Posts Tagged: chuggers

Chuggers worried about new PFRA penalties

The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association caused controversy in the sector last week with its announcement of a penalty points system for organisations whose street fundraisers break the rules. “Breaking the rules” could be as seemingly trivial as taking more than three steps alongside a potential donor, or straying outside an assigned area. More seriously, it… Read more »

Chuggers should steer clear of the other salespeople

Grabbing a quick break in a busy day yesterday, I nipped to the less-than-glamorous destination that is Hammersmith Broadway, a small shopping arcade built around the entrance to the tube station.   During my roughly 100-metre walk through the centre, I was stopped three times.   The first was by a heavily made-up woman trying… Read more »

Purple armbands will not revolutionise chugging, but they might make a small difference

This week, the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association launches a 12-week armband trial to improve the image of face-to-face fundraising. Thirty teams of chuggers are to be headed by team leaders wearing purple armbands with the words “team leader” written on them. The PFRA hopes the scheme will improve teams’ relationships with council officials, town centre… Read more »

Charities should make it clearer that chuggers are getting paid

The Newsnight programme about chugging last week found nothing whatsoever to surprise anyone in the charity sector. All of it was pretty common knowledge, easy to turn up, much as we might expect. But it did raise a valid point: the general public don’t like chuggers much. Mick Aldridge, chief executive of the Public Fundraising… Read more »

The Right to Ask campaign misses the point

The question of whether charities have a “right to ask” the public for donations has been stirring up controversy lately.  The Institute of Fundraising wants to remind the public that fundraisers – whether they stop you on the street, knock on your door while you are in the middle of dinner or phone you at… Read more »

What is it like to be a chugger? I asked one, and this is what he told me

I never used to stop for chuggers. Before I became Third Sector‘s fundraising reporter, I was one of those annoyed members of the public who walked past quickly, avoided eye contact and mumbled “No, sorry” to any fundraiser who tried to stop me.  I still maintain that I will never sign up for a direct… Read more »