f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Was broke and yes he has done well for himself since, fair play to him

SkullFudge

Mug right here.




For 5 years I had been supplying my former School with 100 drug awareness booklets.
Each year the charity send me a copy of the booklet that is very informative of all current available drugs, and I receive a certificate from the School signed by the headmaster every year.

I was invoiced the usual £350. Two weeks later I received another invoice for the same amount but from a different charity??
I then phoned my previous School and spoke to the headmaster enquiring if they had received the books over the past 5 years. He replied no.

An hour on Google suggested a huge scam based in Birmingham had been ongoing earning £15K - £20K per month..

I never bother with anything now.

JTaylor

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I have been donating money to various cahirties over the years, but the point when I stop is when they badger me for more money.

British Heart foundation sent me so much begging junk mail I wrote a letter telling to f**k off (well more polite than that, but I felt like saying that) and never sent them a penny since.

Cancer reaseach took so long to cash a cheque that the bank wouldn't accept it...then they asked me to write another cheque...meanwhile still sending me junk mail. I don't donate to them either as obviously they aren't organised.

I also don't donate to tin rattlers or chairty raffles in pubs etc. I got some right dirty looks off the duty manager when I refused to buy her chairty raffle tickets. But teh answer is simple...I donate money, but I'd rather do it in a fashion that ensures it doesn't end up in someone's back pocket.

I've donated to Birmingham QE, but recently found out that donations intended for equipment isn't being spent on what they said it would be (i.e not on new equipment). So now my money goes via another charity that actually buys the equipment and gives it to the hospital. They don't spam me either

Some may ask why I donate to a NHS hospital that is already funded by £billions of taxpayers money, well the answer is a simple rather selfish one; I, or one of my nearest and dearest may end up in there one day.

SRSport

It saddens me to know that these situations in 3rd world countries are real and going on this very second. It concerns me equally the posts I read where people somehow think that because they are the ones who have money and give or are in a position to give see themselves as somehow qualified to judge those in very vulnerable positions, making life decisions on their behalf and trying to justify reasons why they are in that situation and why they should not give.

I am fortunate enough to have been born in this country and have enjoyed the standard of life that those that charities support can only dream about. Who am I to sit on my sofa making excuses when the very fact is that they need help and for the sake of humanity I am happy to offer some of what I have?

Whatever the cause, whatever the reason, whether it takes 50 years or 500 years where there is need those who are able to help should do so. If it was the other way round I would hope that there were people out there who are capable of showing compassion that leaders of their own countries are unable to show. Unfortunately some of the attitudes displayed on here are perhaps not that far removed from the dictators themselves.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Sad indeed.

pslewis

I wonder if there is somewhere which tells you how much out of each £1 actually goes to the front line.

I do think that some would be staggered to know that 98p out of every £1 in some charities is swallowed up in expenses and fat salaries.

SRSport

In "some charities". It is important not to do a Daily Mail and lead people to think that this is a norm. Maybe if whoever has come up with that figure could divulge where that information came from and name the charities so we could all make more informed decisions in future.

Martin2005

Evidence?

RA Dunk

Not that I enjoy agreeing with Pete (or even you for that matter ) That's a figure I've heard banded about as well, Before the fat cats get their cut, then there is the price of transporting what ever aid it is they are sending, paying for the workers to load unload aid etc apparently there isn't much left over for the actual aid.

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

I can't give written proof, but a good few years ago, I used to go charity collecting with my Mam. It was all done through the Church she used to go to, so all the actual collecting and fund raising was voluntary. Even back then (over 20 years ago ) it was said that the person at the top was on around £250k, not by the newspapers, but those involved with the charity.

I'm not going to say that is the absolute truth as I didn't see anything written down in stone, but I can quite believe it would be correct. I never stopped us volunteering and hoping something got through to those that were in need, but I can totally understand why people do get frustrated when info like this seeps through.

Martin2005

A number you've 'heard bandied about' (doubtless by like minded individuals), hardly constitutes evidence does it?

Oh and LOL at the 'fat cats' comment - yeah right global charities don't need any kind of command and control

If only these charities would create some kind of magical teleportation system for all the aid, then there'd be no need 'waste' (again LOL, like transporting the stuff isn't aid) money on getting to where it's needed. Better still only get involved in places where the foods already there and bountiful....

Leslie

You have made an incorrect assumption.

Les

Chip

When I was a kid we lived in a very affluent area and the chap who owned the biggest house which backed onto the golf course worked for the charity commision or whatever it was called in those days.

Oldun

A case of 'Charity begins At Home' ?