What charity appeals or appeals for sponsorship gets you to put your hands in your pockets?
When you see dying African kids does that get you donating or do you think, "well, however much we've given to Africa over the years nothings changed".
If you see an appeal for wild animals going extinct do you write a cheque or think "well, it's only an animal".
For us, appeals for UK based charities get much more attention and support than those to help people abroad, but we have supported several appeals to help nature or wildlife round the world.
Are baby Elephants and Tigers more photogenic than human babies hence tug on heartstrings more? Maybe you think that you'd give money to provide contraceptives to Africans rather than any other aid.
So over to you, what sort of charity do you support and why?
John & Shel
well...firstly think it is wrong to say nothing has changed in Africa. The money is generally well spent and has saved alot of lives and funded alot of good things, so as people can help themselves. I was hearing on radio other day how Red Nose day funded a project that lends out money interest free to projects. That money is then paid back, within an allotted time and so ready to be used again. So in effect the money is being constanly recycled.
Myself I tend to offer my support to cancer Charities, as I have known a few people effected by that. In the same way you could say nothing changes, people still die of Cancer, but the research is slowly helping, and I hope one day will find a cure.
I have given monthly donations to Tommy's for the past 18 years since having a stillborn baby and previously two miscarriages. They do research into stillborn, premature birth and miscarriages. I just felt I wanted to do a bit to try and help others from suffering what I had suffered so was the charity was close to my heart.
No secret on this forum about my donations. I never ever donate to foreign aid as invariably most of that money raised ends up going to African despots to fund wars. The same areas that Mr Geldolf was helping back in the 80's is as bad today even with all the money raised.
Medicine is the best thing that can happen to places like that, as diseases that we now think are rare exist everywhere there. Aids is still a major problem on that Continent which is dreadful. I do donate to cancer research as well and occasionally to Help For Heroes.
Oh and I always give something to Children in Need when that time of year comes around, as I really hate to see kids suffer.
I am a great believer that most people will give money to a charity connected with their own live. Dean has said he gives to cancer charities as he has known people affected by cancer, similarly Minx gives to Tommys after events in her life. I think this is the true meaning of the phrase charity begins at home these days. It certainly affects the way I deal with charities and whom I give my donations too.
I have no guilty feelings when I say no to a chugger.
I give to Water Aid cos without a secure water supply the rest of aid is pointless. I give to Macmillan cos we don't have the proper support for cancer sufferers while they are undergoing treatment etc on the NHS.
I will never gove to any animal charity while children are born into poverty. But I would give to prevent animal cruelty (preferably by shooting people who do dog-fights etc) one PEOPLE have the means to live in safety.
I give spare furniture to local charities that sipport people moving from abusive spouses or youngsters moving out of care nto their own little places.
I'm currently knitting little outfits for 'fish and chip' babies - born so poor (in sub-Saharan Africa) they are brought to the clinic in newspaper. I have the pattern if anyone is interested.
I do think Governments or charities need to think about where the money is being spent in Africa, since I was a child we have poured money into parts of the Continent and that is over 50 years yet still thousands die every day. It does seem like a bottomless pit where current aid simply isn't working to solve the underlying problems.
I don't object to giving to some charities but do believe it is a terrible situation that our best childrens hospital has to rely on charity, that many rescue services are in the same position.
That we give so much in foreign aid (millons was given to China and Vietnam) when some of our most deserving causes have to rely on charity, that we give £750 million to Pakistan for thier education system when ours is desperate for funds.
First was for Macmillen cancer doing a parachute jump and the 2nd most recent one was for Help For Heroes ..
I used to give a bit to the collectors before they wanted a direct debit and refused a tenner ...
Charity begins at home too i think .. why do we send millions overseas and cant treat our soldiers is beyond me ..
Working in Africa right now too ... Its not like on Bobs music vid but not even near the civilised world in many places ... Trying to get them closer by putting banking facilities in tribal villages ... so doing my bit for the world ... well thats what i tell myself or id be as morally corrupt as my Mum told me when she found out what I was upto ...
Doing a new one in the Summer for Help for Heroes again .. ill be back with the link for your sponsor money around Jun .. group of mates are doing 3 marathons in 3 countries in 3 days ... gotta be worth at least 20 surely.
I hope to get over the 2k mark this time ... anyone else doing something exciting for charity soon then?
Id do another for help for heroes or children in need ... one deserves our full help the other is just embarrassing we need charity to help with.
Cheers
J
A ballpark figure with a margin of error built in is that it could cost between £80 and £160 to recruit a new donor via F2F. This means, if the donor gave £10 a month, it would take between eight and 16 months to ‘break even’.
