Street charities

FOLLOWING comments made by the chief executive of Essential Edinburgh about on-street collectors (your report, 11 March),

I wanted to say that having worked for many years in the charity sector I am fully aware of how important this form of fundraising is for a great many UK charities. Face-to-face is one of the most cost effective and lasting forms of fundraising. The public rarely give without being asked and this is one of the best methods of asking. Across the UK face-to-face is closely and effectively regulated by the charity sector itself.

Populist opposition to the method will have a very real effect on many lives across the UK and beyond. I suspect that those who drive this are frequently fortunate in that they can decline any responsibility for the resulting effects – "Not my problem."

I appreciate that shopping is important to the Edinburgh economy but I'm sure that in our public and civic spaces there is room for what is in reality a tiny but vitally important charity presence.

I'd like to suggest that those who dislike face-to-face methods continue with the traditionally effective riposte of a firm "No, thank you" (it works 100 per cent of the time for me) and that Essential Edinburgh focuses its attention on highlighting more important issues such as public drunkenness, litter and dog fouling.

MR G FINDLAY

Claverhouse Drive

Edinburgh