Clothing Donations
The Vale of Glamorgan Trading Standards
Service is asking residents to beware of groups of people who claim
to be collecting for either a Third World clothing appeal or for
young families who cannot afford new items. The groups are not
registered charities but commercial organisations that operate at a
profit, although their information may suggest otherwise.
Companies have been delivering leaflets in the
Vale area asking for donations of clothing, shoes, handbags, belts,
towels, curtains, blankets, sheets, underwear and perfumes.
They request that the items are put into plastic bags and left
visibly outside the consumer’s front door.
Trading Standards advise residents to
carefully read the small print and check any numbers given on the
leaflets. In some cases the leaflets give a number but this is
a Companies House registration as opposed to a Charity Commission
number.
Any leaflet carrying a Charity Commission
reference number can be checked by calling 0845 300 0218 or by
visiting the Commission website at http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/. Trading
Standards say “The ‘donated’ goods are not passed on to those who
need them but are sold abroad for a profit. Unfortunately
genuine charities are missing out due to these unscrupulous
organisations. We urge residents to check details with the Charity
Commission.