FabSwingers.com forum: Should charity start at home ?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Further on than the japanese disaster...

Do you feel that a country our size and with our problems should be spending hard earned money on other countries ?

I give per mth to cancer charities and dont mind at all.

I also buy my big issue etc.

But if you watch the tv these days, every other ad is for charity.

We have so many in need in this country as it is. re the homeless etc.

Do you think the government has the right to spend as much as they do on over seas aid ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

charity is a big business.

there are a lot of home grown charities that don't get the funds they need to be able to pay for the kind of blanket advertising some of these other larger charities do.

i used to donate to oxfam, but cancelled after getting bombed with mail and free pens etc from them...not what i was donating for

the amount you donate to some of these charities that actually goes to those in need actually exposes them as nothing more than money grinders.

i completely applaud charity work and those that do volunteer their time and money...likewise, i donate to cancer research, however, i do look into the charities i select and do believe that local charities are where the money should go...helping to support your own community. especially in the light of recent government changes that will see these charities more than any others seeing little or no funding.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"...............

Do you think the government has the right to spend as much as they do on over seas aid ? "

I suppose the only correct answer to that is .... yes, they got elected (almost) and they and the Fib Dems can do pretty much whatever they can get a Commons majority for.

If you mean Is it right? That's another matter. I don't know how much international development money is actually sent to the recipient country in hard cash but I doubt it's much.

I believe it's much more along the lines of sending an economic advisor who suggests what your country needs is such and such a factory and, surprise surprise, we have the very firm here in the UK who'll build one for you.

I know that's pretty much how Military Attaches work and how many a second-hand frigate has been disposed of

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"charity is a big business.

there are a lot of home grown charities that don't get the funds they need to be able to pay for the kind of blanket advertising some of these other larger charities do.

.................."

Is that maybe because there are an awful lot of charities trying to do pretty much the same thing? I read recently there are over 2,000 registered charities in the UK dedicated to providing help and support to service folks and ex-service folks.

Whilst no one doubts their motives there must inevitably be a certain amount of duplication and money spent on admin etc which could be better targetted elsewhere.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i pay every month 20quid to mcmillan nurses as very close to my heart they do a great job.

yes think charity begins at home 2 lots people need help here as well as japan

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I pay monthly contributions to cancer charities, children's charities, blind charities, and homeless charities, all close to my heart and personal to me.

I'd prefer to feed and clothe some of our own homeless on the street than some foreign aid.

We have so many charities for everyone abroad too, this little island is run on charity, lets see a little more of it staying and sorting some of our homegrown poverty and suffering.. xxx

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By *edangel_2013Woman
over a year ago

southend

I did a project for college once. Oxfam is one of the worse charities to give money to. For every pound that is donated 89p goes on admin, with 11p actually reaching the cause. Which is why I refuse to even shop in an Oxfam store.

Bearing in mind this was around 5 years ago, so its likely to be different now.

Either way, I prefer to donate my time rather then my money, at least I know its making a difference.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"...............

Do you think the government has the right to spend as much as they do on over seas aid ?

I suppose the only correct answer to that is .... yes, they got elected (almost) and they and the Fib Dems can do pretty much whatever they can get a Commons majority for.

If you mean Is it right? That's another matter. I don't know how much international development money is actually sent to the recipient country in hard cash but I doubt it's much.

I know that's pretty much how Military Attaches work and how many a second-hand frigate has been disposed of

And there you have it! That's what I alluded to on the Japan thread. Britain will send in experts to assist and recommend British firms to do the work!

As for home grown charities: compare the bank balances of oh Guide Dog's For The Blind to let's see NSPCC, Save the Children, Banardo's and Help the Aged.

I'd bet my house the "people" charities combined don't have half as much as Guide Dog's.

So perhaps before we get all huffy about sending money overseas we should look closer to home how WE support our neighbours in need!

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By *waymanMan
over a year ago

newcastle

[Removed by poster at 17/03/11 06:20:40]

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By *waymanMan
over a year ago

newcastle

According to the charity commission website, of their total income of £318M in the last reporting year, £216.3 million was spent on charitable activities. I make that 68% of total income spent on charitable activities.

On their trading activities they spent £58M to generate £74M - a 22% profit.

So I won't comment on the quality of your college profit, but your claims about the numbers don't add up.

Apologies for resubmission - the quote didn;t appear - these are the numbers for Oxfam, who were referred to above.

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By *waymanMan
over a year ago

newcastle

"...............

Do you think the government has the right to spend as much as they do on over seas aid ?

I suppose the only correct answer to that is .... yes, they got elected (almost) and they and the Fib Dems can do pretty much whatever they can get a Commons majority for.

If you mean Is it right? That's another matter. I don't know how much international development money is actually sent to the recipient country in hard cash but I doubt it's much.

I know that's pretty much how Military Attaches work and how many a second-hand frigate has been disposed of

And there you have it! That's what I alluded to on the Japan thread. Britain will send in experts to assist and recommend British firms to do the work!

As for home grown charities: compare the bank balances of oh Guide Dog's For The Blind to let's see NSPCC, Save the Children, Banardo's and Help the Aged.

I'd bet my house the "people" charities combined don't have half as much as Guide Dog's.

So perhaps before we get all huffy about sending money overseas we should look closer to home how WE support our neighbours in need!"

Income for Barnardos in the last reporting year? £234 million. Income for Guide Dogs for the Blind? £60M.

Barnardos assets? £117M. Guide Dogs for the Blind? £38M

I'll have your house please - you lost the bet.

Incidentally, Guide Dogs spend over 88% of their income on charitable activities. Barnardos spend 75%. Guide Dogs for the Blind are losing out to other charities like Barnardos because they rely on traditional voluntary donations, not chugging and the charity chops that are killing off small businesses and traditional markets all over the UK.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

While i sympathise with the Japanese over their recent horrible experience , I have to say I think our government would be better off spending the cash that does go abroad in our home countries.

Our education system is in need , the homeless problems are rising daily and even our benefits system is struggling.

Yes charity should begin at home , but not to all these charities that have been previously mentioned , whilst i do agree they are worth while and do support the british heart foundation , for personal reasons. I do think if our government concentrated on getting our countries back on their feet, ie enough jobs to go around , enough homes for our homeless and for our children who are up and coming, a better education system our voting population would be happier with the job our so called 'elected' government down south would be better supported and appreciated.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Not particularly but then if we had a big disaster here, would we not want other countries helping us?

And most of my clothes come from charity shops, i feel thats enough help to charities i can afford

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By *edhotminxWoman
over a year ago

Turn left at the Singing Ringing Tree

With the 'chuggers' (charity muggers) that ask you to fill out forms in the street to pay by DD each month to said charity - the charity pays them £100 for each lead. If you pay £10 a month to said charity, it will take them nearly a year before they see any money for themselves!

30 yrs ago my father worked for a well known insurance company, in their pensions department, and their biggest account was for Oxfam.

I always support local charities, as the big boys can look after themselves as they have the funds for all the advertising etc. I do, however, believe in 'help thy neighbour' and every country in the world is our neighbour. Japan is a deserving case, nature has wrecked havoc and there is no way that they can deal with this disaster on their own.

If some of the larger charities in the UK actually dipped into their reserves, then more people here could be helped out.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I struggle with street attacks, if i want to donate money to whatever charity then like someone else says, i will have a look see and decide who i want my money to go to.

I dont need to be accosted in the street.

It has emerged over the years that said governments have creamed off the money sent abroad for needy causes.

Those in need didnt see any of it.

I also think we need it to be a community thing. start much closer to home. if all communities did this , things may just get a little better ?

Who knows .?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"............

It has emerged over the years that said governments have creamed off the money sent abroad for needy causes.

Those in need didnt see any of it.

............. "

That's why Britain has historically tried to send benefit in kind as opposed to hard cash.

Of course, if an overseas government is determined to find a way to line its own pockets by selling on that factory to (or expecting a large sweetener from) the end-user it's difficult to stop that happening.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"................

I also think we need it to be a community thing. start much closer to home. if all communities did this , things may just get a little better ?

Who knows .? "

Almost all communities are doing some kind of stuff already. What they lack is local support - either financial or in terms of volunteers.

My local community council area includes areas of serious wealth and great deprivation and it's sometimes difficult to get people from both sides of that divide together for the benefit of both.

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By *mf4BxJCouple
over a year ago

edinburgh

I think it's up to people to decide how and when they want to donate their money and urge people to put a little bit of research into their chosen cause.

However, in times of unprecedented disaster I think it's up to goverments and individuals to do all they can. It makes me baulk to hear people saying things like 'well we have our own problems' in relation to Japan. Stop and think about that for a second. Our 'problems' are NOTHING compared to what's going on over there.

We are all residents of planet earth. Natural disasters know no boundaries and neither should we.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

We've been contributing to the economies of lesser countries for so long now that our 'aid' is considered to be reliable income and should we suddenly cease those payments the countries no longer receiving them could turn against us - biting the hand that feeds them, so to speak. The ramifications of that is that we could lose vital bases overseas in terms of military, economic and manufacturing. It's a rod we made for our own backs and it would be extremely difficult to extricate ourselves from the complex aid programme we have now.

It's not quite as simple as saying, "why can't we just tell them to piss off."

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I was finding it really hard to decide whether I should donate money to japan or comic relief.

So in the end I just bought myself a jacuzzi.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

People have a choice which if any charity they like to give to. If people want to give to third world countries thats up to them. I would love to adopt a family but cant afford it so i give to charity that means something to me. But different charities will mean different things to different people, going on an individuals experience

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By *leasureDomeMan
over a year ago

all over the place

"Further on than the japanese disaster...

Do you feel that a country our size and with our problems should be spending hard earned money on other countries ?

I give per mth to cancer charities and dont mind at all.

I also buy my big issue etc.

But if you watch the tv these days, every other ad is for charity.

We have so many in need in this country as it is. re the homeless etc.

Do you think the government has the right to spend as much as they do on over seas aid ? "

its a good question ,i think its good we give to poorer countries if we can spare it,sweden give the most comparitively giving over 1% of gdp.

On the TV advertising i always think well if your so desperate for this money to save this, that or the other what are you doing paying for regular TV adverts, which dont come cheap.

Why not just use that money first as after a bit you get immune,i mean if i gave 3 quid a month to all the ones requesting it i would need it myself.

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

I used to parcel all my sons baby clothes up and send them to Rumania. When my friend was working in an orphanage over there she said to me i dont know why you bother, they dont get any of the good stuff. Realistic i know, but spoilt my illusion of all those little children in nice things

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Further on than the japanese disaster...

Do you feel that a country our size and with our problems should be spending hard earned money on other countries ?

I give per mth to cancer charities and dont mind at all.

I also buy my big issue etc.

But if you watch the tv these days, every other ad is for charity.

We have so many in need in this country as it is. re the homeless etc.

Do you think the government has the right to spend as much as they do on over seas aid ?

its a good question ,i think its good we give to poorer countries if we can spare it,sweden give the most comparitively giving over 1% of gdp.

On the TV advertising i always think well if your so desperate for this money to save this, that or the other what are you doing paying for regular TV adverts, which dont come cheap.

Why not just use that money first as after a bit you get immune,i mean if i gave 3 quid a month to all the ones requesting it i would need it myself."

So true...

One night i added them all up and i would need to win the lottery to support all the charity ads let alone my self.

Thats serious money

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