Make sure your Ramadan donations reach those in need

As British Muslims enter the month of Ramadan, MCF, The Charity Commission and The Fundraising Regulator issue advice on giving safely to registered charities.

Ramadan is a time of huge generosity among British Muslims, and the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria, as well as the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, make it especially important that their charitable contributions support good causes through registered charities. Regulators are therefore issuing advice to remind British Muslims to make checks, ensuring their donations reach registered charities.

Most fundraising is genuine, however fraudsters and criminals sometimes take advantage of public generosity at times of increased giving, using methods such as fake appeal websites, email appeals that falsely use the name of genuine charities, or appeals from fake charities. There have been several reports of fake appeals on social media to help those affected by the disaster in Turkey and Syria.

Fadi Itani, CEO of the Muslim Charities Forum said:

“Giving to others holds spiritual significance in Islamic teachings, however this good-will can sometimes be taken advantage of. It’s vitally important for donors to give smart and give safe in order to have the most benefit to those in need. Donors must check carefully and give to only registered charities that specialise in the cause, are present in afflicted areas, and who offer regulated and secure donation methods. This will ensure that funds can have the most impact in changing and saving the lives of others.”

Read on at Make sure your Ramadan donations reach those in need – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) to discover the simple steps donors can take to ensure they give smartly and safely this Ramadan.