After reading the thread about the Asia disaster i noticed alot of people had mentioned donations...

This got me thinking how many people do actually give to Charities? an how many wait for a disaster such as Asia to happen?

We shouldn't be waiting for the next disaster to give us that wake up call 'money is needed!'

I have to admit that I only donate when I have loose change.

I don't have that much money as it is so I can't donate a lot to charity.

i always buy a big issue
and give my stuff to oxfam
and this year i got 10 chickens from there
so maybe i do donate in a strange kind of way. afterall donations arent just about money...

I donate to the NSPCC by direct debit, but thats the only charity I donate to.

meningitus
cancer
nspcc
mencap
ywca
wildlife
help the aged

buy books from charity shops and cards as go thru them like sweets! always manage to fill a bag for collection too and drop off stuff at CATS, even though i dont like cats?!
i hear mixed things about charities and the real truth behind them. think we trust too much, but whats the alternative? until i can afford to take clothes and money across myself, i stick to standing order!

Originally posted by nick2
I donate to the NSPCC by direct debit, but thats the only charity I donate to.

Me too Nick, NSPCC monthly. As well as giving clothes to charities when they bring their bags around and am going to set up an account to give to a muslim charity 'Helping Hands' which basically helps all the refugees and homeless created by Mr Blair and Mr Bush in war torn countries.

I run a community forum for student fundraisers and tend to put my energy and time into that... ironically that reduces my income potential so it's more indirect contributions...

All good stuff though...

I don't take clothes to charity shops anymore. I give them to a friend of my sisters who then hands them out to homeless people on the streets for free. They also take blankets, shoes, towels etc.

Originally posted by nick2
I don't take clothes to charity shops anymore. I give them to a friend of my sisters who then hands them out to homeless people on the streets for free. They also take blankets, shoes, towels etc.
have you thought about advertising this, id def be interested in doing this - how do you go about it? i bet lots of people on here would prob prefer this as its local

Originally posted by NatalieSheff
have you thought about advertising this, id def be interested in doing this - how do you go about it? i bet lots of people on here would prob prefer this as its local

I'll get some details from my sister and let you all know.

appreciated:thumbsup:

OK.....regular monthly contributions to Oxfam and The Camphill Trust (http://www.camphill.org.uk/).

I'm currently a Trustee of an animal welfare charity (SYAR).

I also do various bits of support for voluntary organisations, and for several years was a school governor, Chairman of Governors, and such for a local school.

I also dig in my pocket in passing to charity collectors, although the very 'pushy' ones who look like they're trying to sell me raffle tickets tend to get short shrift.

I'm also a soft touch for beggars.

In other donations we keep the books and clothes departments of animal charities and Oxfam busy with our 'no longer space for these' piles! Unfortunately, we then go and buy more books and clothes from them...sort of cycle of donations...:)

Joe

I occassionally give money to charities. I hate it when you're almost forced into giving money when you're sitting minding your own business in a pub and someone comes round waving a collection box under your nose, I'd rather make an informed decision before donating.

I'd rather give my services for free than give loose change, I've done a website for free for a barn owl organisation, I'd quite like to do more stuff like that in the future.

I will seldom give to charities on the street.

I donate by direct debit to 3 charities each month.

The organisations are currently:

Oxfam
Mental Health Foundation
The Salvation Army

As of January my association with Oxfam will have come to an end as I have decided to transfer my donation to another charity that is close to my heart, The Samaritans.

I know I often make fun of the Salvation Army but it's all tongue in cheek really. They are extremely well organised and I have a lot of time and respect for them. Whenever there is any kind of incident they are always among the first on the scene and they carry out their work quietly and effectively in the background without too many people noticing.

I donate mainly to animal charitys, i used to give to more humanitarian charitys but my faith in mankind is running dry at the moment . Although I am sure I will send a donation to the poor folk who have been effected by the earthquakes

i do but i get sick of it in town you walk from the bottom of the moor to markets and get stopped about 10 times i do donate but i hate being hassled i have done my bit and just want to get from a to z without the hassle

I've donated to the tsunami relief fund. But generally I'm of the opinion that there are so many seemingly worthwhile causes it's hard to know where to begin. And where your money's going. Is the money I've given going to arrive in time to do much good?

Originally posted by honeyplanet
I donate mainly to animal charitys, i used to give to more humanitarian charitys but my faith in mankind is running dry at the moment . Although I am sure I will send a donation to the poor folk who have been effected by the earthquakes My preference is for animal charities that affect peoples lives - like the PDSA. To some people, all they have in the world is their pet, and to be unable to afford the bills when their best friend is sick....

We have a 'charities' credit card, so instead of us getting cashback, the bluecross benefits. I'd also like to be able to donate all of my supermarket points this way, but there doesn't seem to be a mechanism for that. Does anybody know anything different?

We pay by direct debit to NSPCC and cancer research, but it really makes me angry when they come asking for more, plus they write to ask for the extra, wasting a stamp and the paper, when I first joined I asked to be informed about anything by E-mail only, hopefully they won't ask again.

I always donate on a monthly basis. I always have since I have had a full-time job. I have a direct-debit for £10 going to poor people in third world countries. I know that it is going to a more needy person than myself.

I don't earn a lot but I know that I have a roof over my head and get food in my mouth ever night. Sometimes we do not realise how lucky we are. I think I would give more if I had a higher salary.

Kady

Originally posted by Strix
...the bluecross benefits. I'd also like to be able to donate all of my supermarket points this way, but there doesn't seem to be a mechanism for that. Does anybody know anything different?

If you have a Nectar Card you can donate your points to charity.

Originally posted by Andy
If you have a Nectar Card you can donate your points to charity. Thanks Andy. I'll get one of those then.

When I was back home in Sheffield, I would always try to give money to the homeless, buy them a brew or sandwich, take time to talk to them, buy from charity shops, donate to charities etc. I was also a member of the Free Tibet Campaign, and various other charities. Now that I'm travelling, it's a little more difficult, but I still try and do as much as I can.

When I was in Bodh Gaya last month (located in Bihar, the poorest and most corrupt state in India), I would buy bananas to hand out to the beggars each day.

To give you an idea of the poverty and desperate need of charity there: the streets of Bodh Gaya are literally lined with beggars - many of which are currently suffering from leprosy, or have suffered from Polio in the past. Children and teenagers crawl up to you with their crippled, thin legs dragging behind them, underneath them, or contorted on top of them, asking for money and banging their metal alms bowls on the ground, or sliding them to your feet; old ladies show you their deformed babies; and small hands tug at your clothes as people of all ages sorrowfully gesticulate towards their mouths, indicating their hunger. It opens your eyes to a world of poverty and suffering you can't possibly even begin to imagine until you witness it first hand.

Unfortunately, giving them money isn't the best option, since the "beggar master", who essentially pimps out the beggars, retains much of the money collected each day.

It's possibly the most harrowing thing I've ever seen, and in a way, I wish everyone who heartlessly says "I don't give to anyone", "charity begins at home" and so on, could witness this too (and I don't mean via rose tinted television), and then tell me that they don't want to help.

Drink one less pint a week, eat one less packet of chrisps a day - whatever - and use that money to help someone live a better life. Will donating one pound a week really have that much of a detremental effect on your lifestyle? I doubt it very much. It will however, probably make at least one person's life more bearable.

Monthly Direct debits to:
Oxfam
Cancer Research
PDSA
RSPCA

I did a sponsored absail down the Sheffield town hall for Sheffield Kidney research couple of years ago. Also had to dress in Billy the kidney outfit (giant kidney dressed in a cowboy outfit) outside the Sheffield United ground, good job no one could recognise me.

and im a sucker for any collection buckets if I have change.

I donate my time to charity, rather than money, usually.

I have worked with the homeless, streetdinkers etc, I have helped staff night-shelters.

I have been involved in mentoring youths through the "Football Unites Racism Divides" scheme.

I am chairperson of a disability access group, and am a member of other committees, such as an accessible transport committee.

I do this because I want to do something that is actually practical, and useful, with my time, not through any altruistic motives. I want to "make a difference".

My current employment came about. as a result of volunteering with a disability charity.

My time is as valuable to any charity as if I put my hand into my pocket. an hour of my time, depending on which of my skills I am using, can be worth anything from about £5 an hour to £10-15, to the charity. so, a four-hour shift, can be worth £20-60 to them. I don't have the financial resources to dip into my pocket and hand over £60 to a charity, but i have four hours free, that can be the equivalent to the charity.

PT

I only ever donate to what I perceive are good causes: Cancer Research, RSPCA, Oxfam and British Heart Foundation. I never under any circumstances by things like the Big Issue. I never see any change in the sellers lives from buying it. For example, there is a vendor in Manchester on King Street and he's been selling on there for nearly 5 years. What difference has it made to his life? Is it really getting homeless people off the street? Instead I donate to Shelter.

Originally posted by Hodge
Drink one less pint a week, eat one less packet of chrisps a day - whatever - and use that money to help someone live a better life. Will donating one pound a week really have that much of a detremental effect on your lifestyle? I doubt it very much. It will however, probably make at least one person's life more bearable.
Alternatively, get a job, and pay taxes into the civil fund, instead of poncing off round the world for a year.

Originally posted by foo_fighter
Alternatively, get a job, and pay taxes into the civil fund, instead of poncing off round the world for a year.

LOL - yes, obviously I'm travelling completely free of charge, sponging from the coutries I visit...

I've actually been doing precisely that since leaving University my friend. I'm still paying taxes into the civil fund, and trying to help out as I travel - whilst also injecting money into the local economies of the places I visit. :P

Originally posted by Hodge
LOL - yes, obviously I'm travelling completely free of charge, sponging from the coutries I visit...

I've actually been doing precisely that since leaving University my friend. I'm still paying taxes into the civil fund, and trying to help out as I travel - whilst also injecting money into the local economies of the places I visit. :P
Ooh good, glad you've been doing something "since" leaving University. You have therefore of course earned the right to pontificate to the rest of us.

Anyway, you enjoy Asia, I'm off for a pint and a packet of crisps.

:wave:

Originally posted by foo_fighter
Ooh good, glad you've been doing something "since" leaving University. You have therefore of course earned the right to pontificate to the rest of us.

Anyway, you enjoy Asia, I'm off for a pint and a packet of crisps.

:wave:

I've not earned the right to do anything. Admittedly it was a somewhat dogmatic post - which you seem to be taking personally - it was directed at those who just don't seem to give a damn about anyone or anything but themselves, and their own lifestyle. I just find it very difficult to understand how some people simply don't care. Sorry, I just think it sucks.

Television, news papers, and so on will never really be able to portray just how bad things are in some places, and witnessing these things first hand has really made me think about what's important.

A couple of quid is nothing to most people back home, but can make a HUGE difference elsewhere. The equivalent to a pint and a packet of chrisps bought a new pair of shoes, a shawl and a few meals for a beggar in Bodh Gaya.

None of the above, so I can't vote.

Yes I do and I chose my charity carefully.
I don't however go with trends or fads or what's in vogue.

I don't like to see all these named celebs like Cheree Bliar taking expenses. They are lower than a slug's Bolleux IMO.

I made a 1 off huge donation at Christmas to the
Ghurka ex-servicemans charity purely because our Gov't won't give them equal rights as UK ex servicemen.

Personal issue with this.



We also regulalrly help a Rotherham special school with fundraising... :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Hodge
I've not earned the right to do anything. Admittedly it was a somewhat dogmatic post - which you seem to be taking personally - it was directed at those who just don't seem to give a damn about anyone or anything but themselves, and their own lifestyle. I just find it very difficult to understand how some people simply don't care. Sorry, I just think it sucks.

Television, news papers, and so on will never really be able to portray just how bad things are in some places, and witnessing these things first hand has really made me think about what's important.

A couple of quid is nothing to most people back home, but can make a HUGE difference elsewhere. The equivalent to a pint and a packet of chrisps bought a new pair of shoes, a shawl and a few meals for a beggar in Bodh Gaya.
I fully agree with what you say, as you've noticed, I wasn't taking issue with you sentiments, but the way in which they were expressed.

Of course we should all be mindful of these issues.

Unfortunately, we also need to exercise caution and target our assistance where it will do most good, isn't it a sad world where this is necessary.

As you highlighted in your earlier post, the beggars with outstretched "alms" bowls, and the master taking a sizeable cut (of course alms means "freely given", so how can anyone beg for alms?).

I would of course encourage anyone to give to worthy causes, where and if they can, but please try to make sure they are the ones who get the help to the people who actually need it, whatever your chosen cause may be.

Originally posted by foo_fighter
As you highlighted in your earlier post, the beggars with outstretched "alms" bowls, and the master taking a sizeable cut (of course alms means "freely given", so how can anyone beg for alms?).

Sorry - I've started thinking locally... it's just what they're generally called over here. I think in Rupees as opposed to punds at the moment too...

I donated to the tsunami disaster relief fund and did a small collection at work. However, I agree with Angel that people wait for something to happen before they donate. I think the problem that most people face is knowing who to donate to; not necessarily that people are being tight.

I wanted to do something locally so volunteered for the SRSB (Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind). Amongst others, SRSB are always looking for help, even just a few hours a week.

Over the Christmas period, when I had some spare time, I tried to help out at the shelters but was unable to due to the compulsory training sessions that I was unable to attend (damn red tape!).

Glad to see that so many people on here are so generous.

I think it is odd that the poll includes an option of 'only to cancer research'. Cancer Research charities (most of them) are among the many that I will NOT support.

Once they stop killing thousands of animals, then I'll happily contribute. :rant:

Info here. (http://www.navs.org.uk/vivisection/brokenleg/)

K x

I too have given my time to help others which I think is more valuable than money.
I also used to buy the big issue until I went to a talk given by 2 exdrug takers, they recommended I give a sandwich or hot/cold drink to the sellers.
Hazel

Time is the most precious commodity that anyone can give Hazel.

The size of cash donation is relative to how much a person has as disposable income, to a poor man £10 is a large donation, yet to a wealthy man £10,000 can be a drop in the ocean, but time cannot be measured or counted.