Return to main Advice page

Dear John

Fundraising frets

First published 20th January 2005

Question:
Instead of waiting for work, my friends and I want to get off our butts and do a fundraising show for the Tsunami Appeal. But what do we do with the money?

Answer:
I checked with the Disasters Emergency Commitee (DEC) and here is what they advised. If you are raising money via a collection (money in a hat/bucket/etc) after a gig then you can pay this in at any high street bank or post office. Ask for Freepay 1325. If any punters contribute cheques, get them made payable directly to the DEC Tsunami Earthquake appeal so that you can also pay these to the Freepay account.

You can also post the cheques to:
DEC Tsunami Earthquake Appeal
PO BOX 999
London
EC3A 3AA

I'm not a financial or legal expert but based on experience of various charity events, do remember to keep an eye on, and a record of, any cashed raised at the gig. Sadly not eveyone there may have charitable motives. If the money has to go through another account (say for ticket sales) keep very clear records from both an integrity and a taxation point of view and get the proceeds to DEC as soon as possible after the gig. The DEC website is www.dec.org.uk
Well done - both for your charity and for your postive attitude. Hope they both flourish in 2005.