A group of charities have hit out at a proposed byelaw in Birmingham, which would restrict street fundraising.
The letter to the chief executive and leader of Birmingham City Council says the byelaw would have a ‘seriously detrimental effect’ on charity fundraising.
It states: ‘The income generated from face-to-face fundraising is vital in funding our services to our beneficiaries…not just in Birmingham, but throughout the United Kingdom and all over the world.
‘In these difficult economic times, were we to lose this level of support, it is almost certain that the reduction in voluntary income that would result would mean we would have to cut services to our beneficiaries.’
It calls on the council to work with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) to instead regulate street fundraising and protect charities’ income.
The letter is written by Mark Astarita, chair of the Institute of Fundraising and director of fundraising at British Red Cross. It is signed by British Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, CARE International UK, Concern Universal, Friends of the Earth, Marie Curie Cancer Care, National Deaf Children’s Society, and Shelter.
