Charity Shops

[jaydah]

Ours have been running over 20y and have seen most regular shops close. What do they do with their profits as the staff are volunteers and goods donated.

[boxtops]

The charity shops raise funds for whichever charity oversees them. I used to work in a hospice and it depended very much on the income from sales in the charity shops to raise money to keep it going. Same as PDSA, barnardos, whatever, the money raised goes back into the charity.
The shops usually paid reduced rent and rates because they are registered charities and they often have a paid manager, but you are right, the rest of the staff are usually volunteers.

[Mamyalynne]

Sorry I do not quite understand the question? Profits are ploughed into the charity accounts to be used as each charity see fit to help those in need, be it children, the aged or animals etc.

[jaydah]

They dont pay tax either. Do they have annual accounts for the public to see how their finances are used ?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes

[boxtops]

Yes absolutely jaydah, all charities have to file annual accounts with the Charity Commission.

[jaydah]

Barnados dont run orphanages anymore and Social Services deal with kid problems. Has anyone received finance from Barnados ?

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/

.

[jaydah]

Boxtops, are they public or does one pay to see them. Are the accounts available in the shops - what I mean is, how transparent is they?

[boxtops]

Barnados still does a lot of work with underprivileged children, have a look here http://www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do.htm

Here's their 2010 annual report and accounts, tells you what they did with the money
http://www.barnardos....and_accounts_2010.pdf

all very easily Googled and on public view

[Buenchico]

You can search for information on any registered charity here:
http://www.charity-co...s/AdvancedSearch.aspx
For most charities you can access a copy of their accounts and/or a diagrammatic breakdown of spending. e.g. here's a summary page for Oxfam:
http://tinyurl.com/33xlnsg
(Use the links on the left for further details).

Chris

[Mamyalynne]

jaydah I hate to ask and am not being unkind but is there an underlying reason behind your question?

[Mamyalynne]

I withdraw that, as is none of my business I am sorry.

[jaydah]

yes there is mamy, their businesses thrive in the high street and the three surrounding towns I've just looked at say they work with Social Services in each case.

[jaydah]

Appreciate the input and there's lots I will read. Do they also get funding from the lottery ?

[Mamyalynne]

Well all I can say is like most people do, only donate and patronise the charity shops you feel are providing the care you accept to be valid, though they may work in conjunction with Social services must mean it extends the provision that would be there without them.

[boxtops]

here in Dover we have so many charity shops, at one time businesses were closing and charity shops taking over. But of course they work with Social Services - I work in the NHS and all public sector organisations are short of cash for the extras (and indeed basic) services these days. Some hospitals depend on their League of Friends work to provide equipment on the wards, social services probably depend on charitable donations to undertake youth work. I work outside the day job with a youth group and money comes to charities to undertake a lot of development work with the youngsters, things we could never otherwise afford. Just because Barnardos don't run orphanages any more doesn't mean they don't support fostered children or children in care - of which there are still many, but they are in Local Authority children's homes these days, not charity orphanages.

[boxtops]

..and yes, they can apply for lottery grants and other funds open to charities - usually those have to be for specific projects though, not just for running costs.

[Mamyalynne]

I believe some of there projects have received Lottery funding

[Buenchico]

All charities can apply for Lottery funding. (There's no automatic distribution of Lottery funds to charities).

Set the 'good cause area', here, to show 'Charitable Expenditure':
http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk/
Choose a geographical area (if required).
Click 'Search'

Chris

[jaydah]

I have seen hospital equipment contributed by LOF - that's transparent for me but the high street shops need a poke to see how they spread their funds.