PEOPLE are being urged to be cautious when giving to charitable causes after a Lithuanian cancer charity began distributing clothes bags in Cheltenham.
The town's prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate Mark Coote is advising people to make sure organisations they are giving to are bona fide.
Mr Coote, a fundraising director for a large cancer charity, was alerted to clothing collection bags distributed in Charlton Kings.
replica breitling The bags, which ask for clothing, bed linen, woollens and shoes, contain the pink ribbon symbol for breast cancer awareness month but do not have a UK charity number.
It is believed that although a small percentage of items collected are sold for charity, other money goes elsewhere.
Mr Coote said: "Breast cancer awareness is a very emotive and resonant topic. It touches hundreds of thousands of women in this country - survival rates are terrific but we still lose people.
"Of course people want to donate to alleviate suffering for breast cancer patients but one has to be careful that the organisation you are supporting is bona fide."
Trading Standards is also urging people to check for charity numbers, which will always be displayed by legitimate charities registered in the UK.
Wording on the bags says a minimum of Pounds 3,000 from the proceeds of donated clothing goes to a project called Do not delay! every month.
replica clothingThe project is said to provide information and screening for women in Lithuania to help prevent breast cancer. It says Intersecond Ltd is the appointed agent in the UK and Ireland for Azzara, which is registered in Lithuania.
Eddie Coventry, head of Gloucestershire's Trading Standards, said: "If you want to support a genuine charity please check for a registered charity number on the bags you receive or on the side of the van collecting the goods."
Mr Coventry said people could also check with the Charities Commission website at He said: "Our advice to people is, if you have items to donate, please give to a known charity or to your local charity shop."
A spokesperson for Intersecond Ltd, which collects the clothes, said: "Do Not Delay! is not registered as a UK charity because it is based in Lithuania. All information is on the plastic bag.
"The project receives Pounds 5,000 every month from Intersecond Ltd - this way the charity receives the guaranteed income and can plan the activity accordingly."
embroidered patches
Mr Coote said: "Normally with a charity bag you know everything goes straight to the shop or charity itself. This looks like a different operation. It's obviously philanthropic, but obviously a commercial operation."
Opinion, p8
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