Archive for the ‘Charity’ category

The UK Committee for UNICEF

January 26th, 2009

Note: This information from 2009 might no longer be accurate.

UK Charity Number: 1072612

Website: http://www.education-action.org

Stated Aims

UNICEF IS THE WORLD’S LEADING ORGANISATION WORKING FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR RIGHTS. WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS IN 190 COUNTRIES TO HELP EVERY CHILD REALISE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE SUPPORT CHILDREN BY PROVIDING HEALTH CARE, NUTRITION AND EDUCATION. WE PROTECT CHILDREN AFFECTED BY CRISES INCLUDING WAR, NATURAL DISASTERS AND HIV/AIDS.

Summary

UNICEF is one of the funders of Education Action. It campaigns for the “living wage” and funds various efforts to portray the UK as the worst place to raise children in the developed world.

Details

In 2007, the UK Committee for UNICEF had an income of £41,273,000. Of this, only two public bodies are listed as having give money, but it adds up to 13.2% of the total.

The Department for Overseas Development (DFID): £5,037,000
The States of Guernsey & Jersey and the Isle of Man: £417,000
Total £5,454,000 (13.2% of income)

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Posted in Charity, Legacy

The Woodland Trust

March 6th, 2009

Note: This information from 2009 might no longer be accurate.

UK Charity Number: 294344

Website: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Stated Aims

EXTRACT FROM THE MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION: THE OBJECTS FOR WHICH THE TRUST IS ESTABLISHED ARE TO CONSERVE RESTORE AND RE-ESTABLISH TREES AND IN PARTICULAR BROAD LEAVED TREES, PLANTS AND ALL FORMS OF WILDLIFE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THEREBY TO SECURE AND ENHANCE THE ENJOYMENT BY THE PUBLIC OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THOSE TERRITORIES.

Context

"We used to be members of this until we found out. The organisation regularly sends out to members vast volumes of expensively-printed puff which resembles the self-congratulatory output of a government department."

The Woodland Trust is a member of Stop Climate Chaos. Currently campaigns against high speed rail.

Details:

In 2007, it received £2,882,000 in public money, including:

Forestry Commission: £884,000
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: £51,000
Local authorities: £192,000
Environment and Heritage Service, NI: £114,000
Natural England: £67,000
Scottish Executive: £3,000
European Structural Funds: £63,000
Department for Communities & Local Government: £107,000
Countryside Council for Wales: £41,000
Rural Payments Agency: £29,000
EC Life Nature: £5,000

This represents 12.3% of its total income for 2007.

It received a further £1,383,000 (5.9%) from The Big Lottery Fund

The charity’s total income was £23,380,000 and other major items include:

Membership subscriptions: £4,733,000
Legacies: £6,876,000
Fundraising & appeals: £4,936,000
Sponsorship income: £2,242,000
Company donations, Charitable Trusts and Landfill Tax: £2,521,000

As such, the Woodland Trust does raise a substantial percentage of its money from voluntary contributions; however, 18.2% of its income comes from tax and lottery money.

A Rebuttal

We have received a reply from Paul Hetherington at The Woodland Trust.

Regarding your listing of the Woodland Trust, I feel it is importnat to highlight the following points to you which greatly question the veracity of including the Trust on your site.

Monies received direct from public bodies amounts to under 13% of the Woodland Trust’s total annual income and is a very low percentage in sector terms. The Trust believes that the charity sector as a whole should be able to access public funds that are allocated to their areas in order to support activities that are needed and would otherwise not be provided.

All printed materials distributed by the Woodland Trust are produced by ethically sourced printers using either 100% recycled paper or occasionally FSC accredited paper for specialist requirements. The volume of mailings is kept to a minimum and tailored to fit the audience, increasingly our communications to supporters are shifting to electronic formats.

Most of the above information is available from our annual review available on the Woodland Trust website

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Posted in Charity, Legacy

Alcohol Concern

May 26th, 2009

UK Charity Number: 291705

Website: http://www.alcoholconcern.org

Stated Aims:

ALCOHOL CONCERN’S ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ALCOHOL POLICY; RAISING ALCOHOL AWARENESS; PROVIDING QUALITY INFORMATION ON ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM; DEVELOPING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF PRACTITIONERS AND OPERATING A SPECIALIST CONSULTANCY SERVICE; AND DELIVERING PROJECTS THAT BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THE SECTOR.

Summary

Created by the British government in 1985, Alcohol Concern wages an incremental campaign against drinkers and the drinks industry.

Details

Alcohol Concern supports banning happy hour, raising the price of alcohol, lowering the drink drive limit, banning glass bottles in pubs, warning labels on cans and bottles and banning TV advertising before 9pm. It described the ban on happy hour promotions as “a step in the right direction” and the introduction of cigarette-style warning labels on bottles as “a very good first step”.

Its 2008/09 accounts show a total income of £1,137,582, of which:

Department of Health (restricted grant): £142,000
Department of Health (unrestricted grant): £400,000

Big Lottery Fund: £127,275
—
Total £669,275 (58.8% of all income)

It received just £8,186 in public donations.

UPDATE

October 2011: Alcohol Concern have reported that they have lost their key funding (ie. the Department of Health), leading to the departure of their Chief Executive and their full-time fundraiser. If this excellent news in confirmed when the next accounts appear, we will be happy to remove the ‘charity’ from this site.

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Posted in Charity, Legacy

Stonewall Equality Limited

May 26th, 2009

	Stonewall Equality Limited Website: http://www.stonewall.org.uk
Alias:	The Stonewall Lobby Group Limited (old Name )
Activity:	Promoting equality and human rights for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
	3.1.1. To promote human rights arising under or by virtue of the human rights act 1988 and the promotion of the convention rights as defined by s 1 human rights act (subject to any derogation or reservation from time to time subsisting) including the elimination of the infringement of those rights and the promotion of effective remedies following any breach for the benefit if the public. a) raising awareness of human rights by publications, lectures, use of the media, public advocacy and other means of communication; b) conducting or commissioning research in human rights and publishing the results of the same to the public; c) advancing education in human rights whether by teaching or producing materials; d) cultivating a sentiment in favour of human rights by the use of publications, codes of practice, schemes for employers, award schemes, the media and public advocacy; e) promoting the sound administration of the law relating to human rights by i) the provision of specialist legal advice, assistance and representation to people who are unable to obtain such legal advice, assistance and representation as a result of their lack of resource; ii) the provision of specialist legal intervention to assist the courts; and iii) the provision of advice on the institutions, structures and mechanisms by which such law is enforced; 3.1.2. To promote equality and diversity in the united kingdom and in particular the elimination of discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation for the benefit of the public by; a) raising awareness of all aspects of discrimination in society by publications, lectures, use of the media, public advocacy and other means of communication; b) conducting or commissioning research on equality and diversity and publishing the results of the same to the public; c) advancing education in equality and diversity whether by teaching or producing materials; d) cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity by the use of publications, codes of practice, schemes for employers, award schemes, the media and public advocacy; e) promoting the sound administration of the law relating to equality issues by; i) the provision of specialist legal advice, assistance and representation to people who are unable to obtain such legal advice, assistance and representation as a result of their lack of resource; ii) the provision of specialist legal intervention to assist the courts; and iii) the provision of advice on the institutions, structures and mechanisms by which such law is enforced; 3.1.3 to relieve poverty; and 3.1.4 to promote any other purpose which is charitable according to the law of england and wales.
Income:	£3,843,063
Accounts:	30 Sep 2009
Registrar:	Charity Commission 1101255

Context

Submitted to the site after being mentioned in a typically hysterical Daily Mail article.

Their website states the following…

Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a small group of women and men who had been active in the struggle against Section 28 of the Local Government Act.

Section 28 was an offensive piece of legislation designed to prevent the so-called ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools; as well as stigmatising gay people it also galvanised the gay community.

The aim from the outset was to create a professional lobbying group that would prevent such attacks on lesbians, gay men and bisexuals from ever occurring again. Stonewall has subsequently put the case for equality on the mainstream political agenda by winning support within all the main political parties and now has offices in England, Scotland and Wales.

Current lobbying efforts concentrate on: “Securing equal legal treatment in areas where it doesn’t already exist such as extension of the legal form of marriage to same-sex couples. Influencing the development of public policy in areas such as blood donation, asylum, the workplace and faith-sanctioned discrimination.”

Details

In 2007, Stonewall received a total of £2,883,267, mostly from various other opaque and not-so-opaque charitable trusts and foundations of one sort and another. However, it did receive a good chunk of its funding (23.6%) from the state.

Department of Trade & Industry: £303,641
Scottish Executive: £253,845
The Equal Opportunities Commission: £9,000
Welsh Assembly Government: £115,382
—
Total: £681,868 (23.6% of all income)

Explanation

In 2009, Stonewall received a total of £3,843,063, including:

Arts Council England: £3,372
Awards for All: £5,000
Big Lottery Fund: £94,973
Department of Health: £4,995
Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership: £4,000
Equality and Human Rights Commission: £96,904
Greater London Authority: £12,000
Russell Commission: £60,830
Scottish Government VAF: £190,921
Wales Council for Voluntary Action: £21,040
Welsh Assembly Government: £109,996
Total: at least £603,679 (15.7%) came from public bodies; probably more.

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Posted in Charity, Fake

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

January 31st, 2011

	The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Website: http://www.nspcc.org.uk
Alias:	NSPCC
Activity:	1) to prevent the public and private wrongs of children and the corruption of their morals; 2) to take action for the enforcement of laws for their protection; 3) to provide and maintain an organisation for the above objects; 4) to do all other such lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects

Income:	£152 million
Accounts:	31 Mar 2010
Registrar:	Charity Commission 216401

Context

NSPCC is paid by statutory bodies (which its annual report explains are “are government agencies or departments”) for providing:

Child protection and preventative services and helplines
Influencing and public education
Child protection training and consultancy

Some credit should perhaps be given for spelling this out, even admitting that it is paid for “influencing”, even if only in a footnote to its accounts.

The NSPCC’s website has a page dedicated to their lobbying activity, saying: “We campaign for changes to legislation, policy and practice to ensure they best protect children, both at a local and national level… We lobby at both a local, regional, and national level.” Current campaigns include a ban on parents physically disciplining their children. They also want to “make the internet safer for children.”

Details

Explanation

2010 accounts show:

Income from service level agreements (SLAs) with statutory bodies: £5.7 million
Grants and one-off fees from statutory bodies: £13.4 million
—
Total: £19 million (12.5% of income)

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Posted in Charity, Fake

St Dunstan’s

February 21st, 2011

	St Dunstan’s Website: http://www.st-dunstans.org.uk
Activity:	To ensure that all blind or visually impaired ex-service men and women throughout the United Kingdom who meet St Dunstan’s criteria, are given the emotional and physical support required to enable them to lead independent lives in spite of their blindness or visual impairment.
	To provide for the medical or surgical treatment, re-education, training in one or more trade or trades, settlement and permanent welfare of:- Members or former members of the armed forces both men and women blinded from whatever cause whether or not connected in any way with service in the armed forces. etc.
Income:	£22 million
Accounts:	31 Mar 2010
Registrar:	Charity Commission 216227

Context

St Dunstan’s Annual Report for 2009/10, its 95th anniversary year, shows no sign at all of state funding:

Key areas that saw development were community fundraising in the Brighton area and the establishment of Blind Heroes Week. The supporter base grew by a further 61,000 as direct marketing continued to attract new supporters. Legacy income…of £10.1 million was achieved.

Details

Explanation

No state funding.

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Posted in Charity

Oxfam

February 21st, 2011

	Oxfam Website: http://www.oxfam.org.uk
Alias:	Oxfam GB (working name)
Activity:	Oxfam’s objects are to prevent and relieve poverty and protect the vulnerable anywhere in the world. Oxfam furthers its objects through interlinked activities of humanitarian relief, development work and advocacy and campaigning. Oxfam is an affiliate member of Oxfam International. Details of Oxfam’s mission and ways of working can be found at www.oxfam.org.uk
Income:	£318 million
Accounts:	31 Mar 2010
Registrar:	Charity Commission 202918

Context

Oxfam’s Annual Report & Accounts for 2009/10 includes the word ‘lobby’ on its front page as one of the keywords in the graphic, and campaigning is one of the three areas in the ‘What we do’ section of the report. Although Oxfam lobbies private companies in addition to governments, a quarter of its income comes from government sources. In a summary of its five aims, it says it spends 8% of its income on:

The right to be heard…raising people’s awareness of their rights and helping them lobby their government and other decision-makers.

Details

Explanation

Oxfam’s latest accounts are for the 11 months to March 31, 2010. In the reported income from government they include income from other organisations, such as other members of Oxfam International, so the total here is less than the total in their accounts. The biggest identified government sources include the Department for International Development (DFID):

European Union: £42.5 million
United Nations: £13.4 million
Non-UK governments: £16 million
UK Government (mostly DFID): £11.9 million
—
Total: £83.8 (26% of all income)

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Posted in Charity, Fake

Big Issue Foundation

February 20th, 2011

	The Big Issue Foundation Website: http://www.bigissue.org.uk
Alias:	None
Activity:	Our work with the big issue vendors focuses on health, finance, aspirations and accommodation. the big issue gives vendors diginity, income and purpose, the big issue foundation plans to help every vendor use that new found dignity and purpose to continue their journey away from homelessness wherever there is a need for more help.
	(i) the relief of poverty with particular reference to the needs of homeless persons. (ii) the advancement of education and the promotion of training for employment with particular reference to the needs of homeless persons. (iii) the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupations in the interests of social welfare in general. (iv) the promotion of any other charitable purpose for the benefit of the public
Income:	£1 million
Accounts:	31 Mar 2010
Registrar:	Charity Commission 1049077

Context

This is the charity partner of The Big Issue Company, the company that produces the The Big Issue magazine sold by homeless and vulnerably housed people. The charity supports the magazine vendors directly and through a huge range of partnerships with other organisations.

Details

Explanation

The 2009/10 accounts show that this charity is 99% funded by donations and legacies. It received a lottery grant of £13,000, a little over 1% of the charity’s total income.

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Posted in Charity

ECPAT (End Child Prostitution)

February 20th, 2011

	End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT UK) Website: http://www.ecpat.org.uk
Alias:	ECPAT UK (working name)
Activity:	We are a leading children’s rights organisation working against the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the UK and on its international aspects. in particular, we focus on the protection of trafficked children and children exploited in tourism and the prevention of such crimes.
	The charity’s objects (“the objects”) are to relieve those children in need as the trustees determine from time to time and to advance education in particular but not exclusively by raising awareness on the international aspects of the commercial sexual exploitation of children, to thereby protect such individuals from harm and preventing their suffering.
Income:	£664,575
Accounts:	31 Mar 2010
Registrar:	Charity Commission 1104948

Context

ECPAT carries out research, provides training and advocacy, campaigns, lobbies the government, and is involved with government agencies and public bodies in a variety of ways.

About half its income in 2009/10 came from The Body Shop, and it reports an important partnership with ABTA (“The Travel Association”) without disclosing the financial details. It also acknowledges the support of several other grant-making charities, particularly for its parliamentary and campaigning work.

Details

Explanation

Although ECPAT’s accounts are not as clearly set out as they could be, although it does acknowledge the support of the former Department for Children, Schools and Families (now the Department for Education), and although future European Commission funding is mentioned as a possibility, there is no evidence of state funding in the accounts that are currently available.

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Posted in Charity

Butterfly Conservation

February 20th, 2011

	Butterfly Conservation Website: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org
Alias:	The British Butterfly Conservation Society Limited (old name)
Activity:	The conservation of butterflies, moths and our environment
Income:	£3.3 million
Accounts:	31 Mar 2010
Registrar:	Charity Commission 254937

Context

Butterfly Conservation’s accounts for 2009/10 estimate that:

…volunteers contributed work worth over £9 million…

If that figure were actually in the accounts as income, then the charity’s state funding would fall just below our 10% threshold (but still be above the £1 million threshold). As it is, the charity receives more than a third of its income from the state, income that it maintains by lobbying.

Recently it declared its support for one of its state donors, the Forestry Commission, which has been widely criticised for policies that harm wildlife. The money was apparently more important.