Charity bag warning for Derbyshire residents

Derbyshire residents are being urged to check the credentials of organisations claiming they are collecting clothes for charity.

Derbyshire County Council ‘s trading standards team has issued the warning following calls from concerned residents about a company delivering bags in Belper, Etwall and Repton to be filled for ‘Derbyshire Child Care Homes’.

Councillor Dave Allen, Derbyshire County Council Designate Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, said: “These doorstep collections could give the impression of being on behalf of the county council’s children’s homes, but they are nothing to do with us.

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“We don’t promote or sponsor door-to-door clothing collections and we don’t want people thinking they are donating to children in our care, when they are not.”

A number of well-recognised and professionally-managed companies collect clothes as commercial partners of registered charities. However, criminal and unlicensed collection of clothing is becoming widespread.

Councillor Allen added: “It’s best to take unwanted clothes directly to the charity shop of your choice. If that’s not possible and you want to donate via a bag which is delivered to your home, look for the ‘Give with confidence’ Fundraising Standards Board logo and check for a charity registration number.”

Anyone with doubts about collection companies should call the Clothes Aid helpline on 08450 722 780 and check with their district or borough council that the bags have been licenced.

Suspicious door-to-door collections should be reported to Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506