Discussion
After seeing the amazing and overwelming response to Teds charity plea 
,how many of you give to charity and how many of you dont bother,what are your reasons and views on charities do you see it as worthwhile or a waste of time and think that the government should do more.
I tend to choose and if i see one charity is doing extremely well,like the toon army one i will give to another that has a poorer but just as needy response the only other time i give is if i am directly involved with a movement or club and they ask for a donny.
>> Edited by ZR1cliff on Wednesday 16th November 14:26
,how many of you give to charity and how many of you dont bother,what are your reasons and views on charities do you see it as worthwhile or a waste of time and think that the government should do more. I tend to choose and if i see one charity is doing extremely well,like the toon army one i will give to another that has a poorer but just as needy response the only other time i give is if i am directly involved with a movement or club and they ask for a donny.
>> Edited by ZR1cliff on Wednesday 16th November 14:26
grass widow said:
I give 50% of my income to charity. It's called tax.
( Said grumpy timmy30 )
Take a leaf out of Cliffs book then, they are doing quite well, choose another charity
I give to children in need have given them something every month for a few years now.
I'm sorry having just read that Oxfam spent £250k on a glossy TV advert only to pull it at the last minute I'm not feeling to well disposed to them. I presume the NSPCC must spend massive amounts on advertising as the seem to run more commercials than Mc Donalds.
Oh then there was job as a FC at a large charity that I saw paying a base of £90k.
Then of course we have the charity xmas cards, feel good when you buy those? At Harrods 1p from a £4.50 pack actually goes to the charity.
Alot of charities seem to exist to employ charity workers, with very little of the money raised actually reaching those in need, it's similar to the tax system in that respect.
I have no problem with people being involved in charity work though as it's a way of feeling better about yourlself and having sense of 'doing something' worthwhile.
No I agree they don't always spend the money wisely, and I wish they would stop sending me stuff through the post, I give already leave me alone. But if we all stop giving, then they wouldn't be able to help the kids.
But you have to have faith that somewhere along the line the money you do give, does actually make a difference.
Its not a case of making me feel better, I'm not that low on self esteem that I need to give to charity to make myself feel better. I do it because I really do want to help in some way, and this is the only way I can.
But you have to have faith that somewhere along the line the money you do give, does actually make a difference.
Its not a case of making me feel better, I'm not that low on self esteem that I need to give to charity to make myself feel better. I do it because I really do want to help in some way, and this is the only way I can.
Lots of charities have plenty of cash, their spending of it can be pants though.
£90K for an FC at a well known charity is not exactly great pay at that level. An FC at a plc will be on 50% more base + bens + options. They need to offer OK money to try & attract people who can do the job right. If they pay too little it won't be enough to attract people who would work there for ethical reasons.
£90K for an FC at a well known charity is not exactly great pay at that level. An FC at a plc will be on 50% more base + bens + options. They need to offer OK money to try & attract people who can do the job right. If they pay too little it won't be enough to attract people who would work there for ethical reasons.
grass widow said:
Its not a case of making me feel better, I'm not that low on self esteem that I need to give to charity to make myself feel better. I do it because I really do want to help in some way, and this is the only way I can.
Sorry widow I didn't necissarily mean you personally. But for alot of people the motivation is as selfish as selfless.
I can understand the giving of 10% of income to charity in some countries where they have no income tax of course. But back to my earlier post, if we collectively are giving the goverment £480bn a year to spend I would rather find out why the hell there isn't enough to provide adequate care rather than giving even more money. I think 50% is enough.
bga said:
An FC at a plc will be on 50% more base + bens + options. They need to offer OK money to try & attract people who can do the job right. If they pay too little it won't be enough to attract people who would work there for ethical reasons.
bga I cannot disagree with you strongly enough. There are plenty of well qualified people who would volunteer their time for free without the need for a large salary, people who need to work for good money, need to choose not to work for charity in the first place.
Charity starts at home in my opinion.
The whole need for charity in alot of cases is to support society, but that is what society should do through government anyway.
Sounds harsh but look at the way they wanted some lottery funding to go towards the NHS.
If we follow that trend, how much more can the government just slowly let go and become funded through "donations" and charities?
The government should be all these charities in the first place, or acting effectively enough so that we don't even need say the RSPCA or NSPCC.
Like cancer research UK... why isn't their already huge amounts of research going on? What exactly is national insurance for?
However, if you do give, I think time is also the best. It can't be misused or wasted, you are directly helping the charity, not funding them 80% runnings costs to see only maybe 20% of your donation actually reach those who need it!
Dave
The whole need for charity in alot of cases is to support society, but that is what society should do through government anyway.
Sounds harsh but look at the way they wanted some lottery funding to go towards the NHS.
If we follow that trend, how much more can the government just slowly let go and become funded through "donations" and charities?
The government should be all these charities in the first place, or acting effectively enough so that we don't even need say the RSPCA or NSPCC.
Like cancer research UK... why isn't their already huge amounts of research going on? What exactly is national insurance for?
However, if you do give, I think time is also the best. It can't be misused or wasted, you are directly helping the charity, not funding them 80% runnings costs to see only maybe 20% of your donation actually reach those who need it!
Dave
A few weeks ago, Simon Mayo interviewed the head of Oxfam, this guy was harping on about how the money was spent and how we should give more, when a caller rang in and made the same points raised on here about waste, he then asked the man from Oxfam to tell the listeners how much he was being paid, to which, the man then tried to say it was irrelevant and changed the subject as quick as he could.
With recent happenings with my folks, I have given more than ever this year. I always gave a bit and felt guilty walking past a collection. Now with something to be thankfull for, I give to the Myloma trusts, basicly to thank them for giving me and my folks hope. This year I have given aprox 10% of my income. I haven't missed it.
It is easier to give to something you beleive in and see the benifits of.
It is easier to give to something you beleive in and see the benifits of.
Eric Mc said:
The most valuable thing you can give to a charity is time.
Agreed. If all they want is your money one does become suspicious that little of it finally gets spent on doing the thing that is the raison d'etre of the charity. I have heard that admin can be the lion's share of charity "spend". I am sure there are many charities that are far better run than that, of course.
I give my time to the IAM. Making the roads safer for everyone - one driver at a time. Slow business - but very effective. Imagine if everyone drove to IAM/RoSPA ADA/HPC standards. That's something I feel is worth my time: the end result actually saves lives.
Direct cash donations I reserve for a very few charities. I tend to prefer those I can see the charitable service delivery and be assured that a few quid from me delivers a bit more of that service - e.g. Alder Hey Kids Hospital etc etc
There are thousands of charities registered in the UK. A very small number are "mega-charities" with monster budgets and highly paid executives and administrators. However, the bulk of UK charities are tiny and the vast bulk of people working for these charities do the work for either very little or absolutely nothing at all.
As I said earlier, if you want to help a charity, the best way to do it is not to give money but to give your time. I know quite a few people (mostly retired) who do this. In my case, my operatic society is actually a registered charity so all the time I devote to that, both on stage and through the admin work I do, is "charity work", which I do for absolutely nothing. In addition, if and when we make a profit on a show, most of that profit is handed out to local charities, who are always dreadfully short of funds.
Regarding tax, registered charities do not pay any tax on the profits they generate from their activities. However, if they employ people they still have to pay over to the Inland Revenue tax and National Insurance on those wages. Also, charities are not exempted from VAT, although, in certain very restricted circumstances they can get some reductions in VAT on some of the expenses they incurr. On the whole, charities have to register and cope with VAT just like "normal" businesses.
As I said earlier, if you want to help a charity, the best way to do it is not to give money but to give your time. I know quite a few people (mostly retired) who do this. In my case, my operatic society is actually a registered charity so all the time I devote to that, both on stage and through the admin work I do, is "charity work", which I do for absolutely nothing. In addition, if and when we make a profit on a show, most of that profit is handed out to local charities, who are always dreadfully short of funds.
Regarding tax, registered charities do not pay any tax on the profits they generate from their activities. However, if they employ people they still have to pay over to the Inland Revenue tax and National Insurance on those wages. Also, charities are not exempted from VAT, although, in certain very restricted circumstances they can get some reductions in VAT on some of the expenses they incurr. On the whole, charities have to register and cope with VAT just like "normal" businesses.
The bad ones tend to be the ones that get reported on - that is the nature of "news". Most charties do sterling work which would be sorely missed if they were forced to stop. Think of all the hospices and charity run nursing homes for war veterans and elderly war widows. Think of all the Rotary and Lions societies around the country who tirelessly give their time to providing all sorts of services to their local communities - taking wheelchair bound people to local shows and events, taking "meals on wheels" to housebound people, providing bereavement counselling etc. Our local Rotary recently shipped 10,000 obsolete wheelchairs to South Africa. They would have been scrapped here in the UK. In SA they go straight to the townships where they are gratefully received.
The list of charitable activities carried out in the UK is enormous.
Don't let a handfull of "rogue" cases put you off donating or helping.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 17th November 09:26
The list of charitable activities carried out in the UK is enormous.
Don't let a handfull of "rogue" cases put you off donating or helping.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 17th November 09:26
timmy30, tonker - I guess our experience differs. In a previous job I did some org design at a few charities & the ones I worked at had trouble getting the quality of candidate the required to fill certain positions. People were clamouring for MD & non-exec roles but it seemed other positions of responsibility were harder to attract people for.
A bit OT but a couple of Footsie 100 FD's I have spoken to recently have commented that the increasing legislation & responsibility on the position for listed & public interest companies is pushing the best to go to privately owned firm. The increasing emphasis on quarterly results as in the US is clashing with longer term planning & putting undue pressure on those in the job - seems counter productive to me.
A bit OT but a couple of Footsie 100 FD's I have spoken to recently have commented that the increasing legislation & responsibility on the position for listed & public interest companies is pushing the best to go to privately owned firm. The increasing emphasis on quarterly results as in the US is clashing with longer term planning & putting undue pressure on those in the job - seems counter productive to me.
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