Yes, this was an April Fool’s Day joke mistake Sorry guys. 
I’ve left the post up below in it’s original form. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder of just how fabulous this community is. Thank you so much for all your support. 
As I’ve said elsewhere, I promise to never again allow my penchant for having fun come before respecting my friends.
Original post:
Thoughtful Thursday: Give A Brick UK charity status suspended
In line with our new Thoughtful Thursday posts, it is with much regret that I bring you news that has certainly given us here at Give A Brick something to think about. Regular readers will know that I don’t do serious very well but after an unexpected email from the Charity Commission yesterday afternoon, I’ve been forced to don my serious hat.
A few weeks before Christmas, one of long term supporters, Laura Edmonds, wrote to HRH The Queen on behalf of Give A Brick. She told Her Majesty that we’re probably the first charity to ask everyone to Give A Brick and as such, please would Her Majesty consider doing the same? As is palace policy, Laura received a reply on behalf of HRH stating that since Her Majesty had charity commitments in place, she unfortunately couldn’t Give A Brick. Whilst I had plans to write back and ask her to help us with our research into whether we are in fact the first charity to ask everyone to Give A Brick, I hadn’t yet got round to doing so.
Unfortunately, it seems that I needn’t have worried that HRH hadn’t been told of our unique message as yesterday she contacted the Charity Commission on our behalf. For our friends who aren’t familiar with the Charity Commission, they’re the body in charge of registering new charities and regulating what current charities do.
HRH The Queen has apparently concluded that any charity that raises funds by asking everyone to Give A Brick (£1) and only A Brick (£1) is unrealistic in its expectations. As such, our registered status has been suspended whilst further investigations are undertaken. For those interested you can see an excerpt from their message. You’ll have to click the image to zoom in to read but between you and I, it doesn’t make happy reading
E-mail from Charity Commission 31-3-10 16:08
So in the spirit of Thoughtful Thursday, it’s over to you. What do we do now?
Oh no! That’s horrible… should go tweet the Queen and ask her to reconsider.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Site Changes =-.
Twitter: cadilacjax
I say what Nick says, keep getting back up! Seriously let them do their thing and ask her for more than a brick when it gets cleared! Sorry to hear this.. I’ll be praying for ya. If I can do anything let me know.
.-= Lees Shizzle´s last blog ..Thanks Bamboo Forest of Pun Intended for not letting my tea burn =-.
Twitter: ralphcarlson
This is so outrageous. It is the sort of thing that you would laugh at in a farcical movie. I can’t imagine how you must feel. I thought that the Queen was merely a figurehead. Never realized that she had serious work to do like vetting charities.
.-= Ralph´s last blog ..Going on Your Own =-.
Wow, that is really bad news. I’ve never heard of shutting down a charity. I hope your status gets reinstated… somehow.
.-= Victor´s last blog ..Flavors of Ice Cream in San Francisco =-.
Twitter: rickybuchanan
I am reallllllllly hoping this is a date-significant post
And that lots of people donate bricks in response!
Love,
r
.-= Ricky Buchanan´s last blog ..Moms With Apps: Safe iPhone and iPod Touch Apps For Kids =-.
Twitter: websiteweekend
So what.
Just carry on.
Post all the documents, building permits, invoices, TAX RECEIPTS FROM YOUR LAWFULLY PAID TAXES, everything.
Yes, that’s what I’m saying, run it wide open and fully transparent with open books on say publicly viewable Google Spreadsheets, and pay every red cent of your lawful taxes on it.
I cannot imagine a better opportunity to raise a LOT of money.
Downshift. Accelerate.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..5 Simple Steps to be an Authority Blogger (you can do this) =-.
Twitter: benlumley6
Oh El – I’m so sorry that this has happened. After all your hard work I was hoping that GAB would be a massive success.
But look on the positive, maybe you could great another charity like “give a brat” where people could give their horrible child up for a short term loan to young people who think having kids would be fun. No? Just an idea.
Twitter: kruby
You keep the faith and defend your charity to the Commission. You are doing good work and they will see that.
For sure don’t give up without a fight, particularly as this is what you believe in.
Hang in there.
Karen
.-= Karen´s last blog ..Using Visualization To Get To Point Z From Point A =-.
Twitter: Bigredtomato
I think this is an ill concieve notion and totally at odds with the power of social media.
Potentially you could raise far more a day than other charities could raise using conventional means.
Good luck with your fight.
.-= Matthew Needham´s last blog ..Wednesday Wisdom =-.
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Twitter: maria_muir
Funny El, but dont feel bad about the joke. I’m sure everyone will see the funny side
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