. Not all charities behave like Oxfam and the RSPCA - both of which are appalling IME.
I once looked at the RSPCA's accounts a few years back and was shocked to find they had £96,000,000 in their current account . The following year they had £123,000,000 sitting in their bank . To me that says they have more money than they actually need. Contrast that with NSPCC who have enough money to carry on for 6 months ( a legal requirement ). Clearly they need more money , but sick and vulnerable kids are clearly not as appealing to those giving to charity as puppies and kittens.
I had that problem with guide dogs, we did a "Sponsor a puppy" for my dad as a Christmas present. Before the year was up, they were hassling me to increase it. Luckily they only had my contact details not his. When they rang for about the sixth time, l told the young lady politely but firmly that l was going to write a formal letter of complaint (which l did), and if that didn't work, l would contact the Charity Commission. That did the trick, but l would never do something like that as a present again, which means not only did they miss out, but other charities did too. They do a great job, and l appreciate their need to raise funds, but after the first additional request, they should note their records "no further contact".
Charity representatives who stop me in the street, knock on my door or phone me get told that I review my charity donations annually, that they are welcome to give me a card with their web address so that I can research them and decide whether they are more worthy than my current charities, but also that if they or anyone else representing that charity hassles me again then they'll go straight to the bottom of the list.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I only give to certain charities, and it can vary enormously. Mountain Rescue is one, as it's a cause dear to my heart, and I often give to local hospices and similar causes or individuals, because the 'big guns' get all the attention, leaving other, 'less popular' charities/causes struggling. I don't know if anyone watched the programmes last week about domestic abuse and the refuge which relies on basic funding and charity to stay open, and they often don't know if they can keep it going. Desperate.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I give to Salvation Army monthly, but at Christmas they always ask for extra. I’m out of touch now but when I lived in London they did a wonderful job. OH give to oxfam, I don’t like that but he insists. I never ever put cash in those collection boxes, someone opened her own hairdressing business on the proceeds once! My main charity of giving though is Shelter box, they actually take the rescue items where they’re needed.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
ShelterBox are brilliant 👍 And from my work with Children’s Services I can confirm the amazing work still being done by the Salvation Army, often picking up those that fall through the Statutory nets. I can’t remember them ever saying no when I needed help for someone who didn’t meet the formal criteria for help from us.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Much as I'd like to support every worthy cause, it just isn't possible. My usual charities are the Cats' Protection local branch and Bluebell Wood children's hospice, but I've occasionally given one-off donations to LNRI and Mountain Rescue when visiting areas where they work (we're inland and fairly flat here so there's no local branch of either) and various others, but never due to advertising, random door knocking or being hassled in the street. I refuse to be pressurised that way.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
... never due to advertising, random door knocking or being hassled in the street. I refuse to be pressurised that way.
Same here ... but the little girl on the Cancer Research UK advert who says 'thank you for your donation' and blows us kisses is in real danger of making me break my vow, bless her ... I'll have to take some cash into one of their Charity Shops and put it in the collecting tin.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've always said the dog rescue charity where we got our dog missed a trick in not using him for their adverts. The way he can turn on the sad, abandoned dog face when he wants something would bring the donations flooding in.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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Contrast that with NSPCC who have enough money to carry on for 6 months ( a legal requirement ). Clearly they need more money , but sick and vulnerable kids are clearly not as appealing to those giving to charity as puppies and kittens.
I don't know if anyone watched the programmes last week about domestic abuse and the refuge which relies on basic funding and charity to stay open, and they often don't know if they can keep it going. Desperate.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
OH give to oxfam, I don’t like that but he insists.
I never ever put cash in those collection boxes, someone opened her own hairdressing business on the proceeds once!
My main charity of giving though is Shelter box, they actually take the rescue items where they’re needed.
And from my work with Children’s Services I can confirm the amazing work still being done by the Salvation Army, often picking up those that fall through the Statutory nets. I can’t remember them ever saying no when I needed help for someone who didn’t meet the formal criteria for help from us.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.