At Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, we have developed our fundraising activity with our donors, patients and relatives in mind.

Thanks to our dedicated, committed and loyal supporters, the charity is able to fund additional items of equipment, enhance facilities and conduct research to improve the patient experience and level of care already offered by East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust. We promise to make the best use of each donation and we work hard to ensure that exceptional standards of supporter care are delivered to everyone who is kind enough to consider supporting us.  You can be reassured that any donation, whatever its size and whether from patients, relatives or our local community is warmly appreciated. This promise outlines the commitment Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity makes to our supporters.

We commit to high standards

• We adhere to the Fundraising Code of Practice.

• We monitor fundraisers, volunteers and third parties working with us to raise funds, to ensure that they comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice and with this Promise.

• We comply with the law as it applies to charities and fundraising.

• We display the Fundraising Regulator badge on our fundraising material to show we are committed to good practice.

We are clear, honest and open

• We tell the truth and we will not exaggerate.

• We do what we say we are going to do with donations we receive.

• We are clear about who we are and what we do.

• We give a clear explanation of how you can make a gift and change a regular donation.

• Where we ask a third party to fundraise on our behalf, we make this relationship and the financial arrangement transparent.

• We are able to explain our fundraising costs and show how they are in the best interests of our cause if challenged.

• We ensure our complaints process is clear and easily accessible.

• We provide clear and evidence-based reasons for our decisions on complaints.

We are respectful

• We respect your rights and privacy.

• We will not put undue pressure on you to make a gift. If you do not want to give or wish to cease giving, we will respect your decision.

• We have a procedure for dealing with people in vulnerable circumstances and it will be available on request.

• Where the law requires, we will get your consent before we contact you to fundraise.

• If you tell us that you don’t want us to contact you in a particular way we will not do so. We work with the Fundraising Preference Service to ensure that those who choose not to receive specific types of communication don’t have to.

We are fair and reasonable

• We treat donors and the public fairly, showing sensitivity and adapting our approach depending on your needs.

• We take care not to use any images or words that intentionally cause distress or anxiety.

• We take care not to cause nuisance or disruption to the public.

We are accountable and responsible

• We manage our resources responsibly and consider the impact of our fundraising on our donors, supporters and the wider public.

• If you are unhappy with anything we’ve done whilst fundraising, you can contact us to offer feedback or make a complaint. We will listen to feedback and respond appropriately to compliments and criticism we receive.

• We have a complaints procedure, a copy of which is available on our website.

• Our complaints procedure lets you know how to contact the Fundraising Regulator in the event that you feel our response is unsatisfactory.

• We monitor and record the number of complaints we receive each year and share this data with the Fundraising Regulator on request.

We’re an active member of NHS Charities Together and registered with the Charity Commission. We abide by the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice and Fundraising Promise.