From 22nd June the London Congestion Charge will be increased to £15 per day, and last from 7am until 10pm, crippling charities who operate during these hours. Those charities who collect donations from supermarkets and businesses at the end of the day, will be forced to pay these extra charges at great cost. 

For a charity operating just once a week, that’s an additional cost of £780 per vehicle per year, and when every penny donated goes towards a hot meal and drink for London’s homeless, translates as thousands of people going hungry (and goodwill donations being mis-spent.)

Clothing and food collections are made by vans and cars throughout the week, often by volunteers who work in the evenings and weekends after their own work hours. The redistribution of unwanted food and clothing to those in need is a vital service being provided, and one that often has to take place during the new extended hours.

We respectfully ask that the Mayor Sadiq Khan carefully considers the important role charities play in London. We call on him to look upon charities as an essential service, and recognise that many charities are already struggling financially. We ask him to show his appreciation for the volunteers who dedicate their time to helping others, and waive the fees for vans and cars being used by charity workers.