Financial Matters

With David Frederick FCCA | Marcus Bishop Associates | marcus-bishop.com

A Time for Spending, Giving & Taking

December is the month of Christmas whether you celebrate it or not. The marketing industry ensure that we all know Christmas is happening. Sometimes it begins days after the August bank holiday and other times it may be somewhat later.

Irrespective of when the advertising campaign is launched, the advertising and marketing professionals ensure it is in our space whether we want it or not.

Christmas is a time for spending and the Bank of

England states “… in the run up to Christmas our spending habits change. We spend on average almost £740 more in December, which is 29% more than in a typical month.” This pattern was put on pause last year due to the pandemic and the alleged cancelling of

Christmas. Research by Finder found, “Christmas spending last year was 10% less than the £26.9bn spent on Christmas gifts in 2019.” Christmas is also a time for giving and in particular charitable giving, be it money or our time. However, it is imperative that when giving money to charities especially at Christmas, that donors ensure that their donations are going to their intended charity. Why? Christmas is fast becoming a time for taking, by the fraudsters. Charitable givers must be alert and on their guard because fraudsters only need to be lucky once. According to Action Fraud,

“£775 was the average loss per victim to online shopping fraud last Christmas.” This is a sobering statistic from Action Fraud given that 2020 saw a reduction in our Christmas spending. However, the risk of fraud should not be a deterrent to charitable giving. What is required is donors are vigilant and ensure they are giving to the legitimate charity.

Three popular charity frauds that are churned out yearly are: 1) The fraudster posing as a charity collector at domestic and/or office premises for a charity they’ve made up, or they misuse the name of a genuine, often well-known, charity. 2) The use of a fake website, where the fraudsters capture your credit or bank account details when you go to a donation page. 3) The request to call a phone number to make a donation. In such cases the telephone number is usually a premium rate number, so the donor is being hit twice; fraudulent donation and paying a premium charge for the telephone call. To help donors give with confidence to their favourite charities, the Fundraising Regulator and Charity Commission for England and Wales have issued a seven part guide: 1) Check the charity name and registration number at gov.uk/checkcharity. 2) You can also check if a charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and is committed to good fundraising practice at:

fundraisingregulator.org.uk/directory.

3) Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails, and never respond to unsolicited messages or calls that ask for your personal or financial details. 4) Make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information. Look for the registered charity number on their website and beware of any online advertisements that just feature a mobile number. 5) To donate online, type in the charity website address yourself rather than clicking on a link. Ignore requests to donate through a money transfer company as this is a popular scam. 6) Contact, or find out more online, about the charity that you want to donate to or work with. 7) Be more cautious about fundraising appeals with generic wording, such as ‘to help people with COVID-19’. Ask what exactly the money would be used for and who by.

However, if following the seven steps, a donor has an element of doubt, they should not hesitate to call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

LATEST RECOMMENDED POSTING DATES FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY 2021 - UK SERVICES

Friday 17 December

Royal Mail Bulk Mail Economy

Saturday 18 December

2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For, Royal Mail 48®

Tuesday 21 December

1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail 24®, Royal Mail Tracked 48®**

Wednesday 22 December

Royal Mail Tracked 24®**

Thursday 23 December

Special Delivery Guaranteed®

** Royal Mail Tracked 24® and Royal Mail Tracked 48® are not available to purchase at Post Office® branches.

www.royalmail.com/christmas/last-posting-dates

Creative Design & Craftmanship

The Dovetail Joint

Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture since 1990

Tuesdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 December: Social runs with DPR 7.30pm-8.30pm

Trevor Bailey Clubhouse, Dulwich Common, Dulwich, London, UK map directions. Join Dulwich Park Runners at their club runs at 7.30pm on Tuesday evenings. All standards welcome.

www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk enquiries@dulwichparkrunners.com.

Tuesday 7 December: On the Street Where You Live:

Dulwich Homes - A Mid Century Oasis with Ian McInnes

8pm-9pm. To mark the publication of his new book, Ian McInnes, Chair of the Twentieth Century Society, will give an illustrated talk on the collaboration between the Dulwich Estate, house builder Wates and the Estate’s architects, Austin Vernon & Partners, which saw over 2,000 new houses built in the area from the late 1950s through to the early 1970s. Ian McInnes is a retired architect. He is currently chair of the Dulwich Society Local History Group and Chair of the Twentieth Century Society. He has a particular interest in mid-century modern housing and lives on one of Dulwich’s ‘60s Estates’. As well as giving talks and leading walks in the area, he researches and writes articles on a wide range of local history subjects. All proceeds will go to St Christopher’s Hospice. Bell House 27 College Road, SE21 7BG. www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Wednesday 8 December: Peace Talks Series -

Employment + Discrimination Law

7.30pm-9.30pm. Come and ask every question you’ve ever wondered about employment or any discrimination you have faced at work. Nighat Sahi comes to Peace + Riot armed with over 18 years of experience, she specialises in all key areas of employment law and has been involved in numerous complex, high value and multifaceted claims. Peace + Riot, 12 Croxted Road, West Dulwich SE21 8SW. Tickets:

https://www.designmynight.com/

Thursday 9 December: Dulwich Charity Lunch 12.30pm

Now in its 20th year, the Dulwich Charity Lunch is back raising much-needed funds for local charity Link Age Southwark. Full details of how to book and donate a prize for the auction or raffle can be found at https://dulwichlunch.co.uk. Please note there will be no tickets available on the day, so please book early.

Thursday 9 December: Save a Life!

7pm-8pm. Would you know what to do if someone stopped breathing? If not, then emergency first aid training should be on your list of essential skills to learn. This talk will help you understand the basic principles and teach you the essential skills required for effective resuscitation. It is generally accepted that when cardiac arrest occurs in public spaces, early effective intervention by bystanders may greatly improve outcome and is to be encouraged. Tickets are £10 per participant. Half-price tickets are available for under 30s and Bell House volunteers, please email info@bellhouse.co.uk for more information. Bell House 27 College Road, Dulwich SE21 7BG

Thursday 9 December: St Nicholas of Myra & Santa

Claus - a Case of Mistaken Identity

8pm-9pm. The Arts Society Dulwich evening lecture at JAGS Sixth Form Centre. Guests welcome, £10 at the door, no booking required. This lecture explores the development of the medieval St Nicholas cult through its icons, wall paintings and illuminated manuscripts, and charts his eventual transformation into the much-loved Santa Claus. Speaker: Sally Dormer. James Allen’s Girls’ School Sixth Form Centre, off Green Dale, East Dulwich SE22 8TX.

www.theartssocietydulwich.org.uk

Friday 10th (1pm – 8pm), Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th December: Pexmas Festive Market

11am-6pm. At Pexmas this year you will find over 100 independent boutique stalls including prints, plants, bath products, ceramics, clothes, accessories, jewellery, homewares, foodie gifts, craft beers and wines, textiles and a million things you never knew you wanted. There is something for everyone on your Christmas list among our stalls. PLUS: Streetfood, DJs and our infamous mulled wine. Unit 8, Copeland Estate, Peckham SE15 3SN. www.pexmas.com.

Friday 10 December: Christmas Classics at Crystal Palace 7pm-9pm

Whether you love traditional carols, yuletide songs, or just mulled wine and mince pies – this Christmas concert has something for everyone! Full of the music we all turn to at this time of year, this fun and informal concert will be a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to gather at St John’s in SE19 to share the joy and memories that these melodies evoke. To find out more and book tickets: www.londonmozartplayers.com St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood, Sylvan Road, SE19 2RX.

Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 December: Havelock Walk Winter Weekend

11am-5pm. Come and visit Havelock Walk Open Studios - wide selection of art for sale, plus food and festive music on our famous cobbles! We look forward to seeing you... Havelock Walk Artists Studios, Havelock Walk, Forest Hill, SE23 3HG www.havelockwalkstudios.com/

Sunday 12 December: Family Carol Singalong

3.30pm-4.30pm. Link Age Southwark’s annual Family Carol Singalong is back! We are delighted to hold this special event with St Barnabas Church in Dulwich once again. Join us for an hour of your favourite Christmas carols, accompanied by mince pies, mulled wine and soft drinks. Invite your friends, family and your neighbours - all ages and singing abilities are welcome! There is no entry fee, we simply ask you to consider making a donation to Link Age Southwark if you can. A retiring collection will be available at the end of the singalong and we appreciate any donation towards our work, big or small. St Barnabas Church, Calton Avenue, Dulwich SE21 7DG www.linkagesouthwark.org

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