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Safe Giving Advice

31 Jan 2014 - 11:20 by michelle.foster

The Manchester Kurdish Association have been working with Greater Manchester Police to promote "Safer Giving" message.

Charitable giving is important to all of us and can help improve people’s lives tremendously. However, sadly some organisations or individuals purport to collect for humanitarian causes but use donations to support organisations that support violent extremism.

The intention of the Safe Giving Advice is to ensure that residents in Greater Manchester are better informed and are therefore able to make safe decisions about charitable giving.

Risks
The UK Government has proscribed a number of Islamic and non Islamic organisations it believes is concerned in terrorism. This means that to be a member of them or support them is against the law and this includes giving them financial support. In such an instance British citizens involved may be liable to prosecution for being a member of or supporting a proscribed organisation for which there is a maximum 10 years imprisonment.

The list of proscribed organisations is varied and can be found on the UK Governments Home Office website. Some Kurdish militant groups in Turkey remain on this list despite the ongoing cease fire and talks with the Turkish Authorities.

Syrian Crisis
The UK has earmarked £167 million to help Syrian refugees and host communities in the region.

Given the complexities, the advice for the public and for charities and others raising funds is to give to well established charities which have experience of providing humanitarian assistance in high risk, insecure and dangerous environments and which have ongoing relief operations in Syria and/or surrounding countries, such as DEC or its member charities.

Support
Charitable giving should always be a choice. If you or your Organisation are ever pressured or threatened into charitable giving this is not acceptable. Greater Manchester Police should be contacted on 101 and they will protect and support you. Alternatively the Anti-Terrorism Hotline can be contacted anonymously on 0800 789 321 and finally the Prevent Engagement Team can be contacted for advice on 0161 856 6345.

Advice
Whether donating to humanitarian efforts overseas or local causes such as contributing to building renovations, the following advice should help you to give with confidence.

1. Before giving, check the charity's name and registration number. You can verify this at the Charity Commission's website at: www.charitycommission.gov.uk
2. When approached by collectors, check whether they are wearing a proper ID badge and that any collection tin is sealed
3. If in doubt, ask the collector for more information – a genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer questions and explain more about the work of the charity
4. Genuine fundraising materials should feature the charity's name, registered name and a landline contact number. Be wary of those that list only a mobile number
5. If you cannot read English, always say so, and ask for translated documents before making a decision on whether or not you would like to make a donation.
Alternatively, ask volunteers in your community or a friend to translate for you
6. Always ask for formal receipt when you make a donation
7. A member of your community may say they have already made a donation on your behalf and ask you for reimbursement. You have the right to refuse to reimburse them. You should be approached directly and not through a third party.

To download the leaflet see attached.
 

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