See a little research would have helped you here… Charity is a loose term which anyone can use, Charitable status is defined and and requires certain stringent conditions, Two different things.
Rikki-UK:
See a little research would have helped you here… Charity is a loose term which anyone can use, Charitable status is defined and and requires certain stringent conditions, Two different things.
Well maybe it would help to clear the confusion if someone would be kind enough to explain the subtle differnces so that understanding is easier.
While I may not be brightest candle on the cake by no means am I the dullest and I assume that there may just be others for whom a tad more clarification would help.
Like exactly how near the goal of being a registered charity are they ?
How much more would be need to be raised and what are the next steps ?
It is all very well asking for donations for said “charity” or call it whatever you will but I do think a little bit more transparency may well assist to help others to decide to donate ?
As some of you already know, I’m involved with several animal rescue charities and as a consequence have become aware of the realities created by a change in the rules re: registering for Charitable Status a short while ago - last year, IIRC, although it may have been the year before, I would have to check for the exact date.
The long and short of it is that up until recently all a non-profit organisation had to do in order to get Charitable Status was prove that they were, indeed, non-profit, and that they were providing public benefit. This meant that many small charities - rescues, or in this case, benevolent funds - were able to register straight away. Since the rule change, each organisation has to be able to show an annual turnover of at least £5000, something that is impossible to do without allowing time for the fund to get on it’s feet. Some smaller rescues and NPOs never have that much money going through their books, but that doesn’t make them any less of a charity.
In practice, there are charities and there are Charities. The latter are simply those of a greater size. As a non-profit organisation - a small-c charity, if you like - the PDF is still able to register for the Gift Aid scheme, which they have. In order to qualify for the tax benefits associated with Gift Aid their aims etc. are scrutinised in much the same way as they would have been before the turnover threshold came in, and you can therefore be assured that they are indeed what they claim to be. Personally I use the Gift Aid registration as a signal that a rescue has been checked and that I am happy to work with them, because I appreciate that full Charitable Status is not always possible to achieve. My feelings about the PDF are exactly the same, which is why I personally am prepared to support them.
So might it be safe to assume therefore that once this particular fund is “Gift Aid” registered that the authorities have checked it’s accounts, it is non profit and the money IS going to the appropriate cause ■■?
I am sure some sort of registration will increase confidence and thus donations.
Also once “gift aid” registered is the charity audited or required to publish accounts ■■?
at last a bit of clarification for the lesser read amongst us including myself, I was aware that certain things had changed since we tried to register Justice for Drivers as a charity but not what had changed.
At no point have I said that I do not/would not support the aims of said charity, I have asked for no more than a bit of clarification which you have gone a fair way to providing.
As you know it would be a waste of time me asking said organisation directly as I would not get an answer anyway.
Personally I think such a charity would be a good idea if it were to get off the ground and I hope it does.
I sincerely hope that I can be proven misguided or wrongly informed
Never mind check for yourself, it clearly says above (dated 15th of July) that it will be applied for. Still suprised its not added yet?
If you were to read the post corrctly you would see that I was asking as to how after 6 months operating as a charit that it was still nowhere to be found on the charity commissions website, something which Lucy has had the courtesy to explain, although it does defeat me as to why Lucy felt obligated to do this when Bigger Birdie could have done it just as easily in his earlier post, but then again that is life
Hey ! Billybigrig, read the posts and it makes it clear.
No it doesn’t or a lot of people would not be asking Mike.
No, lets get it straight, ‘a lot of people’ actually means you and a few of your mates.
billybigrig:
Pop your own interest to one side here, all that is being requested is clarity.
You have clarity. You know the people who run it better than i do, go check the Charity commision or whatever you like,if you find different go tell the world about it !! If you require further clarity then go get it from them and not here.
No it doesn’t or a lot of people would not be asking Mike. Pop your own interest to one side here, all that is being requested is clarity.
Hint: Go and ask them on their website. perhaps there you will get the answers you seek, or the response you want, they certainly know more about it than us here
In case you forgot the website address its pda-uk.org/ but most of the guys from the LDF knew that already
As per our long standing rule, any more discussion about another websites business will be removed and the poster directed to take their questions directly to the website/organisation concerned…
For clarification.
The Professional Drivers Foundation launched on 1st January 2009
As we have to produce ANNUAL accounts to show a minimum of £5000 passing through our books it is impossible to register with the Charity Commision until AFTER next January.
However, the CC advise small charities to register with HMRC.
We applied for Gift Aid and after stringent checks, HMRC have accepted us as a ‘small charity’ and granted Gift Aid.
We are subject to audits from HMRC at very short notice.
Rikki has provided the link to The Professional Drivers Foundation Forum, where any questions can be asked.
