Commercial firms constantly bombard Headington asking for donations of clothing for third-world countries. They give a limited company number that could easily be interpreted as a registered charity number; but in fact they sell these clothes to the poor and make a profit for themselves. They used to distribute leaflets, but now they more often deliver specially printed bags.
Some commercial firms now give a proportion of their profits to charity, which confuses the issue further. For instance Intersecond Ltd delivered bags to Headington in 2011 in aid of the registered charity Mercy Ships: but they only hand over to the charity £50 for every tonne of clothes collected, so many councils do not allow them to collect in their area.
There was also a scam in 2011 where commercial companies printed their bags with the name of an unrelated charity. Always check that the charity’s registered charity number is supplied.
If you want your unwanted clothes to do the maximum amount of good, give them to one of Headington’s many charity shops.
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A&P Collection Ltd ASD Ltd Europe Suppliers Ltd G.V. Clothing Kraslava Services Seven Ltd Textal Ltd Third World Clothing Collection Polotex Ltd “Unwanted clothing collection” Do Not Delay Children’s Welfare Foundation
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Some off the above companies leafleted Headington many times, which implies that they were getting a good haul, despite the fact that there are eight charity shops in the centre.
The main company targeting Headington in 2009 was “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”). They added the following to their leaflet:
From Memorandum of Helping Arms: Company Limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. The company is formed for carrying out charitable assistance to medical organizations in the UK.
The former number of this company was 5995054: it was struck off, and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) also adjudicated against them in 2007. Former company number: 7119680. Its website (which no longer exists) said it is in the process of being registered as a charity.
In January 2009 a real charity working in conjunction with clothes collectors started leafleting Headington:
- Kidney Research UK in collaboration with UK Clothing Collections Ltd
Unfortunately scam companies have now adopted this idea, and on 30 October 2009 Headington was leaflets by SOS Support Ltd claiming to be collecting clothes in conjunction with Children’s Hearts.
Rip-off Britain: “Charity” collections
Clothes Aid has articles about cheating charities
Some companies that have targeted Headington
- 08 Dec 2006: “Do Not Delay”
- 19 Dec 2006: “Unwanted Clothing Collection”
- 21 Dec 2006: “Third World Clothing Collection” (with Help & Support registration number)
- 12 Jan 2007: “Third World Clothing Collection” (with Helpmates registration number)
- 05 Feb 2007: “A&P Collection Ltd”
- 13 Feb 2007: “Unwanted Clothing Collection”
- 15 March 2007: “Unwanted Clothing Collection”
- 02 April 2007: “Third World Clothing Collection” (with Helpmates registration number)
- 09 May 2007: “Third World Clothing Appeal” (A&P Collection Ltd)
- 12 May 2007: “Third World Clothing Collection” (with Helpmates registration number)
- 08 June 2007: “A&P Collection Ltd”
- 13 July 2007: “Third World Clothing Collection” (with Helpmates registration number)
- 22 July 2007: “The Children’s Welfare Foundation”
- August 2007: “Polotex Ltd”
- 11 September 2007: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” for “Helping Arms” (blue plastic bag)
- 12 October 2007: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” for “Helping Arms” (blue plastic bag)
- 24 October 2007: “Clothing collection” (Polotex)
- 26 November 2007: “A&P Collection Ltd”
- 19 January 2008: “Clothing collection” (Polotex)
- 21 February 2008: “Clothing collection” (Polotex)
- 28 February 2008: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (blue plastic bag)
- 1 April 2008: “Polotex Ltd”
- 6 May 2008: “Clothing collection” (Polotex)
- 6 June 2008: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (blue plastic bag)
- 15 August 2008: “Third World Clothing Collection” (with Helpmates registration number)
- 22 August 2008: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (blue plastic bag)
- 28 October 2008: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (blue plastic bag)
- 14 January 2009: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (blue plastic bag)
- 29 April 2009: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (blue plastic bag)
- 3 June 2009: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (leaflet)
- 15 December 2009: “Unwanted Clothing Collection” (“Helping Arms”) (blue plastic bag)
