12/08/10
By Andrew Holt
The holy month of Ramadhan is a time when many community organisations and Mosques benefit from the generosity of Muslim people.
Many charities are also raising desperately-needed funds to help the people affected by floods in Pakistan at this time.
The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of Charities in England and Wales, is encouraging people who want to give to charity to check if the charity is registered with the Charity Commission.
The Charity Commission is offering safer giving advice around all major fundraising drives and emergency appeals to encourage people to give to registered charities.
The Charity Commission has already registered and identified 622 mosques as charities with more in the process of applying, up from 331 in October 2007.
Any remaining mosques that have not yet registered with the Commission may not realise that registering is a legal requirement and are encouraged to do so.
Charities registered with the Charity Commission: have the benefit of a charity registration number and the badge/brand of charity, increasing public trust and confidence in their organisation. Charities can also maximise the financial benefit of donations through Gift Aid arrangements and benefit from other tax breaks.
Registering as a charity is not a complicated process and can be done on the Charity Commission’s website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk
Ghulam Rasool, head of the Charity Commission’s Faith and Social Cohesion Unit, said: “During the month of Ramadhan, Muslims seek spiritual salvation through fasting, praying and through their support of the poor and needy, both in their own communities and abroad.
"This Ramadhan we are encouraging people to make sure the charity they are giving to is registered with the Charity Commission by checking on our online register of charities.”
Imam Sahid Raza, current chair of MINAB, said: "Many Muslims will be giving very generously during the holy month of Ramadhan, so I want to encourage any mosques that have not yet registered as a charity with the Charity Commission to do so on the Commission's website.
"Mosques can benefit from the guidance and advice provided by the Commission, and can make the most of the charitable donations they receive through additional tax breaks. By donating to registered charities donors can have additional confidence that their donation will be used well. I would like to wish everyone Ramadhan Mubaarak."
In 2009 the Charity Commission produced short videos to encourage mosques to register which are still available to view on You Tube by clicking on the following links:
The English one is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hDNvYUWTc4
The Urdu one is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB757C8b5W4
The Bengali one is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_6ZzfdFe1Y
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