Joint approach on managing face-to-face fundraising in Brighton agreed
Howard Lake | 27 May 2007 | News
Brighton business leaders and the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) have agreed to renew co-operation on a joint approach to managing face-to-face fundraising in the city centre, following a meeting chaired by Brighton Pavillion MP David Lepper.
As a result of the meeting talks will begin among the key organisations about how best to take forward fair and effective regulation of face-to-face fundraisers in Brighton. All agreed to work together with the Local Authority to agree a joint plan of action.
Brighton Pavillion MP David Lepper has criticised both the practice of face-to-face fundraising, claiming that it intimidates shoppers, and the PFRA. In response, since January 2005, the PFRA has voluntarily reduced face-to-face fundraising in Brighton and Hove by approximately 50%.
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Chief Executive of the PFRA Mick Aldridge said that he was delighted to attend the meeting. “I am grateful that the Business Forum gave us a fair hearing”, he said, “and I am confident that we can address many of their concerns. Brighton & Hove is a unique city but many of the issues raised have been successfully addressed elsewhere and that experience will benefit us all. The key to success is actively involving the city council to faithfully represent the views of all concerned – residents, retailers, and generous donors”.
Local business representatives at the meeting agreed that the situation has improved in Brighton since the BID guards began patrolling the area in November. The guards are able to ensure that the voluntary code that fundraisers observe is properly enforced.
However, all agreed that a durable solution for the future requires an agreement between the business associations, the local authority, and the PFRA to guarantee success, and that the discussion last night represents a positive step forward in achieving that.
Brighton Pavillion MP David Lepper said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting and would continue to monitor developments closely.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.