News Detail

Nov 12, 2024

Cancer charity broke fundraising code over clothing collection bags, regulator rules

A cancer charity and its agency have been found in breach of the Fundraising Code of Practice by the Fundraising Regulator after clothing bags were delivered to someone who had asked to be excluded. 

Cancer Relief UK and Recycling Solutions North West were found to be in breach of the code after the Fundraising Regulator received a complaint from an individual who, “despite having a sign on their letterbox that stated ‘NO UNSOLICITED OR UNADDRESSED MAIL’, complaining to the charity and the company, and being on the charity’s “do not deliver list” [...], continued to receive charity bags from the company on behalf of the charity”.

According to the regulator, which last week published its findings here, the complainant first contacted it in 2020 to make the complaint. 

The Fundraising Regulator said it reached out to the charity directly, “advising them of the need to take remedial action to prevent the delivery of charity bags by their distributors to individuals who do not wish to receive them”. 

But in January 2021, the complainant contacted the regulator again to report that “despite many requests”, including the one made by the regulator, they had received six charity bags. 

The regulator said that in making its decision it took into account human error, but added: “The agency does not dispute delivering these bags, even though a sign clearly indicated that the resident did not want them, and the address was on the charity’s ‘do not deliver’ list. 

“Based on this, we found that Recycling Solutions North West breached the code standards that relate to persistent fundraising and not adhering to signs that indicate the residence’s preference not to be fundraised to.”

It added: “We have seen little supporting documentary evidence to suggest that the charity has comprehensive oversight over the work carried out by the company in its name. We have found that the charity has breached the code section related to monitoring its third-party fundraisers and commercial partners and ensuring they adhere to the code.”

The regulator recommended that CRUK put in place documented quality measures to monitor the work carried out by its commercial partner on its behalf, specifically focusing on its ‘do not distribute’ list, and that it reviewed and updated all compliance training material the company provides to charity bag distributors regarding the use of the ‘do not distribute’ list and the importance of adhering to property signage.

It also recommended the charity review its contractual agreements to ensure they comply with the code and allow it to monitor its agency’s work adequately.

Cancer Relief UK and Recycling Solutions North West have been contacted for comment.