CHARITIES as we know them today came into existence around the turn of the 20th century, and generally supported hospitals and public welfare. During the First World War, dozens of new charities came into being, mostly to help wounded soldiers and bereaved families.

Sadly, sometimes money donated in good faith was misused, leading to the introduction of government regulation. Today, strict controls must be complied with before a charity can be registered as such.

Much has changed in the structure and purpose of the charity sector, but the challenge of fundraising remains the same. This could be called a labour of love, but sometimes the accent is on the labour: think about running a marathon or spending an uncomfortable day in a bath of baked beans.

CHBN, Truro's Community and Hospital Broadcasting Network, has been a community radio for over 10 years and a hospital radio for over 40. During that time, our fundraising efforts have included 24-hour live broadcasting marathons, online auctions, walking challenges and more.

On Saturday, August 9, CHBN volunteers had the chance to talk about our work to customers and staff at the Truro branch of Waitrose. We are grateful to the store management team who made space for our stall, and to all customers and staff who gave generously to our funds – the collection bucket contained almost £200.

Despite charities being regulated now, there are concerns about the salaries paid to top executives of some national and international organisations. In contrast, all CHBN funds are used for the work of the station, with volunteers giving their time for free.

If you have fundraising ideas or would like to support our work, visit www.chbnradio.org and click on 'Support Us'.

Hear CHBN at 100.8FM, online, on the NHS Wi-Fi, on the CHBN Radio App and on your Smart Speaker.