Why is Tesco letting a cult fundraise in its shops

[WhyIsTescoSupportingACult]

obviously NC for this

went to the big Tesco in Beckton, east London, earlier today. 2 young men were enthusiastically dancing and singing whilst holding those fundraising buckets. They were collecting donations for the UKCG ‘helpline’.

UKCG is a Christian cult, started in Brazil, but now present in a number of countries. Their leader/founder has spent a significant amount of time in jail. They are a dangerous organisation.

why is Tesco allowing a cult to fundraise in its shops??

Just to let you know that this would have been organised at branch level not corporate level.

I suspect that this 'group' probably sent a nice letter /email to the branch telling them of all the 'good work' they do. I suspect no detailed background checks were done just a charity number verification.

Alot of retailers do this at Christmas, let local charities come in on certain days /timeslots to collect money.

This!!

For the benefit of anyone trying to figure out what this thread is about, I think it's the UCKG (Universal Church of the Kingdom of God) not the UKCG.

Presumably they would have been fundraising for "UCKG HelpCentre" which is a registered charity. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/-/charity-details/1043985

I'm doubtful whether it's a great idea for this organisation to be able to operate as a charity, but I suppose there are so many widely respected charities associated with more established Christian groups that it could be difficult to make a rule against this lot without also affecting, e.g., the Salvation Army and many, many others.

Thank you, @Cheeseplantalltheway— I’ll look for that.
I can’t really speak to the others, however I’m pretty sure that the cult around former president Donald Trump formed - and remains loyal - because he hates all the same people they hate.
And lately he’s been saying it out loud.

I have to agree with this. I'm not sure why we needed the photos they don't add anything to your point.

I think if you want it to change you have to raise your concerns with Tesco.

@CasperGutman I don't see why that would affect other charities at all?

there is an investigation going on at least

https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/commission-opens-case-safeguarding-claims-worldwide-church/governance/article/1809299

You are missing the point massively if you are comparing the Inquistion of old with a church spouting that stuff today. How can you think that’s comparable? But it gives you a chance to Catholic bash so hey Ho.

I’ll say this again for those of you who don’t seem to get it - organised faiths such as CofE and RC exist to keep our the cults. They were established to get rid of superstition that disproportionately affected the vulnerable ( such as the pagan treatment of the disabled). That they became responsible for social control is a separate thing created by the state ( since Roman times) in order to keep existing. Not exactly my cup of tea but they serve as place holders to provide the kind of support these people are looking for so that they aren’t taken advantage of elsewhere ( and yes, I am aware of the abuse on the RC).

*Out not our

The trouble is, if they have charitable status, who are tesco to throw them out? Who gets to decide when a church becomes a cult? Can you exclude charities that are religious from collecting in shops? Is it fair to arbitrarily decide that? Who gets to decide what charity is OK and what's not?

I do agree that the charity in question sounds like bad news, but I think the issue for me is - how is charity status assigned such that they have it? That status legitimises them so should there be more rigor in that system? Probably!

The root of religion in this country is based on the unspoken threat that if you don’t believe / participate / give money then you’re destined for hell. They’ve toned that down recently, but the Catholic Church and the CofE didn’t get as wealthy as they are by being nice to people… :)

If you need to go back over 400 years for your evidence I think we can safely say they have moved on. Shame not everyone can.

They were fundraising outside my local M&S a few years ago, well it was before the pandemic, but a local forum outed them, M&S received loads of complaints, and I haven't seen them there since.

And fast forward 400 years, and this organisation will move on too, given the opportunity. As someone pointed out, the only difference is time elapsed.

Tesco is a private business. If they don't want them fundraising in store, they just have to say so. And the fact is, UCKG is a controversial group which means many people (like the OP and others on this thread) will think less of Tesco for associating with them.

The question for Tesco is whether they will lose more customers by pissing off a group like this and prompting it's members to boycott the chain, or by allowing them and annoying others. For this reason I might perhaps understand Tesco allowing a member of this organisation to stand quietly with a collecting tin. But they should be setting strict limits on the behaviours of these or any other charity collectors, and certainly shouldn't allow them to approach individual shoppers or make them feel pressured to donate.

Surely the bigger question is why are they allowed to be a registered charity then?

I don't disagree with what you're saying at all. I think the point I am trying (possibly failing!) to make is: you have this religion/cult who are a registered charity. You have sundry other registered charities. So if that means being registered aa a charity is not "enough" of a test for who tesco allow to collect in their stores, what is?

It will be a person making that call- if that tesco person is a member of this group, they'd let them collect obviously! And maybe decide that other similar groups are not allowed... is that OK? Is it OK if the tesco person who gets to decide says no animal-related charities can do collections because they don't like dogs?

I don't feel like I'm making much sense (!), but whilst I agree tesco is a private business and so can do what they want, I think there is still a point that someone in tesco will be deciding who can/can't collect in their stores. I don't think it's unreasonable for that person to think that an entity who have achieved charitable status is OK. And if that's not the deciding factor - what is?

I do 100% agree that any collections in shops/the street should be restricted to politely standing still with a bucket, and maybe a table with some info - not getting in people's space. But I also think all door to door charity collections should be banned, so I'm probably on a more extreme end!

Beckton and Beckenham are very different!

I’ve heard of them in other parts of London too so I think they’re everywhere.

EnterFunnyNameHere I get what you're saying. Despite the allegations of dubious practices, this organisation still has charitable status. So, what exactly is the person at this branch of Tesco whose job it is to allow charity chuggers on the premises meant to do? Reject it on the basis that some people online have accused it of being a cult? If they did that, they could be opening themselves up to all kinds of legal challenges.

If you think the photos should not be published, report the posts and MN can remove them if they agree.

Shops choose who comes in i.e. which charity - they can reject anyone.

they could have said no in the first place but I suspect they didn't know much about them, don't really check and whoever approved it will be too young to remember certain issues.

Some of us might say the same about other churches including the Salvation Army.

A lot of charity is a racket anyway

remember Kids Company?

well, not if it's substantially true

That "Betel UK" looks dodgy, too - "Christian shelter for recovering addicts". Apparently hardcore indoctrination once inside.
Appear in prime spots in town centres every year for "carol singing" - all mimed to a recording...