Useful Contacts


Business Support
Charity Days
CopyAdvice

Business Employment Law and Access Issues
ACAS
BusinessLink
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
DirectGov: Employment
Equality and Human Rights Commission

Ethical Information
Ethical Consumer

Government Departments
Cabinet Office
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
HM Revenue and Customs

Health and Safety
Health and Safety Executive

Money
Bank of England
Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers
The Royal Mint

MPs
Irish House of the Oireachtas
National Assembly for Wales
Scottish Parliament
UK Parliament

Recycling and Reuse
Community Recycling Network (CRN)
Direct:Gov Environment and Greener Living
Don't Dump That
Environment Agency
Envirowise
Freegle
Furniture Reuse Network (FRN)
GlobalHAND
Green Choices
Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee
Reuze
Textile Recycling Association (TRA)
Waste and Resources Action Programme
Waste Watch

Trading Standards
Everything Regulation, Whenever it's Needed
Trading Standards Institute

Voluntary Sector Support and Information
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
Department for Social Development
Directory for Social Change
GuideStar UK
Institute of Fundraising
KnowHow NonProfit
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
The Charities Resource Network
The Charity Commission (UK)
The Charity Commission (NI)

Volunteering
Community Service Volunteers (CSV)
Do-it.org.uk
Institute of Volunteering Research
TimeBank
Volunteer Development Scotland
Volunteering England
Volunteer Development Agency, Northern Ireland
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)


Directory of Suppliers and Services


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Business Support

Charity Days
This organisation aims to put voluntary sector organisations in touch with professional trainers who provide their services for free (or at a subsidised rate to cover expenses).
Web: www.ukcharitydays.co.uk
Email: jane@ukcharitydays.co.uk
Tel:01757 638748

CopyAdvice
Allows advertisers, agencies and media owners to check that their prospective non-broadcast ads or multi-media concepts comply with the UK Advertising Codes.
Web: www.copyadvice.co.uk
Email: advice@cap.org.uk
Tel:020 7035 4848

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Business Employment Law and Access Issues

ACAS
Provides information on employment law for use by employers and employees.
Web: www.acas.org.uk
Tel: 0845 747 4747

BusinessLink
BusinessLink provides information for employers on issues such as pay, recruitment, staff management and conflict resolution. They also have useful sections on the environment, workplace health & safety, finance, tax, and property.
Web: www.businesslink.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 600 9006

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
BIS provides information on all aspects of employment law, such as minimum wage regulations, hours of work, employee consultation and redundancy arrangements.
Web: www.berr.gov.uk/employment/index.html
Tel: 020 7215 5000

DirectGov: Employment
DirectGov provides information for employees and volunteers on all aspects of work, from rights, holidays and grievance procedures to health & safety matters and trade unions.
Web: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm

Equality and Human Rights Commission
Includes Disability Rights Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission and Commission for Racial Equality.
Web: www.equalityhumanrights.com
Email : englandhelpline@equalityhumanrights.com / scotlandhelpline@equalityhumanrights.com / waleshelpline@equalityhumanrights.com
Tel: 0845 604 6610 (England), 0845 604 5510 (Scotland), 0845 604 8810 (Wales)

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Ethical Information

Ethical Consumer
An independent lifestyle magazine that informs consumers about everything from the social and environmental impacts of a product to the ethical records of the companies that produce them.
Web: www.ethicalconsumer.org
Tel: 0161 226 2929

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Government Departments

Cabinet Office
Gives information of various aspects of government and the Civil Service, including the Big Society.
Web: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 020 7276 3000

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DEFRA provide information on all aspects of waste and recycling and give information for voluntary sector groups on how to obtain recycling and reuse credits.
Web: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/
Email: defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Tel: 0845 933 5577
Textphone: 0845 300 1998

HM Revenue and Customs
Provides key information and services you need to comply with the law and ease your tax dealings with Government.
Web: www.hmrc.gov.uk
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 0845 302 0203 (Charities Helpline)

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Health and Safety

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.
Web: www.hse.gov.uk
Email: hse.infoline@connaught.plc.uk
Tel: 0845 300 9923 (Incident Contact Centre) / 0151 951 4000 (Switchboard)

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Money

The Bank of England
Offers useful information about Bank of England notes and their security features, and what to do if you believe you have counterfeit or partially destroyed notes. They also have links to the Scottish and Irish banks which issue banknotes.
Web: www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/index.htm
Email: enquiries@bankofengland.co.uk
Tel: 020 7601 4444

The Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers (CSCB)
Offers useful information about Scottish banking, with a guide on identifying banknotes' security features, and what to do if you believe you have counterfeit or partially destroyed notes.
Web: www.scotbanks.org.uk
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 08456 020000

The Royal Mint
Gives information on current coinage, with particular detail of counterfeit £1s.
Web: www.royalmint.com/Corporate/facts/circulation.aspx
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 01443 222111

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MPs

Irish Houses of the Oireachtas
Constantly updated information on members of the Irish National Parliament, including their contact details.
Web: www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/
Email: communications@oireachtas.ie
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 6183000

National Assembly for Wales
Constantly updated information on members of the Welsh National Assembly, including their contact details.
Web: www.assemblywales.org/memhome.htm
Email: assembly.info@wales.gov.uk

Scottish Parliament
Constantly updated information on MSPs, including their contact details.
Web: www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp
Tel: 0131 348 5000 (Enquiries) or 0800 092 7500 (to speak to an MSP)
Textphone: 0800 092 7100

UK Parliament
Constantly updated information on UK MPs, including their contact details.
Web: www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices
Email: Enquiries form on website

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Recycling and Reuse

Community Recycling Network (CRN)
National umbrella organisation for community-based, not-for-profit and co-operative waste management groups which work in reduction, reuse and recycling.
Web: www.crn.org.uk
Email: info@crn.org.uk
Tel: 020 7324 4708

DirectGov: Environment and Greener Living
Government site which provides easy access to information on public services, including environmental issues.
Web: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Wasteandrecycling

Don't Dump That
Hub for local reuse forums, allowing people with unwanted goods to pass them onto others who could use them.
Web: www.dontdumpthat.com
Email: Enquiries form on website

Environment Agency
Responsible for the protection of the environment in England and Wales, influencing Government policy, regulating major industry and monitoring waste management.
Web: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Email: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Tel: 0370 850 6506 (Enquiries) / 0800 807060 (Incident Hotline)
Minicom: 0370 242 2549

Envirowise
Provides a government-funded programme of free, confidential advice to UK businesses.
Web: www.envirowise.gov.uk
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 0808 100 2040 (Enquiries) / 0800 585 794 (Advice Line)

Freegle
A collection of regional British web recycling groups, which match people who have things they want to get rid of with people who can use them.
Web: www.ilovefreegle.org
Email: info@ilovefreegle.org

Furniture Reuse Network
FRN promotes the reuse of unwanted furniture and household effects for the alleviation of need, hardship, distress and poverty.
Web: www.frn.org.uk
Email: info@frn.org.uk
Tel: 0117 954 3571 (Enquiries) / 0845 602 8003 (Donations)

GlobalHAND
This organisation matches offers of gifts - such as vehicles or medical equipment - with aid organisations that potentially need them.
Web: www.globalhand.org/en
Email: enquiries@globalhand.org.uk
Tel: 01892 614874

Green Choices
A "one-stop guide to greener living" containing information on environmentally-friendly choices in clothing, recycling, DIY, schools, money, etc.
Web: www.greenchoices.org
Email: Enquiries form on website

Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC)
LARAC is a leading national local authority organisation promoting waste reduction and recycling within local government.
Web: www.larac.org.uk
Tel: 01544 267860

Reuze
Provides help to those with waste to recycle and organisations which reuse that waste. It also puts people in contact with those who have unwanted items to reuse.
Web: www.reuze.co.uk
Email: info@reuze.co.uk

Textile Recycling Association (TRA)
TRA is a trade association representing textile/shoe collectors. They provide advice on claiming recycling credits and details of licensed waste collectors.
Web: www.textile-recycling.org.uk
Email: info@textile-recycling.org.uk
Tel: 0845 600 8276

Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)
Aims to promote sustainable waste management by creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products.
Web: www.wrap.org.uk
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 01295 819 900 (Switchboard) / 0808 100 2040 (Helpline)

Waste Watch
Working with community organisations, local and national government encouraging the environmental benefits of waste minimisation and recycling. They provide advice on where and what people can recycle.
Web: www.wastewatch.org.uk
Email: info@wastewatch.org.uk
Tel: 020 7549 0300

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Trading Standards

Everything Regulation, Whenever it's Needed
Information on trading regulations relating to charity shops produced by Trading Standards. Gives information on describing and pricing goods, safety of goods, Sunday trading, consumer complaints, etc.
Web: www.everythingregulation.org.uk

Trading Standards Institute
A 'one stop' shop for consumer protection information in the UK. Enquiries and complaints are fielded by Consumer Direct, who can advise on anything from faulty goods to suspected bogus charity shops.
Web: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk
Tel: 08454 040506 (Consumer Direct)

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Voluntary Sector Support and Information

Charities Aid Foundation
CAF is an international non-governmental organisation providing specialist financial services to charities and their supporters.
Web: www.cafonline.org
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 03000 123000

Department for Social Development
This department of the Northern Ireland Executive covers many areas, including community and voluntary sector development.
Web: www.dsdni.gov.uk
Email: vcu@dsdni.gov.uk
Tel: 028 9082 9424
TextPhone: 028 9082 9446

Directory for Social Change
DSC publishes a wide range of literature and provides training courses on the management and finance of voluntary organisations.
Web: www.dsc.org.uk
Email: training@dsc.org.uk
Tel: 08450 777707

Guidestar UK
GuideStar UK is a charity that provides an online database of every registered charity in England and Wales – all 167,000 of them. Each entry comprises a full annual report for the charity as well as detailed financial information.
Web: www.guidestar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7250 8407

Institute of Fundraising
The professional body representing and supporting fundraisers, policy development, training and codes of practice.
Web: www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
Email: enquiries@institute-of-fundraising.org.uk
Tel: 020 7840 1000

KnowHow NonProfit
Features information and guidance on how to run a non-profit, including funding, campaigns and web content.
Web: www.knowhownonprofit.org
Email: hello@knowhownonprofit.org

National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
NCVO provide a range of briefings on issues affecting voluntary organisations as well as a range of products and services.
Web: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Email: ncvo@ncvo-vol.org.uk
Tel: 020 7713 6161

Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
OSCR is the independent registrar and regulator for 23,400 Scottish charities.
Web: www.oscr.org.uk
Email: info@oscr.org.uk
Tel: 01382 220446

The Charities Resource Network
A service provided by the Charity Finance Directors' Group to provide information and good practice for accounting, investment, auditing, human resources, information technology, planning and management.
Web: www.cfdg.org.uk/crn
Email: info@cfdg.org.uk
Tel: 0845 345 3192

The Charity Commission (UK)
A government department to give the public confidence in the integrity of charities in England and Wales, responsible to the Courts for their decisions and to the Home Secretary for the way they use their resources. Website includes a searchable database of all registered charities in England and Wales.
Web: www.charitycommission.gov.uk
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 0845 300 0218

The Charity Commission (NI)
An independent regulator of charities in Northern Ireland, with a searchable register.
Web: www.charitycommissionni.org.uk/
Email: admin@charitycommissionni.org.uk
Tel: 028 3832 0220
Textphone: 028 3834 7639

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Volunteering

Community Service Volunteers (CSV)
A national organisation that promotes volunteering. Also operates Make a Difference Day encouraging people to get involved in volunteering.
Web: www.csv.org.uk
Email: information@csv.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6601

Do-it.org.uk
A national database of volunteering opportunities and information about becoming a volunteer.
Web: www.do-it.org.uk
Email: Enquiries form on website
Tel: 020 7250 5700

Institute of Volunteering Research
Aims to develop knowledge and understanding of volunteering in a way that is relevant to practitioners and policy makers.
Web: www.ivr.org.uk
Email: ivr@volunteeringengland.org.uk
Tel: 020 7520 8900

TimeBank
A UK based national charity that encourages people to volunteer their time and skills for worthy causes in areas such as education, young people, health and the environment.
Web: www.timebank.org.uk
Email: helpdesk@timebank.org.uk
Tel: 0845 456 1668/020 3111 0700

Volunteer Development Scotland
Information and services provided for those working with volunteers in Scotland.
Web: www.vds.org.uk
Email: vds@vds.org.uk
Tel: 01786 479593

Volunteering England
Information and services provided to those working with volunteers in England.
Web: www.volunteering.org.uk
Email: volunteering@volunteeringengland.org.uk
Tel: 0845 305 6979

Volunteer Development Agency, Northern Ireland
Provides support, training and information on volunteering and volunteer management in Northern Ireland.
Web: www.volunteering-ni.org
Email: info@volunteernow.co.uk
Tel: 028 9023 6100

Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Resources for volunteer managers in Wales.
Web: www.wcva.org.uk
Email: help@wcva.org.uk
Tel: 0800 288 8329

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PLEASE NOTE: The accuracy of this information is to the best of the Association's knowledge. Members are advised to contact individual organisations for full details of their services. Please note that inclusion in this listing does not mean that the Charity Retail Association endorses the services provided by the companies concerned.