# Regulators urge safe giving as communities respond to coronavirus pandemic

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/03/19/regulators-urge-safe-giving-as-communities-respond-to-coronavirus-pandemic/
- Published: 2020-03-19T00:24:00+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator today urged people to ‘give safely’
as people continue to respond with generosity in the current crisis.**

At this time of national emergency charities are coming together to support people
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The regulators reaffirmed that “charities will form a core part of our collective
response to the pandemic, so we encourage people to give to existing registered 
charities”. They added that “by giving to a registered, regulated charity, the public
can have assurance that their funds will be accounted for in line with the charity
law framework”.

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They also specifically suggested that the public consider donating to the **National
Emergencies Trust (NET) national coronavirus fundraising appeal**, launched yesterday
to raise funds for **small and local charities** responding to the pandemic. The
Commission helped to establish the NET following other devastating disasters, and
it is well equipped to coordinate the charity sector’s contribution to emergency
response.

The regulators reminded the public that “thousands of other registered charities
are also dealing with the pandemic or continuing to do important work throughout
the country to support vulnerable people and communities”.

## Advice for the public on giving safely to registered charities is:

 * [Check the charity’s name and registration number](https://www.gov.uk/find-charity-information)
   at [www.gov.uk/checkcharity](http://www.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
 * Be careful when responding to emails or clicking on links within them
 * 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

**Baroness Tina Stowell**, Chair of the Charity Commission said:

“British people have a proud tradition of charitable giving and generosity, and 
this pandemic is already giving rise to that spirit of charity and community that
brings people together. We want to ensure that people do so safely and in the most
effective way possible so that people in need get help.

“We especially encourage everyone wanting to donate money to follow our simple steps
to check that they are donating to a registered charity.

“And we particularly urge people to consider a donation to the National Emergencies
Trust campaign which is able to rapidly direct funds to frontline charities dealing
with people’s urgent needs during this crisis.”

**Lord Toby Harris**, Chair of the Fundraising Regulator, added:

“Charities are a lifeline to many local communities and play a vital role in supporting
people across the UK, particularly at a time of national crisis. In what is the 
most significant public health emergency in generations, we encourage the public
to continue to give generously to charity throughout these difficult times.

Unfortunately we have heard of some individuals who have used the uncertainty that
surrounds the Coronavirus outbreak as a means of defrauding the public. A small 
number of people have posed as fundraisers who are carrying out door-to-door collections
and street fundraising on behalf of fake charities, some are even offering to sell
dubious Covid-19 testing kits. Please do not give to these individuals.

“We urge the public to think carefully before they donate to charity, and only do
so if they can be sure their funds will go to a legitimate organisation. For more
helpful advice on giving to charity safely, please read the [Fundraising Regulator’s guidance](https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/more-from-us/resources/safer-giving-advice).”