The government has today launched a public awareness campaign to help the public identify charity collections from commercial operations.

Minister for the third sector Angela Smith today unveiled the ‘Give with Care’ campaign, which will take the form of house leafleting and posters at charity shops themselves, which will give donors information about what to look for when trying to  donate unwanted goods to charity.

The Association of Charity Shops estimates that charities lose out on up to £3m via commercial collections which pose as charitable operations.

Smith said: “I want the public to be confident that their donation is going to a genuine charitable cause. This is why we have launched the ‘Give with Care’ campaign with four tops tips to help establish if a clothing collection is for charity or not.”

The campaign will centre on four key tips to help identify a charity collection from a commercial one.

Dame Suzi Leather, chair of the Charity Commission added that “While most leaflets that come through your door are from genuine registered charities, the ‘Give with Care’ campaign will help people if there is any doubt in their mind.”