Saint Mikey Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Starting to annoy me now. I have been pestered in the last few months in the following ways for charity donations: - Chuggers ('Charity Muggers') in town. - Chuggers at my door! FFS - All manner of c*nts doing runs/walks/crawls. - Cheeky c*nts who want me to pay for them to have a holiday climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in the name of charity! - Post inc. dustbin bags, direct and indirect mail. One letter on front said 'cancer doesn't care if you put this in the bin'. It went straight in the bin. Emotional blackmailing c*nts. - Barrage of TV & radio adverts. - Children in Need and all manner of BBC related sh!te. - At f'ing cashpoints! - In shops - do you want to add another £1 for x charity - no. I have had direct debits for Barnados and MS for about 10 years now, so it's not like I don't give to charity, but it's starting to get ridiculous now. Especially people doing runs etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I guess a lot of these charities have to resort to more aggressive tactics because they have had their support from local and central government slashed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KelvinsRightGlove Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Darn these people wanting help those less fortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Mikey Posted 18 April, 2013 Author Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I guess a lot of these charities have to resort to more aggressive tactics because they have had their support from local and central government slashed. Could be. However, I think it's counter productive. Anything resembling a charity advert airs for about 0.5 seconds in my house now because of their emotional blackmailing, shock tactics. All this hassling makes me less likely to donate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 My favourite is marathons - sponsor me to get fit! Why marathons? Why not people who take up swimming, the gym or even bare chested wrestling like Turks? What makes people think that just because they have taken up running as a new hobby, I would like to sponsor them £5 a mile for save the spastics or whatever the cause of the day is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Mikey Posted 18 April, 2013 Author Share Posted 18 April, 2013 (edited) Darn these people wanting help those less fortunate. Well I commend people that actually are helping people. Like I said, I do donate to charity. I personally think that Charity has become too much like a business now. What I really don't like is the emotional blackmail, it stops me donating instantly. Edited 18 April, 2013 by Saint Mikey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 (edited) I guess a lot of these charities have to resort to more aggressive tactics because they have had their support from local and central government slashed. Been like it in London for last 10+ years (nice try... ) Edited 18 April, 2013 by trousers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Starting to annoy me now. I have been pestered in the last few months in the following ways for charity donations: - Chuggers ('Charity Muggers') in town. - Chuggers at my door! FFS - All manner of c*nts doing runs/walks/crawls. - Cheeky c*nts who want me to pay for them to have a holiday climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in the name of charity! - Post inc. dustbin bags, direct and indirect mail. One letter on front said 'cancer doesn't care if you put this in the bin'. It went straight in the bin. Emotional blackmailing c*nts. - Barrage of TV & radio adverts. - Children in Need and all manner of BBC related sh!te. - At f'ing cashpoints! - In shops - do you want to add another £1 for x charity - no. I have had direct debits for Barnados and MS for about 10 years now, so it's not like I don't give to charity, but it's starting to get ridiculous now. Especially people doing runs etc. Would you like me to round up your bill? 20% of every donation goes directly to Winnersh donkey sanctuary, the rest goes to our director's massive salaries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I do loads to help charity. I 'like' every appeal that comes up on facebook. What more can I do! I practically cured cancer by myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I guess a lot of these charities have to resort to more aggressive tactics because they have had their support from local and central government slashed. Sorry but that is bollax. It is because charities are big business. The charity itself can't pay a dividend but they can pay all involved massive salaries. Don't believe me - google charity job 50K+. Took about 2 secs to find this http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4616206/deputy-director-support-and-advice-services/?LinkSource=TopJob or this http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4618197/head-of-sales-c-39-000-c-54-000-pa/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Looking at the job you linked from the Guardian website, I would suggest that's a reasonable salary - not over the top at all. It's what many middle managers would earn in the private and senior managers in the public service and it's a big job. The charities wouldn't stand a chance of raising the funds they need if they didn't have fairly high profile people running them. The days of the Barnados box at school are long gone. BTW I'm often saddened that it's only the 'glamorous' charities that raise the big money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buctootim Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I work in fundraising for a charity and in common with most others, would never use chuggers, door to door canvassing, 'pay for my holiday' or emotional blackmail. Its a nasty technique of exploiting people's 'niceness' and reluctance to say no. Ive heard of pensioners on £100pw having 1/3 of their income going out in direct debits to charities. Its not only immoral but its counter productive as you end up breeding views like St Mikey's - which are totally understandable. Prior to working where I am now I worked for a major funder and still remember the look on one CEOs face when asked how much he raised from chugging and was then informd that he had now lost twice that amount in grants from us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Those 'moral blackmail' style ads you see on TV all the time now really are beyond the pale. If it wasn't for the high cost of consumer electronics the next time I see that bloody 'Adopt a Underprivileged Donkey' one I'd put a brick through the screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Charity is fine. Paying people on a commission basis to go door to door for their cause isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint-scooby Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Would be nice to see a breakdown of each charities costs and how much actually goes to the cause. One thing that does ****** me off is being sent 7p and 12p in the post by Sister Mary of Angolia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 What I mean is that the sudden 'boom' isn't to do with any government cut backs, it's because someone is making money (even a fair to high salary) out of it. Your donation is paying for Nigel's Beemer and family holiday in the costa del sales manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Yeh, I hate people trying to help others. I'm with Saint 'Thatcher' Mikey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 In my job we were looking a buying a building that had one of the major UK charities as a tenant. This charity had over £150m cash in the bank at that time. Why isn't it spending every penny it raises? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 When I lived in Ethiopia we used to joke amongst the ex-pats that the biggest cause of death was being run over by a Land Cruiser supplied by the donors. Probably not far from the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Starting to annoy me now. I have been pestered in the last few months in the following ways for charity donations: - Chuggers ('Charity Muggers') in town. - Chuggers at my door! FFS - All manner of c*nts doing runs/walks/crawls. - Cheeky c*nts who want me to pay for them to have a holiday climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in the name of charity! - Post inc. dustbin bags, direct and indirect mail. One letter on front said 'cancer doesn't care if you put this in the bin'. It went straight in the bin. Emotional blackmailing c*nts. - Barrage of TV & radio adverts. - Children in Need and all manner of BBC related sh!te. - At f'ing cashpoints! - In shops - do you want to add another £1 for x charity - no. I have had direct debits for Barnados and MS for about 10 years now, so it's not like I don't give to charity, but it's starting to get ridiculous now. Especially people doing runs etc. Aren't you about 22? So how would that be possible? Good man Btw. I ran the new York marathon for ms in 2009m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Mikey Posted 18 April, 2013 Author Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Aren't you about 22? So how would that be possible? Good man Btw. I ran the new York marathon for ms in 2009m FFS. No, I'm not Super Mikey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Mikey Posted 18 April, 2013 Author Share Posted 18 April, 2013 What I mean is that the sudden 'boom' isn't to do with any government cut backs, it's because someone is making money (even a fair to high salary) out of it. Your donation is paying for Nigel's Beemer and family holiday in the costa del sales manager. Exactly and this is what is making things so bad. Charity will eat itself, mark my words! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 What I mean is that the sudden 'boom' isn't to do with any government cut backs, it's because someone is making money (even a fair to high salary) out of it. Your donation is paying for Nigel's Beemer and family holiday in the costa del sales manager. Quite right. It's not about being against charity, it's about knowing that your donation is not going totally to the cause. That a cut is being taken is for me immoral. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Quite right. It's not about being against charity, it's about knowing that your donation is not going totally to the cause. That a cut is being taken is for me immoral. I hear what you say and I do believe anyone can apply to the Charity Commission to ask for information about percentages going to the causes. But ask yourself this, who would run and manage the very large charities if a professional wage wasn't paid to a professional leader? You'd be pushed to find people prepared to do such a demanding job for nothing. When I worked for the NHS there was a very highly regarded person I knew, very good at her job, who went on to head Oxfam. I would imagine, regardless of her altruism, that she would find it difficult to give up a reasonably paid job to work for nothing. Yet she was just the calibre of person needed to run such a big organisation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I hear what you say and I do believe anyone can apply to the Charity Commission to ask for information about percentages going to the causes. But ask yourself this, who would run and manage the very large charities if a professional wage wasn't paid to a professional leader? You'd be pushed to find people prepared to do such a demanding job for nothing. When I worked for the NHS there was a very highly regarded person I knew, very good at her job, who went on to head Oxfam. I would imagine, regardless of her altruism, that she would find it difficult to give up a reasonably paid job to work for nothing. Yet she was just the calibre of person needed to run such a big organisation. I see the point you are making. I wonder if these are the same people who are training door to door salespeople to adhere to an extremely aggressive sales strategy in order to maximise 'donations.' Like so many things in this country, it's taken the initial spirit and gone too far. Large scale charities such as Macmillans are on the verge of losing all sympathy, regardless of the cause they represent due to their cynical and selfish profit driven sales tactics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I had someone smelling of fish asking me to donate to a South Coast football charity - a bargain at just one thousand pounds. I chucked him a half eaten bag of scampi fries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Gotsmanov Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 It goes against the grain for people to earn out of charity. Traditionally people who had made good retired to put something back. Today it is now just a nice little earner for someone. I never give to any of the high profile charities just to local ones. I notice that David Miliband has gone to work for a charity - $280,000 a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Maybe, SG, you'll give up your day job and work for nothing for a charity? Not that I know what you do - you may be an undertaker for all I know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Saint Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I have areal issue with these charity CEOs demanding ftse level salaries to do the job. Whilst I appreciate that you need to attract a certain calibre of person, surely there should be a vocational element when choosing to work for a charity. I give to small charities where I know the vast majority of my donation gets to the front line. I would never give to oxfam or the Sally army for that reason alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I have areal issue with these charity CEOs demanding ftse level salaries to do the job. Whilst I appreciate that you need to attract a certain calibre of person, surely there should be a vocational element when choosing to work for a charity. I give to small charities where I know the vast majority of my donation gets to the front line. I would never give to oxfam or the Sally army for that reason alone. This is exactly the argument my dear old right-wing dad used to espouse with regard to teachers, doctors, nurses, police and firefighters etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Saint Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I think I disagree with your dad. ( shock 1 , I disagree with a right winger, shock 2. - you were brought up in a right wing house) Teaching , nursing etc is vocational, however charity is a different animal in my opinion. Teaching and nursing is a career - the same cannot be said for running a charity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 Teaching and nursing is a career - the same cannot be said for running a charity This is evidently not the case. And the root of the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 18 April, 2013 Share Posted 18 April, 2013 I like Cancer Research and the RSPCA cos they give you free pens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlakeySFC Posted 19 April, 2013 Share Posted 19 April, 2013 (edited) It sounds harsh, but it does genuinely annoy me when they harangue you at length in the street, or try the hard sell on you over the phone when you already give £30+ to different charities every month. Also I was once just walking down my local high street when this charity hippy woman called me miserable because I completely blanked her, I dont have to give money to you, and I definitely wont even consider the thought of ever giving money to your organisation ever again now youve called me miserable you hippy b*tch Comic Relief Night and Charity adverts annoy me intensely as well, I understand why theyre needed but it just annoys me that over all my (shortish) lifetime they havent changed atall and they try and pull on your heart-strings like a poor Hollywood Rom-Com still, I even heard one with Coldplay the other day and it reminded me of that Extras episode with Chris Martin and I couldnt help but let out a little giggle as I watched it. I also think in todays austerity-Britain we should focus on getting our countrys economy back running smoothly before giving billions away to far-flung destinations for the time being. I will say though that out of all of them I think Cancer Research UK, NSPCC and the RSPCA are the most worthy charities to give to. (F.Y.I. I cant use apostrophes due to my near-defunct keyboard) Edited 19 April, 2013 by BlakeySFC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutch Posted 19 April, 2013 Share Posted 19 April, 2013 If charities can attract CEO's of the calibre of David Lampitt then we can rest easy knowing our donations are in good hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Mikey Posted 2 May, 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May, 2013 Good article and Podcast on BBC y'day, dispelling the myth of how much good we actually do when 'voluteering' abroad... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22294205 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aintforever Posted 2 May, 2013 Share Posted 2 May, 2013 It would be interesting to know what percentage of the cash you give goes to the high wages of the people running the charity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilippineSaint Posted 2 May, 2013 Share Posted 2 May, 2013 I have worked abroad for most of my working life in rich and poor countries. Not for them but because I needed the job. The locals that I have met have mostly been courteous helpful inquisitive about where I have come from and what I was doing in their country. Why was I working there. On explanation that it was to assist them in the production of what ever system I was dealing with it was great fun but when you mention the Aid programmes or the UN god all hell breaks loose. Most African nations still think that the UN are an invading force to subjugate the local population. following on from the colonial days, and where is the UN based ? New York the great Satan America Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadgerBadger Posted 2 May, 2013 Share Posted 2 May, 2013 I'm all for people setting themselves personal challenges and hanging the charity tag or visa versa but I do find the constant bombardment from all angles a little grating. I did a ride for British Heart Foundation a few years ago and found the whole thing truly inpersonal and badly managed so much so I did something of my own back for the next ride and went direct to a smaller charity, much more rewarding and closer to the reality of a charity not a money making jugerrnaut losing site of it's existience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JN9 Posted 2 May, 2013 Share Posted 2 May, 2013 I have been looking at setting myself a goal and achieving something for myself (marathon, long bike ride, you know the kind of thing...) and I've asked a few people if they'd be interested in coming along for the ride. It doesn't take long for someone to suggest that we do whatever it is we decide to do for a charity. Now I've always resisted as I found the idea quite vulgar and not really in the spirit of what I was trying to achieve. I had struggled with whether I was being a bit selfish and a bit killjoyish for not going down the chairty route, but this thread has confirmed what I originally thought. I'm with the majority (I think) in that I donate to the charities close to my heart, but really don't like the street walkers or (even worse) door to door charity fundraisers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Tone Posted 2 May, 2013 Share Posted 2 May, 2013 My favourite is marathons - sponsor me to get fit! Why marathons? Why not people who take up swimming, the gym or even bare chested wrestling like Turks? What makes people think that just because they have taken up running as a new hobby, I would like to sponsor them £5 a mile for save the spastics or whatever the cause of the day is? I'm going to do a sponsored "slob around" fortnight, where I take no exercise, eat cakes and drink beer, albeit rarely at the same time. Will you sponsor me please? I promise it is not a new hobby for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horley CTFC Saint Posted 2 May, 2013 Share Posted 2 May, 2013 I've always been a great supporter of Charity Hodges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 16 July, 2013 Share Posted 16 July, 2013 I'm trying to work out if I'm a bad person for "chugging" people so I could climb ben nevis for a cancer charity ? Or am I bero because it might of gone towards helping terminal patients like my stepdad ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Lion Tamer Posted 16 July, 2013 Share Posted 16 July, 2013 I have areal issue with these charity CEOs demanding ftse level salaries to do the job. Either you are vastly overestimating the amount charity CEOs earn, or you are vastly underestimating the amount FTSE directors earn. The highest paid earner at Oxfam earns between £100,000 and £110,000 (page 57): http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends18/0000202918_ac_20120331_e_c.pdf Top 100 FTSE earnings average at £4m: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9657120/FTSE-100-directors-enjoy-27pc-pay-rises.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Lion Tamer Posted 16 July, 2013 Share Posted 16 July, 2013 If you want your donations to be spent wisely and effectively, you need talented people to manage it. Large charities are huge complex organisations. They pay the market rate that it takes to attract people with the right capabilities to do the job. These people could make much more money in the private sector, and accept much less in order to do good work. Ok it's still a lot to us, but that's what the market dictates. Charities would spend our donations less effectively if they didn't have the right calibre of staff. People talk about their donations being paid to huge salaries, but that's exactly what happens when you buy any good or service. Why is it right that if you buy food in Tesco, you aren't just paying for the food but for the CEO's £6.9m salary. Food selling is essentially a public service as we all need it and yet it is somehow different to organisations trying to help people. Time and again the private sector gets a free pass but organisations working to make the world better are expected to run on a shoe-string (or, more accurately, more of a shoe-string than they already do). PS I don't disagree with some of the comments on this thread about aggressive fundraising, I think it is dangerous for their reputations, although I can see why they are desperate to keep their services running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Lion Tamer Posted 16 July, 2013 Share Posted 16 July, 2013 It would be interesting to know what percentage of the cash you give goes to the high wages of the people running the charity. Try reading this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/voluntary-sector-network/2013/may/02/good-charities-admin-costs-research So basically around 10% of your donation goes to 'admin costs'. Note that admin costs is not the same as executive salaries, it includes all staff salaries, offices space, equipment, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbattigger Posted 17 July, 2013 Share Posted 17 July, 2013 Don't have a problem with any of these charity collectors, just let Mrs D answer them. Always polite but still gets rid of them sharpish. In case you think we're mean we donate to various charity's monthly but consider ourselves capable of deciding on our own who we want to support Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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