# Charity Commission advises on how to give to help in Syria

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/12/03/charity-commission-advises-how-give-help-syria/
- Published: 2012-12-03T15:24:55+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Charity Commission is advising the public to donate to well established charities
if they want to provide effective support for humanitarian work in Syria and surrounding
countries.

The independent regulator of charities in England and Wales has issued summary guidance
on how best to help those affected by the ongoing conflict. It recommends giving
to charities "which have experience of providing humanitarian assistance in high
risk, insecure and dangerous environments" and which have ongoing relief operations
in Syria and/or surrounding countries.

The public can find details on relevant charities by searching the Charity Commission's
online Register of Charities.

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The Commission is also reminding people that funds raised for charitable purposes
in England and Wales, even if they are not raised by a charity, fall within the 
Commission's jurisdiction.

## Advice for charities helping Syrian people

The Commission has also published advice for charities that are providing humanitarian
assistance to people in Syria or who have fled to neighbouring countries.

This advice includes:

charity trustees, their employees, volunteers and agents should avoid moving significant
amounts of cash from one location to another on their person or in personal luggage.

charity trustees are legally required to declare cash over 10,000 Euros to HMRC 
when leaving the country. They must establish adequate financial controls and assurance
procedures if charity cash is carried, and properly assess any risk to the personal
safety of the people carrying the cash.

reviewing Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice against all travel to the Syrian
Arab Republic.

carrying out due diligence checks on individuals and organisations in the region
with whom the charity has partnered, so that the charity can monitor the use of 
the charity's funds.

[www.charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/Updates/syria_crisis.aspx](http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/Updates/syria_crisis.aspx)

 

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