The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Veteran wants action on ‘pseudo-charities’
Alert raised after collection bags are sent to homes
A former soldier has called for tougher measures to weed out“pseudo-charities” which could be failing veterans.
Grant Allen, who served with 7 (Sphinx) Battery Royal Artillery at RM Condor, said it was “deeply worrying” that some organisations were spending so little of their income on good causes.
People in Angus have raised concerns after receiving donation bags at home for a military charity which is being investigated by the Charity Commission.
Forces Support responded by saying it had “no agreement in place” with the textile company manufacturing the bags and anyone who gets a bag delivered to their door “should not give to this company” as they do not act on the charity’s behalf.
Forces Support is under investigation by the Charities Commission after it was revealed just 15% of its 2015-16 income of £2.7 million was spent on charitable activities, while the chief executive enjoyed a 40% pay increase on the previous year.
Mr Allen, who was wounded in combat and now raises money for Help for Heroes, said: “The number of organisations springing up with charitable status, but whose expenditure on good work is dwarfed by fundraising costs, staff salaries and shops is deeply worrying.
“I’d like to see a much tougher regime in place that weeds out what some might call pseudo-charities, because the fact is that some of these outfits can put people off from donating to the bona fide charities.”
Arbroath independent councillor David Fairweather added: “I was approached by a constituent who is an army veteran and had received several donation bags at home for a military charity. He was suspicious and had decided to look into them further.
“Many people, myself included, would question why so much is spent on fundraising, shops and salaries,” he said.
“A £5 donation would see just 75p used to support those who need it.”