The generous donations and community spirit of the people of Northampton North will prove to be a vital part of our nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. We are seeing a huge influx of both volunteering and donations from the public.
However the Police have advised me that there has been a significant increase in Online scams and fraud.
In order to ensure donations continue to reach the most people most in need, the Charity Commission, have been working with the Fundraising Regulator, National Trading Standards and Action Fraud, to ask everyone to ‘give safely’ and donate only to genuine registered charities.
This plea for safe giving comes as regulators have received reports of criminals taking to being charity scammers targeting vulnerable people, for example by impersonating British Red Cross workers.
By giving to a registered charity, the public can have assurance that the organisation’s funds are regulated by the Commission, and that those directors running the charity can be held formally accountable. In Northampton North there are 151 charities with a registered address in Northampton North and of course many national charities that do important work in our community.
Amongst charities of note at the moment is the National Emergencies Trust (NET) (Charity Number:1182809) national coronavirus fundraising appeal, launched to raise funds for local charities responding to the pandemic. The Charity Commission helped to establish the NET following previous emergencies and disasters.