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A brief history of clothing collections
Headings on this page :
Introduction
This page is our attempt at compiling a timeline (history) of key events concerning :
- clothing collections (especially charitable ones), and
- related issues.
- relevant changes in the law, its administration, and regulators
- events regarding charities and charity shops
- notable reports in the media
- a few unrelated events to give context [shown in italics]
Key :
- Law - Acts of Parliament and Regulations : Act Regulations
- References to charity shops : charity shops
- References to clothing collections : Clothing collections
References to re-use/recycling :
recycling symbol (see example in the right-hand margin)
This is a new and evolving page. We may have made a few factual errors. If you notice any, please contact us.
Timeline
1853 The Charity Commission for England and Wales was established.
[ 1914-18 First World War ]
1916
Police, Factories, etc (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 received Royal Assent.
This included the licensing of [static]
street collections carried out by charities (by the police)
[ 1939-45 Second World War ]
1939
1939
House-to-house collections :
House to House Collections Act 1939 received Royal Assent.
This was the first-ever legislation to control charitable house-to-house collections.
1941 The first charity shop opened in the UK (a Red Cross shop in London) - according to Wikipedia.
1947 House to House Collections Regulations 1947 were approved (under powers contained in the 1939 Act).
1948 The first Oxfam charity shop opened in the UK (in Oxford).
1957 The Consumers Association was formed. The first 'Which?' magazine was published.
1960 Charities Act 1960 received Royal Assent. This established the Central Register of Charities.
1962
First-ever episode of 'Steptoe and Son'. A BBC TV comedy about two
rag-and-bone men in London. They were a poignant example of traditional
commercial re-use/recycling - including clothes collected house-to-house.
1972
Local Government Act 1972 received Royal Assent.
This transferred responsibility (from 1 April 1974) for the licensing of house-to-house collections
(and street collections)
from the police to local authorities (except in Greater London).
[ 1977 Launch of the first home computer ]
1980 The first-ever BBC 'Watchdog' programme was broadcast. Over the years, the programme has been influential in publicising consumer issues (including clothing collections).
1985
Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 received
Royal Assent.
An early attempt at Freedom of Information legislation. See also Act of 2000.
1992
Charities Act 1992 received Royal Assent.
Part III of the Act included provisions for a new licensing regime for charitable
collections. However, the provisions were never implemented.
www1994
Start of the Internet / world wide web.
In due course the Web gave everyone the facility :
(a) to search instantly for information on clothing collections, and
(b) to communicate instantly with email.
Potentially this would have revolutionised the monitoring and enforcement of
unlicensed collections. However, progress so far has been disappointing.`
1997 (approx)
Clothing collections :
Clothes Aid
established (full name: Clothes Aid (Collections) Ltd)
1999 Association of Charity Shops (ACS) established [covers the UK]
2000 Irish Charity Shops Association (ICSA) launched [covers Eire]
FoI
2000 Freedom of Information Act 2000 received Royal Assent.
2001 The Government started a major review of charity law relating to England and Wales. Ultimately this led to the Charities Act 2006, which made substantial changes to charity law.
2001 (Aug)
Clothing collections :
Successful prosecution
of a bogus house-to-house clothing
collector by South Northamptonshire Council, using the 1939 Act.
2002 (20 Nov)
Clothing collections :
BBC 'Watchdog'
investigation
of bogus charity clothing collections
2003
Clothing collections :
The report entitled 'Charity and door-to-door clothing collections'
was published by the Charity Commission.
2003 (Sept)
Clothing collections :
Publication of a crucial report by the Home Office entitled :
'Public Collections for Charitable, Philanthropic and Benevolent Purposes. A consultation paper on
proposals for a new local authority licensing scheme.' A4, 48 pages.
2004 Ten countries joined the European Union (EU) - including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. This led to a big increase in clothing collections in the UK by Eastern Europeans - especially Lithuanians.
2005
The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 received
Royal Assent.
This established the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
2006 (May) Transfer of responsibility for charities (including collections) from the Home Office to the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) - part of the Cabinet Office
2006
House-to-house collections :
The list
of charities granted national Exemption Orders
(NEOs) was put on the Internet by government for the first time. The
website concerned was that of the Office of the Third Sector (OTS). (The list
comprises the 43 or so charities
which have 'national Exemption Orders' in respect of charitable
house-to-house collections.) Now (at last) everyone had instant access to
the list.
2006 (8 Nov)
Charities Act 2006
received Royal Assent.
Part 3, Chapter 1 included provisions for a new licensing regime for
charitable collections.
However, these have yet to be implemented (as at October 2009).
2006 (20 Dec)
The 'UK Statute Law Database' (SLD) was launched by the government.
'The official revised edition of the primary legislation [Acts] of the United Kingdom made available
online.' [free]
2007 (Jan)
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive)
came into force.
This affected the donations of electrical equipment - eg to charity shops.
2007 (Dec)
Clothing collections :
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) issued new guidance
saying that items left for collection by a charity [eg clothes] become the
charity’s property as soon as they are put into its bag. So anyone else
taking the bags can be prosecuted for theft [by the police]. Guidance
welcomed by charities and Clothes Aid.
2007 (Dec)
Clothing collections :
Government launched a public awareness initiative "to
help people check whether a clothing collection is for charity or
not". A leaflet was published, entitled "Give with
care". Clothes Aid distributed 500,000 copies.
2008 BBC TV broadcast the first series of 'Mary Queen of [charity] shops', presented by Mary Portas (a retail expert).
2008 (Spring)
Clothing collections :
Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, London ('GOSH') terminated its contract with
Clothes Aid
(its house-to-house clothing collector) and started legal proceedings.
2008
Clothing collections :
Darlington Borough Council revoked the house-to-house collection licence which
it had previously issued to Clothes Aid.
2009 (21 May)
Clothing collections :
Successful prosecution of E&C Export Ltd (of Dagenham, Essex) by Cardiff
Council
in respect of unlicensed charitable house-to-house clothing collections (£750 fine).
2009 (July)
Clothing collections :
Clothes Aid entered into a partnership
with the NSPCC charity (donating £75 per tonne).
?
2011 ?
Charitable collections :
Proposed implementation of Part 3, Chapter 1 of the Charities Act 2006
in respect of charitable collections.
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