Street ‘chuggers’ facing further limits to reduce nuisance
ADEAL to cut the number of charity ‘chuggers’ on the streets of Birmingham city centre has been extended following a successful nine-month trial.
Complaints have fallen since strict limits were placed on the number of face-to-face charity fundraisers allowed in the city each day last summer – although many shoppers and visitors still say there are too many. Now, industry body the Institute of Fundraising and the city council has agreed to extend the deal on a rolling 12-month basis.
Before last summer, there were up to 42 chuggers – short for ‘charity muggers’ – targeting passers each day. The deal set a limit of 12. The new agreement now places further limits on times and locations.
City council head of licensing Chris Neville said: “Following the success of our trial agreement with the Institute of Fundraising, introduced last July, there’s been a significant reduction in the number of complaints we receive about face-toface fundraising and its impact on the public and local businesses.
“This new agreement will see fewer fundraisers in the city centre, which we welcome, and we will continue to work in partnership with IoF going forward.”
A report to city licensing chiefs added: “Management have noticed a considerable reduction in the number of fundraisers working in the city centre since the agreement came into force.
“However, there is clearly a view among businesses and the general public that there are still too many fundraisers working there.”
A survey carried out last November revealed that 90 per cent of people objected to being approached by chuggers and only a third had noticed the fall in numbers after the trial started.
The council had initially wanted a by-law to ban the activity altogether but was encouraged by the Government to secure a deal with fundraisers instead.
The industry argues that public fundraising is an important way for charities to raise much-needed funds and for many people it is the most visible way they view charities.