Shame of charity sweet cheapskates

Oldham’s Mayor is urging council staff and visitors to do like Jim and pay for their charity sweets.

The Macmillan Cancer Support toffees are offered in bags for a £1 donation to the charity at various council locations.

But a sign at the Rochdale Road reception desk says the charity is experiencing large losses — £1,339 in three months.

And the Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, is now urging staff and visitors to pay up when they take the sweets.

The losses have been publicised on the internet blog site Oldham Oracle calling on whoever took the bags without paying to hang their heads in shame.

And the Mayor added: “It is a good way to give money to a charity and get something back.

“I have bought them to take into meetings and people should be mindful when they take sweets out of that box that there is a cost and it is a charity which deserves their donations.

“A lot of people use that entrance, not just staff and officers, and if they pay £1 to the charity they are also getting something for their money.”

The sign tells visitors it believes the losses are down to forgetfulness or IOUs not being honoured and adds: “We respectfully request that all sweets are paid for upon removal from the box.”

A spokesman for Macmillan Cancer Support explained that the boxes are provided by a company called Sweets4, with a small percentage going to the charity.

Sarah Disney, the charity’s regional corporate development manager, said: “We are grateful to local people who support us in this way. We are unaware of this notice and will contact Sweets4.”

Macmillan will now be looking into what has happened, but it is understood the boxes are placed in offices and workplaces by agents