I am writing in response to Peter West of Hove (Letters, April 21), in which he challenged a fundraising manager who employs street fundraisers to write in and justify his or her position.

For the past four years or so I have worked for Concern Worldwide, managing a team of street fund-raisers employed directly by the charity.

Our fund-raisers are paid a fixed hourly rate with absolutely no bonuses or commission. They receive office-based training before they start work on the street, as well as ongoing training on a daily basis.

Their progress is reviewed regularly by managers. They adhere to the code of practice set by the Institute of Fundraising and they are liable to be "mystery shopped"

by the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association at any time, in order to ensure these standards are being maintained.

We send teams to Brighton regularly and, although we do occasionally meet some hostility, I am delighted to be able to inform you that we have signed up in excess of 700 new supporters in the area, donating on average over £70 each year.

This means Brighton is our most successful fundraising location, outside London, in the whole of England.

So I'd like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to the people of Brighton and Hove for their consistently generous spirit, and also to thank those people who take the time to stop and listen to what we have to say, even if they choose not to support us, and to all those who offer encouragement and support as they go past.

It's these people, as much as those who do choose to support, who make what can be a very challenging job an enjoyable and rewarding one.

  • Nick Henry, regional manager, Concern Worldwide