Our journey began with a personal connection and a deep commitment to making a difference. While volunteering for

Autism Pathways Ireland, a charity close to our hearts as family members of autistic individuals, we sought to take our fundraising efforts to the next level.

Applying for the relevant permit from the Gardaí, we organised a collection in Dublin, determined to raise vital funds for this cause. What we discovered during this process was both eye-opening and troubling. Conversations with local business owners, members of the public, and even fellow charity collectors revealed a lingering mistrust. Stories of rogue collectors, scandals involving charity executives, and negative press had eroded confidence in the sector. For genuine charities like ours, this presented a significant hurdle.

We realised that trust was the cornerstone of successful fundraising. If we could create a system that made it easy for donors to distinguish legitimate collectors from bad actors, we could rebuild public confidence.

This vision led to a simple yet powerful idea: what if we not only identified ourselves as legitimate but created a system that all genuine collectors could voluntarily adopt? With such a system, we could push out rogue operators and restore trust in charity collections across Ireland.

Thus began two years of tireless work. We surveyed the public, engaged with local business owners, and ran polls and discussions on forums. Every step of the way, we asked one fundamental question: How do we win back public trust?

The result of this journey is Verify My ID Live —a groundbreaking platform designed to verify and legitimise fundraisers, ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance. Now, our mission is clear: to encourage charities, fundraisers, and businesses across Ireland to adopt this system and join us in transforming the way charity collections are conducted. Together, we can build a future where every donation is trusted, every fundraiser is legitimate, and every act of generosity makes a real difference.

Since it's inception Verify My ID Live has gone from strength to strength and has organisations in England, Wales and Scotland on the books and for the entire month of August proudly sponsors the Dementia Foundation of Edinburgh by providing a wheelchair accessible van for use during the world famous Fringe Comedy Festival.

Verify My ID Live: Restoring Trust, One Fundraiser at a Time.

John Murray, Dublin, 2025

Founder of 'Verify My ID Live', Professional Web Developer and Autism Advocate.