checking on a charity

[dancecaller]

Our folk dance club has a charity bring and buy stall, and the money raised is given to various charities suggested by members.
Is there anyway that I can check before sending the cash
a. that the money is going to a bona fide charity
b. that it will be used effectively

[buildersmate]

Charities are regulated by the Charity Commission and you can find out whether a name IS a registred charity or not here.
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registere dcharities/first.asp
Charities have to put their Registered Number on the bottom of their letterheads. You can either search using this number or by name.

There is absolutely no way of knowing what happens to the money. Some charities are remarkably efficient at distributing funds to the claimed beneficiaries - others are appalling with perhaps less than 20% actually be used effectively. Clearly the Charity Commission has a role in overseeing the finances in terms of avoidance of fraud, but there is no control legislation on costs. Some people confuse 'charity' with 'voluntary'. Many charities use volunteers widely to deliver there services - and such people are invaluable for the work they do. But a better term than charity is 'not for profit' - which basically means any excess of income over expenditure is ploughed back into the organisation, not distributed to owners/shareholders.
Lastly the role of 'chuggers' - charity muggers on the High Streets. Some are volunteers, but many are not, taking a cut on the 'sales' that they achieve.