Charities told to beware of Golden Jubilee scams

There have been recent reports of a suspected publishing scam circulating in Northern Ireland which is seeking to cash in on the Queen’s Golden Jubilee’s celebrations next year.

Emerging reports show that false companies have been promising advertising space in official-sounding commemorative books to charities with royal connections.

The scam warning, given on Tuesday 25 September, came from Valerie Pitman, newly appointed Chairman of the group set up to promote Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Pitman said: “These are not official publications and they are not authorised by Buckingham Palace. If charities are in any doubt they should contact the Charity Commission or the Golden Jubilee office at Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) for further information.

“In fact the Queen has made it clear that she wishes there to be no undue expenditure from public funds on jubilee celebrations. She has therefore asked that those organisations or individuals wishing to celebrate the Golden Jubilee with some form of donation be encouraged to donate to charities of which she is patron.”

Mrs Pitman was speaking on her appointment as Chairman of the Northern Ireland Golden Jubilee Advisory Group, which has been set up by the DCAL to promote and co?ordinate the Golden Jubilee programme of celebrations in Northern Ireland.

The Golden Jubilee will be celebrated throughout the year 2002, but it is anticipated that most events will happen during the months of May, June and July with a programme of national events over the Jubilee Weekend of 1–4 June 2002. (AMcE)