There are, as I've said so many times before, far too many charities in the UK. Well over 20,000 supposed organisations that "do good". However, there are so many dubious tactics now employed in generating income (for that is exactly what it is) that it's hard to retain any sense of belief in a fucked up system endorsed at government level as well.
The UK government insists on continuing to give away billions of pounds despite recipient countries not wanting it, or deserving it or being thankful for it. The foreign aid budget is not diminishing at all, even in the harshest economic times. The stupidity and misplaced attentions of people in high office is astounding.
Charities try to generate an income, to feed not the causes for which they raise money, but in the first instance to meet running costs. These are the salaries for staff, and the premises that are maintained. There are in lager organisations, 'fat salaries' for those who manage to get donations up to high levels, even though it's quite possible that it's the money that no longer finds its way to another charity which has no high-earning fundraiser. I dislike the notion that the first £30,000 of donations covers the cost of one salary, and the next £10,000 pays for the 'company car' and so on. The other anomaly is the apparent worthiness of TV adverts to make us feel guilty - the mos recent having just come on to my TV in the last hour.
A charity called 'Sense' tells me to have my phone ready, and then explains how I can (and should) help a deaf blind child today, by texting TOY to 70007, thereby giving £3. This will be used to buy a toy for a blind deaf child. I have no wish to pick out blind deaf children as a target; I am simply questioning the motives and methods of an organisation adopting such adverts as a tactic. Surely the money spent on the advert could be used to get toys? I would not text and give £3 unless I knew a lot more about the financial calculations that proved (if indeed that's the case) this approach is viable and cost effective. If the response leads to 1000 people texting, then £3000 will be received. The advert say's £2.96 will get to the charity. Okay, so it's only 4p to cover the text costs, but what about the advert? This whole approach is like the charity fundraising trips, where people get sponsored to do things, but the first £1700 covers the flights and organisational costs for a two week cycling trip to raise money for distressed field mice in Borneo.
If there is a need for input to help deaf blind children, and I am positive there is, then the government should be doing something about it - that's what I pay taxes for. Instead, it gives money away to corrupt regimes, to pointless causes and in stupid amounts without first assessing the priorities adopted in the receiving countries. Commonly, the receiving countries are themselves ignoring what's needed and accepting foreign aid to plug the gap created. Meanwhile, in the UK, charities are forced to beg for money from the same taxpayers whose money is frittered away by the government. How may more requests for £3 or £2 per month are we going to get?
What's to be done?
Charities in the UK should merge massively, reduce running costs, and improve the percentage of money that reaches the causes they are focused on.
The government should target resources to the worthwhile charitable entities.
The government should stop wasting my money when there are deserving needs on our doorstep.
The general acceptance that something is good if "it's for charity" should be challenged more, and the proper economics should be disclosed to anyone considering donating. It would be interesting to know what is left on average for a £1 donation, after distillation. I reckon 90p in every pound is gone before the recipient sees anything.
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I agree, I feel these adverts are to make us feel guilty, so you will donate but there are too many of them. i don't feel the money goes where it should, nothing seems to change and corrupt regimes most likely syphon it off so it never gets to where it should. Also the charities themselves are questionable. We had chuggers before, accosting you in the street. Quite intimidating for some, also this direct debit business, if I want to donate to a charity, I would choose to do so in my own way, and not be dictated as to how to pay. Ifeel these adverts have merely replaced these chuggers as now you don't get them anymore. what I also don't like is the fact an elderly lady. Olive, someone, was hounded to her death by these so called charities, what kind of charity is that? i think these things have to be looked into more.
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