## Step 3 - Reading part 1

Introduction
You’re going to read a report about charity money. First read the text quickly.
Which of the following topics is mentioned?

- More money is needed for charities.
- Some charity money is not spent on charity.
- People are giving too much money to charities.

Now read the text and decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F).

One in five of Britain’s biggest charities spend less than 50 per cent of total income on good works, new report claims.
By Christopher Hope
Some of the UK’s biggest and best known charities are spending less than half of their total income every year on good works, a new research has found. The report from the True and Fair Foundation found that one in five of the country’s biggest charities spend less than 50 per cent of their total income on charitable activities. Some of the charities are some of Britain’s best known voluntary organisations such as Cancer Research UK, the Guide Dogs for the Blind and the British Heart Foundation.
Rob Wilson, the charities minister, said charities had to “reassure people and make very clear that the money donated to them will be spent on frontline charitable activities”. 'It's important for charities to be as transparent and accountable as possible - so people can make an informed decision about where their money goes.' He told The Telegraph that they had a duty to “eke out every last penny for good causes”. He said: "Giving to charity is one of the greatest expressions of generosity a person can make and it must not be taken for granted.
The foundation analysed the latest official annual report and accounts of the 5,543 charities. Its report -
"A Hornets' Nest" published today - found that 1,020 charities were spending less than 50 per cent of their total income on charitable activities.
Spending on “charitable activities” is defined in accounting rules as “all costs incurred by a charity in
undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries”.
The British Heart Foundation spent an average of just 46 per cent of its income on charitable activities over
the past three years. Sue Ryder, which runs a network of second hand shops, spent 46 per cent of its
annual income on charitable works over the three years. The Royal Horticultural Society spent 60 per cent
of its income on charitable activities over the same period. Many of the charities also receive millions of
pounds of public money on top of the cash they raise from individual donors.
Source: Telegraph.co.uk

1. ​The report states that charities are spending all their money on charitable works.
2. The charities minister said is important for charities to show everyone their accounts.
3. He said that charities must make their money last for as long as possible.
4. Rob Wilson thinks that people who give to charity are kind.
5. The report suggests that the charities are not spending their money just on charitable works.
6. Many charities also receive money from the government.

What exactly are ‘charitable activities’ according to the text?
Some people think that people who work for charities receive very high salaries.

- What do you think? Why do you think that people think this?
- Write no more than 150 words giving your reasons.