Code of Charity Retailing
>> Code of Charity Retailing 2011-2012 - download
>> Why was the Code of Charity Retailing developed?
>> What is the Code of Charity Retailing for?
>> What does being a member of the Code of Charity Retailing mean?
>> What's in it for charities?
>> Do all charity shops have to comply with the Code?
>> Where will the public see the Code of Charity Retailing logo?
>> How will the public know that the most is made of their donations?
Code of Charity Retailing 2011-2012
The Code sets out what is mandatory in law (appearing as "must" in the text), what further good practice members of the Association are required to observe ("should") and additional good practice that is recommended, but optional ("ought").
This Code may be amended from time to time to take account, for example, of legislative changes during the year.
Download the Code of Charity Retailing 2011-2012 (pdf)
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Why was the Code of Charity Retailing developed?
The Code was developed in response to the then Government’s promotion of self-regulation in the charity sector. The Code was introduced in April 2005. It is the only self-regulatory code for charity retailers.
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What is the Code of Charity Retailing for?
Our charity members must comply with the Code. The aims of the Code are:
- To promote best practice and high standards in charity retailing
- To promote public confidence in, and support for, charity shops
- To increase donations to charity shops
- To promote awareness of legitimate charity shops and to help stamp out dishonest and bogus activities.
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What does being a member of the Code of Charity Retailing mean?
Compliance with the Code of Charity Retailing means that:
- You are a registered charity or a trading subsidiary running charity shops
- You are a member of the Charity Retail Association
- You meet your statutory obligations and do not bring the sector into disrepute by any inappropriate or illegal activity
- Your shops raise the most money they can for your charity
- You treat the public with care and consideration.
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What’s in it for charities?
The benefits to charities of signing up to the Code are:
- To highlight the best practice and high standards maintained by your charity shops
- To increase public confidence in, and support for, your charity shops
- To allow the public to identify your charity shop as legitimate, helping to counter bogus activities
- To allow participating charities to promote these best practices.
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Do all charity shops have to comply with the Code of Charity Retailing?
The Code is a mandatory part of membership of the Association for UK
charity members that run shops. UK charities running shops who wish
to join the Association for the first time, but feel unable to
sign to the Code, are able to join as Provisional
Members. In this instance, the charity must agree to comply fully by the Code within a period of 12 months.
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Where will the public see the Code of Charity Retailing logo?
The Code logo will be displayed in charity shops, on textile and book recycling banks, on house-to-house collection sacks and vans. Members are
required, wherever possible, to display the logo on all materials seeking donations for their shops.
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How will the public know that the most
is being made of their donations?
Members signing up to the Code undertake to comply with all their statutory
obligations and the Code’s wider best practice standards. They will sell as many donated goods as possible through
their shops. Wherever possible, the remainder is sold for further reuse and
recycling, wasting nothing and thus raising the most money possible for their
charity.
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