Trading, Ireland

Bogus door-to-door fundraisers are depriving the Ireland's biggest children's charity of thousands of euro.

An Irish children’s charity has set up a website offering cash for unwanted gold.

A charity calendar in aid of a homelessness organisation has run into controversy not because it features bikini clad women but because it contains no Irish women.

Disability charity Enable Ireland has lost 72 tonnes of clothing worth about €40,000 so far this year because of theft from its clothes banks.

A charity shop worker in Belfast got the following reply from the business next door when she wrote to them asking for sponsorship for a charity trek.

"Dear Lz

Actress Mischa Barton has launched ethical bottled water 'One' in Ireland. All One's profits will fund projects in Africa.

Oxfam in Ireland has warned householders against door to door clothing collectors who do not have a registered charity number and may be selling on the items they collect. Oxfam is reporting a drop of 25 per cent in shop donations because of the growth in 'bogus' charities.

Simon Communities of Ireland, which works with people who are homeless, has enlisted the support of a top design consultant to upgade its charity shops. John Henry Boyle of 21 Spaces will sharpen the charity's look and appeal to a wider market, particularly young people.