Stevenson Warns Of Bogus Doorstep Collectors

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson is alerting constituents who give unwanted goods on their doorstep to charitable causes to be careful when doing so to ensure that the goods reach genuine beneficiaries.

The MSP is supporting the ‘Give with Care Campaign’ launched by the Institute of Fundraising and the Fundraising Standards Board.

Clothing and textiles is the fastest growing area of household waste at around 2 million tonnes per annum. Of this, as much as 1.2 million tonnes ends up in landfill. Charity collections are an important way of not only reducing waste and preserving our environment, but of generating vital funding. Clothing collections raise an estimated £250 million for UK charities each year. Some charities collect goods themselves, others (particularly smaller charities and those without the necessary infrastructure or reach) use commercial organisations to collect on their behalf.

Stewart Stevenson MSP is urging constituents to:

1. First & foremost to Keep Giving - beneficiaries need you to donate goods that charities can sell on. Use the following checks before you give to doorstep collectors. Or, if you can, donate directly to your local charity shop.
2. Check for a Scottish charity number and look for the FRSB’s “tick” logo on a charity’s literature.
3. Look for a working telephone number which any legitimate collector will display.
4. Some collectors may not be registered charities but still collect for legitimate good causes in your area. Bogus collectors will often promote vague causes rather than specific charities or local good causes.
5. If you are still in doubt, contact The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator on 01382 220446 or by clicking www.oscr.org.uk.

Commenting on the need for vigilance Mr Stevenson said:

“It is a sad reality that some bogus firms are in operation collecting doorstep donations and misleading the public into believing that they are being sold for charitable causes, or in some instances stealing goods intended for charities.

“Doorstep collections form an important part of the business of genuine charities I want to encourage those who donate to carry on doing so, but to also take care to ensure they are giving to legitimate charities.

“The Institute of Fundraising and FRSB have outlined these helpful checks and I welcome the opportunity to endorse this approach.”

Scottish Environment Minister Highlights KIMO International’s Achievements

Delegates from northern Europe attending the KIMO International conference last week, hosted by Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils, were told how the organisation’s lobbying and projects continued to drive environmental awareness in the maritime sector and help clean up our seas.

Scottish Environment and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson MSP opened the Conference by praising the work KIMO is undertaking on projects such as Fishing for Litter and its leading role in bringing issues such as marine pollution to the fore.

He said,

“The Fishing for Litter scheme in Scotland is an excellent example of what can be achieved through imaginative solutions and partnership working. It is a credit to KIMO, the fishing industry and its other partners that 160 Scottish vessels in 18 harbours participate in the scheme.”

During the 2002-2004 Save the North Sea project KIMO helped to pioneer environmental awareness courses for crew on commercial ships, participants in Aberdeen were told how these courses had now been ratified by the International Maritime Organisation under the SCTW Convention, which meant that they would now be a mandatory training requirement worldwide.

More recently KIMO has been lobbying the European Parliament, EU governments and shipping companies to reduce the number of containers lost at sea. The meetings heard that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) were now calling for measures to reduce the number of lost containers from shipping, a call that mirrored many demands made by KIMO.

Climate Challenge Fund

The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) which supports community-led action to reduce emissions, along with a Junior CCF for under 18s, has officially opened for business today.

Announcing the £10.3 million extended Scottish Government scheme, Environment and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson met with P4 and P5 pupils from Churnside Primary at Lambhill Stables in Glasgow.

Lambhill Stables previously received over £360,000 to create a community hub providing training and educational opportunities to local residents in the areas of gardening, renewable energies and sustainable transport.

Mr Stevenson said:

"The Junior CCF is an exciting addition to this overall project and I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas put forward by Scotland's children to reduce our carbon footprint. The ambition of Junior CCF is clear - to provide the means for the next generation to make a real difference on an issue we know they are passionate about.

"Since 2008, 345 individual communities across Scotland have received awards through CCF and their contribution in tackling climate change is greatly acknowledged. Our Economic Strategy and Spending Review makes strong references to the importance of grass roots action such as this if we are to move towards a truly low carbon economy.

"Lambhill Stables is a great example of how CCF offers real community benefits. It has brought the practical benefits of low carbon living into this area making it relevant and making a positive difference to people's lives."

David Cruickshank, Executive Director at Lambhill Stables, said:

"CCF funding has granted Lambhill Stables a revenue stream allowing us to run a programme of sustainable activities from the newly refurbished B-listed Stables Building and the Community Garden.

"This has enabled us to involve the community in a spectrum of activities ranging from active transportation such as healthy walks and cycling, energy awareness, community gardening, home grown food production and preparation, and the everyday actions we can all take to tackle climate change. In turn this programme has contributed to the development of a sense of community ownership and cohesion."

The Scottish Government has confirmed the commitment to CCF at £10.3 million each year over the Spending Review period.Junior CCF will aim to award ten per cent of the CCF towards carbon reducing projects working with young people (18 and under).

This is the ninth round of CCF funding.