from your goods go to that charity

www.bhf.org.uk/shops

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