The Public Fundraising Association has started a private site mystery shopping trial this week with 12 charities volunteering to take part.

In a statement released yesterday, the PFRA said that 12 charities had agreed to take part in the six-month trial, during which time the face-to-face fundraising regulator hopes to carry out 38 mystery shops per month.

The PFRA also said that it has created and distributed a private site rulebook to the participating charities. Examples of the rules given include that “fundraisers MUST NOT obstruct, interfere with, or disrespect members of staff from local businesses” and that “fundraisers MUST NOT work outside the confines of the sites as dictated by the Site Owner”.

The charities taking part will not be subject to any fines as a result of rules breaches as the trial is voluntary, said the PFRA.

The PFRA said that, as it moves towards its proposed merger with the Institute of Fundraising in the summer, the trial is a “significant first step, which will hopefully see the permanent establishment of a mystery shopping programme for private site fundraisers”.

Peter Hills Jones, chief executive of the PFRA, said: “We have worked hard over the last decade to strengthen street and door-to-door fundraising and we are now going one step further.

"Our members have often asked for us to expand our services and I am pleased to see it becoming a reality. Once the trial has provided evidence of success, we will make it available to all our members.”

Some of the charities taking part in the trial include: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Marie Curie and the RSPCA.