"Irish Soup Kitchens"

spurious · 26-09-2015 9:56am #1

I have noticed collectors for 'Irish Soup Kitchens' at the GPO and on O'Connell Street generally. They seem to give out freebies like biros, but don't seem to have the ID most other collectors have. No indication as to where these soup kitchens are located - anyone know anything about them?

Facebook page gives no address or registered charity number, just a mobile number for contact and the who,e operation is listed as 'Religious organisation'.
All sounds a bit rum when there are many genuine charities in the area.

Lux23 · 27-09-2015 12:51pm

Are they the same guys who got shut down by the guards for not having the right permits?

Stheno · 27-09-2015 12:52pm

Lux23 wrote: »

Are they the same guys who got shut down by the guards for not having the right permits?

No think they are called March for the Homeless

newacc2015 · 27-09-2015 10:39pm

spurious wrote: »

I have noticed collectors for 'Irish Soup Kitchens' at the GPO and on O'Connell Street generally. They seem to give out freebies like biros, but don't seem to have the ID most other collectors have. No indication as to where these soup kitchens are located - anyone know anything about them?

Facebook page gives no address or registered charity number, just a mobile number for contact and the who,e operation is listed as 'Religious organisation'.
All sounds a bit rum when there are many genuine charities in the area.

Call the Gardai. Any one collecting for "charity" needs to get a permit from the Gardai. A lot of these people collecting for good causes are questionable.

The only proper soup I know of is Brother Kevins on Bow St. But they wouldnt collect like this

quaalude · 28-09-2015 9:37am

spurious wrote: »

I have noticed collectors for 'Irish Soup Kitchens' at the GPO and on O'Connell Street generally. They seem to give out freebies like biros, but don't seem to have the ID most other collectors have. No indication as to where these soup kitchens are located - anyone know anything about them?

Facebook page gives no address or registered charity number, just a mobile number for contact and the who,e operation is listed as 'Religious organisation'.
All sounds a bit rum when there are many genuine charities in the area.

They're on Upper Baggot Street most days too - either at Donnybrook Fair or across the road at the Burger King.

Hagriderp · 22-05-2016 9:16am

They are very legit, all you need to do if you're that curious is ask them to show you their legal documentation and they typically have their badge on them but maybe not always on show.

spurious · 22-05-2016 12:27pm

They are very wishy washy as to where their 'soup kitchens' are.

It appears they have a planned HQ in Drogheda and still only mobile numbers as contacts. Still no registered charity number.
http://www.our.ie/county-louth/drogheda/health-and-medicine/irish-soup-kitchen-centres/soupkitchen/

Can't find the Facebook page any more.

I did ask to see documentation, but they are very shy about showing it.
Anyway, I don't give to them. Far more open organisations around.

gctest50 · 22-05-2016 12:44pm

Seems it was a bit of an issue for them

Regional charity very worried by hoax collectors

A Drogheda-based organisation, which provides meals and food parcels to the most needy in society, has expressed worry at claims there were individuals attempting to collect money in their name in County Cavan over the weekend.

http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2014/10/21/4033294-regional-charity-very-worried-by-hoax-collectors/

VG31 · 22-05-2016 2:38pm

I've often wondered about these collectors as well, they don't look very genuine.

They are on Nassau Street between Easons and the Kilkenny shop a lot as well as Grafton Street near Compu b sometimes and in front of the GPO.

I think I've seen them elsewhere as well but I can't remember off hand.

cee_jay · 22-05-2016 4:37pm

They are always outside the Dunnes Stores on North King St and the Tesco Express on Talbot St. Sometimes across the road from Tesco and/or outside Super Valu further down the street. I have also wondered about the validity of these collections. I just ignore them now... There's only so many times the same "charity" can ask for a donation every day before you become immune to it.

ScouseMouse · 22-05-2016 4:41pm

I saw them today on Henry St outside the ilac centre.

snickerpuss · 22-05-2016 6:26pm

They are always on Nassau Street with a little table which has taped to it a piece of A4 paper that says Irish Soup Kitchens. Doesn't look very legit.

Nokia6230i · 23-05-2016 2:07am

Their FB hasn't been updated since 9/12/14......

Perhaps this might gain more traction in the Louth forum.

Is it a tad unusual that they're collecting in Dublin so regularly?

They say they're a religious organisation; this presumably exonerates them from being having to register with the Charities Regulator?

I'm smelling something here & it's quite fishy.....

whiskeyman · 23-05-2016 6:52am

Often see them at Stillorgan also outside the shopping centre.
I noticed none of them ever actually say anything like 'please help the Irish Soup Kitchens' but just stand there... and most I've seen are on their phones at the time!

Most charities these days understand the need to get their 'brand' out and have spokespersons to spread the message of their charity, but I've never heard anything about these guys or what they do.
(Just because they are called 'soup kitchens' doesn't mean that's what they do!)

pm1977x · 23-05-2016 11:22pm

snickerpuss wrote: »

They are always on Nassau Street with a little table which has taped to it a piece of A4 paper that says Irish Soup Kitchens. Doesn't look very legit.

Think it was them I saw today at the side of Brown Thomas, between the Centra and Cos, ropey looking table with printed off A4 signs, didn't seem very professional at all. Next time I see them I'll ask to see ID/permits.

Nokia6230i · 23-05-2016 11:34pm

They're not registered with Charity Regulator despite the chap who answered the phone saying to me that they were, that they'd submitted their forms etc. 2 years ago.

Charity Regulator says different; they only received forms in October 2015; someone's telling porkies.

Said their charitable status hasn't yet been determined so no charity number from the CR; the CR can remove this.

ISK did say they're opening a new soup kitchen to go with the one they have at 80 West St. in Drogheda (would love to know does it actually exist; Google throws up a number of businesses at that addresses incl. I think a Tattoo Parlour & a Butchers) at Nrs. 19/20 Ushers Island/Quay in Dublin at the end of July.

Given their FB page hasn't been updated since it was started in Dec. 14 I'd be loathe to hand over a cent based on what I've typed & what others've posted here too. Currently anyway......

Esel · 24-05-2016 2:49am

Don't take the soup! It will cost you your soul!

If you do though, get a load of bread - i.e. dough. Cash up front and all that.

SteoL · 28-05-2016 12:43pm

Passed these today. There was an A4 page on the table with 'An Garda Siochana' printed and AGS logo on it. Now I didn't actually read it so don't know what it said but presuming they are legit.

Riesen_Meal · 28-05-2016 12:47pm

SteoL wrote: »

Passed these today. There was an A4 page on the table with 'An Garda Siochana' printed and AGS logo on it. Now I didn't actually read it so don't know what it said but presuming they are legit.

I can put a Garda siochana logo on something, doesn't mean it's legit, did you read the post 2 posts above?

SteoL · 28-05-2016 12:55pm

Fieldog wrote: »

I can put a Garda siochana logo on something, doesn't mean it's legit, did you read the post 2 posts above?

Nope and that does seem suspect. I should have read the page to see what it said.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 28-05-2016 12:57pm

Nokia6230i wrote: »

They're not registered with Charity Regulator despite the chap who answered the phone saying to me that they were, that they'd submitted their forms etc. 2 years ago.

Charity Regulator says different; they only received forms in October 2015; someone's telling porkies.

Said their charitable status hasn't yet been determined so no charity number from the CR; the CR can remove this.

ISK did say they're opening a new soup kitchen to go with the one they have at 80 West St. in Drogheda (would love to know does it actually exist; Google throws up a number of businesses at that addresses incl. I think a Tattoo Parlour & a Butchers) at Nrs. 19/20 Ushers Island/Quay in Dublin at the end of July.

Given their FB page hasn't been updated since it was started in Dec. 14 I'd be loathe to hand over a cent based on what I've typed & what others've posted here too. Currently anyway......

I'm from Drogheda. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, if anything they're a nuisance, because they did setup a soup kitchen right in the middle of a residential area, in between 2 schools. As far as I remember 80 West St was the original place planned for them to set up shop, but they decided not to as it's highly visible and might put off the service users. They do have a facility, in an area known as Sunday's Gate.

I'd be sceptical that it's a charity. All food is donated, there's supposed to be a cafe connected to the soup kitchen from which the profits of it are used to run the kitchen, but the whole idea has been dodgy as fcuk since day 1.

The guy running the show has a sh1t reputation in the town too.

cactusgal · 28-05-2016 1:37pm

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy wrote: »

I'm from Drogheda. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, if anything they're a nuisance, because they did setup a soup kitchen right in the middle of a residential area, in between 2 schools. As far as I remember 80 West St was the original place planned for them to set up shop, but they decided not to as it's highly visible and might put off the service users. They do have a facility, in an area known as Sunday's Gate.

I'd be sceptical that it's a charity. All food is donated, there's supposed to be a cafe connected to the soup kitchen from which the profits of it are used to run the kitchen, but the whole idea has been dodgy as fcuk since day 1. The guy running the show has a sh1t reputation in the town too.

Interesting. They were outside Drumcondra Tesco this week, tatty looking A4 sign with no branding or logo, etc. I was in a rush so didn't speak to the person collecting money. Weird that they are in Drogheda but collecting up and down the streets of Dublin??

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 28-05-2016 1:49pm

They've more than one soup kitchen, there's one in Dublin somewhere too AFAIK. As well as that, they're as popular as a fart in a lift in Drogheda, because of its location, lack of transparency and owner so collecting there would be a waste of everyone's time.

Penny Tration · 28-05-2016 5:37pm

cactusgal wrote: »

Interesting. They were outside Drumcondra Tesco this week, tatty looking A4 sign with no branding or logo, etc. I was in a rush so didn't speak to the person collecting money. Weird that they are in Drogheda but collecting up and down the streets of Dublin??

Dublin probably has more footfall than any other city, so more chance of donations.

Danye · 28-05-2016 9:09pm

SteoL wrote: »

Passed these today. There was an A4 page on the table with 'An Garda Siochana' printed and AGS logo on it. Now I didn't actually read it so don't know what it said but presuming they are legit.

Similar setup outside the Swan Centre in Rathmines today. Without being judgemental, the two lads where rough looking and they gave off a mischievous vibe. If I see them again I'll ask a few questions.

Compas · 28-05-2016 9:25pm

I've relations living close to Drogheda. The Soup kitchen receive very little if any support from locals as there have been issues with transparency from day one. Not one cent would I give to this dodgy set up. Far more reputable actual charities struggling for funding out there.

SteoL · 29-05-2016 7:50am

Danye wrote: »

Similar setup outside the Swan Centre in Rathmines today. Without being judgemental, the two lads where rough looking and they gave off a mischievous vibe. If I see them again I'll ask a few questions.

I should have mentioned where this bloke was standing - he was on Henry Street across from River Island. Next time I see him I will have a read of the page on the desk.

Has anybody ever seen anyone donate? I never have!

snickerpuss · 29-05-2016 8:21am

SteoL wrote: »

Has anybody ever seen anyone donate? I never have!

I've seen some American tourists give money. They're usually next to the Kilkenny shop on Nassau St which is full of tourists at this time of year.

Achasanai · 29-05-2016 2:34pm

They can sometimes be found outside the Fresh in the IFSC, although they seem to divide their time there with the people who collect for apraxia sufferers.

newacc2015 · 29-05-2016 5:26pm

Has anyone reported them to the Gardai? I cant imagine the Gardai being thrilled with an illegal set up in the middle of Dublin 2.

Charitable · 29-05-2016 8:39pm

The airing Soup Kitchen Centers was set up in October 2013.Tge first soup kitchen was meant to open on 80 west street in Drogheda Co Louth but the charity found a better facility on dolans corner Sunday's gate drogheda co Louth they spent 110,000 euros renovating the building to health and safety standards they have fully fitted kitchen witch is serving 2300 hot meals per week to the needy. We also hand out 300 to 500 food parcels a week with are mobile delivery service. We in January this year took over two units number 19-20 ushers quay in Dublin witch we are presently renovating and we hope to provide approx 6500 hot meals per week and approx 1000 food hampers per week we are also looking at a venue in Co Meath at this present moment and hoping to sign up soon for any person that is doubt about the Irish soup kitchens please ask any of our volunteers for there licence there I.D and also the information letter stating what we have achieved since setting up in October 2013. Anyone who would like to check with the charity regulator will see for fact that our application was made in 2014
The charity regulator was set up by our government to make sure that all funds received from the public are spent in a correct manner by the charity. Please also note that the Irish Soup Kitchen annual accounts for the past two years are on the charity regulator system and are fully certified by chartered accounts if any body requires any further information please PM

odyssey06 · 29-05-2016 9:06pm

Irish Soup Kitchens is noticeable by its absence from the Charities Regulatory Authority listing, and the Revenue's list of authorised Resident Charities.
* http://www.revenue.ie/en/business/authorised-charities-resident.html
* https://www.charitiesregulatoryauthority.ie/Website/CRA/CRAweb.nsf/page/index-en

If the annual accounts for the past two years are on the charity regulator website, please provide a link to these or a Charity registration number, because a search for "Irish Soup Kitchens" returns no results.

Nokia6230i · 29-05-2016 9:31pm

Charitable wrote: »

The airing Soup Kitchen Centers was set up in October 2013.Tge first soup kitchen was meant to open on 80 west street in Drogheda Co Louth but the charity found a better facility on dolans corner Sunday's gate drogheda co Louth they spent 110,000 euros renovating the building to health and safety standards they have fully fitted kitchen witch is serving 2300 hot meals per week to the needy. We also hand out 300 to 500 food parcels a week with are mobile delivery service. We in January this year took over two units number 19-20 ushers quay in Dublin witch we are presently renovating and we hope to provide approx 6500 hot meals per week and approx 1000 food hampers per week we are also looking at a venue in Co Meath at this present moment and hoping to sign up soon for any person that is doubt about the Irish soup kitchens please ask any of our volunteers for there licence there I.D and also the information letter stating what we have achieved since setting up in October 2013. Anyone who would like to check with the charity regulator will see for fact that our application was made in 2014
The charity regulator was set up by our government to make sure that all funds received from the public are spent in a correct manner by the charity. Please also note that the Irish Soup Kitchen annual accounts for the past two years are on the charity regulator system and are fully certified by chartered accounts if any body requires any further information please ring PM

From my enquiries to the Charities Regulator they've only received your application in October 2015.....so why the disparity between what you say & they say please?

And any reason, using October 2015, why, 7 months on, no determination on your charitable status has been made please?

Serious alarm bells going off based on this thread & my enquiries & indeed your post.....

suicide_circus · 31-05-2016 11:55am

I've seen these collecting at the GPO and a few other places, usually they are dodgy lookin youngfellas with a fold up table and bucket....easy to pick up and leg it when the gardai clock them!

superb choice of username · 22-06-2016 12:49pm

Interestingly the The Irish Soup Kitchen is a company limited by guarantee (THE IRISH SOUP KITCHEN CENTRES LIMITED). Their 2015 B1 and financial statements were filled and are now up online. They too look fairly dodgy.

Income for 2015 of €67.5k. None of which is through fundraising. €52k is from the "sale of promotional pens" and the balance is from rental income (despite owning no buildings)...

Main asset is fixtures and fittings of cost of €43k.

No mention anywhere of CHY or CRA status.

No stock at year end despite most of income coming from the sale of pens.

Creditors note referring to monies owing to relation of company secretary, but no related party note.

Lot of typos.

Overall, pretty p*ss poor set of accounts, but they have been audited (brave auditor to sign clean audit report)!!!

Needless to say, I'd be staying away from this shower and recommending other do the same. Unfortunately have seen quite a few people donate (I mean, purchase a promotional pen) around Dublin.

Edit: Just looking at you mans post above

"

Charitable wrote: »

The airing Soup Kitchen Centers was set up in October 2013.Tge first soup kitchen was meant to open on 80 west street in Drogheda Co Louth but the charity found a better facility on dolans corner Sunday's gate drogheda co Louth they spent 110,000 euros renovating the building

That does not look very likely from the figures in the accounts.

And a further bummer - no adoption of FRS102 which was mandetory. Accounts still prepared under "financial reporting standards of the financial reporting council".

I really hope someone with authority looks into them....

Rakish Paddy · 22-06-2016 3:52pm

superb choice of username wrote: »

I really hope someone with authority looks into them....

I dropped a quick note to the charities regulator to say that this crowd may merit a closer look.

edbrez · 22-06-2016 5:11pm

Everyone should help this worthwhile charity and hand a collector a tin of Campbells.

Glencree · 24-06-2016 6:16pm

Here's a great game... Google the Irish soup kitchens..... Get name of founder.

Mark o Neill.... Easy

Now google mark o Neill stroke society Ireland.

That's that answered.. .
Moral of the story, donate time to charities... Not money

Nokia6230i · 24-06-2016 8:05pm

On Capel St. few weeks ago at the Spar Irish Soup Kitchens were collecting so I took a few snaps; the lady in question had no issue with me doing so; slightly disinterested as can be seen by one of the photos of her browsing her phone....

(Love her hat mind!)

Giving up. Can't U/L said photos. If anyone can let me know & I'll e-mail them to you please. Thanks.

drogheda spy 17 · 01-07-2016 11:55pm

Hi Guys stay away from this The Irish Soup Kitchen Centres Limited i have done my research about who's behind it i would definitely not trust this charity the people who run this charity they do have an interesting pass this information is very accurate i have a read for your self, share this with friends and family make sure they keep away from this charity

Registered Address

Dolans Corner,
Sunday's Gate,
Drogheda,
Co. Louth

the Irish Soup Kitchen Centres Limited was set up on Tuesday the 15th of October

to find story's about the soup kitchen CEO Mark O'Neill

Just google Mark O'Neill charity you will find a report from rte news about when he was part of the the Irish Stroke Foundation

to find story's about the soup kitchen director James Fitzgerald Former Superintendent Garda

Just google James Fitzgerald Former Superintendent Garda you find plenty of information

Rakish Paddy · 04-07-2016 9:15pm

I dropped an email to the charities regulator to air the concerns about this very questionable-looking "charity" around 2 weeks ago, but still haven't had even an acknowledgement from them. :-/

OldGoat · 05-07-2016 7:55am

Perhaps when they (the regulators) are out from under the cosh they might get around to checking out the Soup's credentials. Charities are a bit of a hot topic at the moment.

BeerNut · 05-07-2016 8:21am

I wouldn't have thought this would be anything to do with the Charities Regulator. The Charities Regulator regulates charities. I don't see anything in its remit about investigating bodies which present as charities but aren't. Is this something they actually do?

newacc2015 · 05-07-2016 8:54pm

Has anyone tried calling DCC about about them collecting? Surely if they are 'selling pens' they need at least a hawkers license, which requires paper work and not available for all streets in Dublin? I cant imagine DCC being too happy if I decided to have a "bake sale" or 'sell pens' on Nassau St one day.

One thing no one has raised is despite selling €52,000 worth of "pens", they have probably collected multiplies of that. They are collecting cash which has zero paper trail. I imagine with their locations and one of stands, they are easily in the mid six figures

The fact is your local Doctor is probably more likely to be audited from Revenue than your local charity. Charities just arent regulated. I read once that the best way to evade taxes in Ireland is a 'charity'. They arent properly audited or regulated and are a free for all.

Nokia6230i · 05-07-2016 10:19pm

Need to U/L photos re Irish Soup Kitchens from a recent collection on Capel St. Bit of a Tech Luddite so would appreciate a quick how to please folks? Thanks.

JayRoc · 21-07-2016 1:50pm

I got chatting to a collector for Irish Soup Kitchens today (usual story, fold-up table and clipboard) and asked him was he being paid for collecting (as I've noticed himself and his colleagues around Dublin wear vests saying "Volunteer"). He insisted he was an unpaid volunteer which, frankly, I find very hard to believe having talked to him. Same with the other collectors, they just don't fit the profile, going by my experience.

I only asked him because I have really strong opinions on this subject- as someone who has actually collected for charity a lot as a volunteer it'd really wind me up if I found out someone was calling themselves one dishonestly. I'd like to think people would be more likely to donate to someone they know isn't getting paid.

There's something about this lot...they seem as bent as a three-bob note

Rakish Paddy · 21-07-2016 2:19pm

JayRoc wrote: »

He insisted he was an unpaid volunteer which, frankly, I find very hard to believe having talked to him. Same with the other collectors, they just don't fit the profile, going by my experience.

Yep, I'd have to say the same - a lot of their collectors who I see seem to fit more into the profile of folks who work casual, short-term, cash-in-hand jobs here. Quite a few young Brazilians out collecting for them (not that I can't imagine a Brazilian volunteering for charity, just that they tend to work casual jobs in Dublin).

I'd say this outfit has a lot of questions to answer, and if the right journalist takes a look into them I'd say there's a story in there somewhere.

Nokia6230i · 21-07-2016 2:42pm

Anyway of U/L'ing images from Desktop? Have a few interesting ones from a collector on Capel St. a few weeks ago....

blue_blue · 21-07-2016 3:02pm

Nokia6230i wrote: »

Anyway of U/L'ing images from Desktop? Have a few interesting ones from a collector on Capel St. a few weeks ago....

Under the reply box you'll see 'Manage Attachments'. You can upload images from there.

Nokia6230i · 21-07-2016 3:15pm

blue_blue wrote: »

Under the reply box you'll see 'Manage Attachments'. You can upload images from there.

Thanks. Tried it. 11 Photos to U/L. Tried but not one U/L'ed. Do I have to post all 11 1 by 1 & create 11 Posts?

blue_blue · 21-07-2016 4:22pm

Nokia6230i wrote: »

Thanks. Tried it. 11 Photos to U/L. Tried but not one U/L'ed. Do I have to post all 11 1 by 1 & create 11 Posts?

Easier solution. Go to http://imgur.com/ Drop your images onto that page, it'll automatically upload them and create an image post. Just copy the URL in the browser window.

"Irish Soup Kitchens"

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