Would we cope?

[Onelife]

Hi Ken,

I used to collect all the pens, cards, and book marks, until such time that I had enough to fill enough party bags for our daughter's party.....I think kids like a change from the normal sweets etc: lol:

Just another little tip...the plastic clothes bag fits nicely into a pedal bins

“We are currently getting on average two deliveries a week”

I don’t like people knocking on our door for charity donations and I don’t like begging letters filled with junk either.

Regards

Keith

[Gill W]

Dear Gill, I'm in total agreement. Keep up the good work...you banker with soul you!!

Regards
Rob

That's the first time anybody has said anything nice about bank employees since about 2007 !


Also, if anybody is worried about monies being spent by large charities on overheads and marketing, but still would like to give to charity, may I suggest finding one of the smaller charities. There are some tiny charities that still do fantastic work, which would be delighted with your support.

See http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk to find all the many charities that are in existance - and their accounts are published on the site for all to see, so it is very transparent about where money is going

[Gill W]

Dear Gill, I'm in total agreement. Keep up the good work...you banker with soul you!!

Regards
Rob

That's about the first time that anybody has said anything nice about bank employees since 2007!


If anybody wants to know about how charities spend money they can look at http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk

The financial accounts of charities are posted on there so you can see where the money goes

If you don't like the idea of giving to the larger charities with large overheads, you can always find a smaller charity, who would be delighted to recive a small donation

[Frank Manning]

That's about the first time that anybody has said anything nice about bank employees since 2007!

The coal face employees are fine! Our personal banker does everything possible for us. It's city wideboys I am suspicious of.


If you don't like the idea of giving to the larger charities with large overheads, you can always find a smaller charity, who would be delighted to recive a small donation

Mission to Seafarers for example!

[Silver_Shiney]

Gill, I know CAF can claim back tax under Gift Aid and you issue vouchers for donors to use as cheques (or set up standing orders to charities) - how much does CAF deduct for running costs, please?

[Kendhni]

Hi Ken,

I used to collect all the pens, cards, and book marks, until such time that I had enough to fill enough party bags for our daughter's party.....I think kids like a change from the normal sweets etc: lol:

Just another little tip...the plastic clothes bag fits nicely into a pedal bins

“We are currently getting on average two deliveries a week”

I don’t like people knocking on our door for charity donations and I don’t like begging letters filled with junk either.

Regards

Keith

I am in a catch-22 ... if I use the items I feel guilty for not making a donation ... if I don't use them then effectively they become waste, which I detest.


We are actually just back from doing a brief run for Julies brother, who not only works for one of the large overseas charities but has also personally set up a small non-charitable outfit supplying educational toys for children in Africa from his home. We had to visit one lady who had a large collection of items that formed the basis of what Julies brother needed ... from what she said, after nursing her husband for many years she is losing her own sight, but she pretty much spends all her time and a lot of money helping various charities ... she was very inspirational.

[haveabeer]

My daughter got a job looking after a elderly lady who became bed ridden she was clearing out the ladies bedroom and found a stash of letters when she asked the old lady what she wanted her to do with them the lady said they where letters from charities and would she go through them to see if she had donated already my daughter said there was at least 40 letters all quite recent asking for donations pictures of starving children and animals
When my daughter got home she rang a relative to let her know turns out most of the ladies pension and savings had been given to them she had 10 Direct debits to various charities
I just throw them away when we get them

[Silver_Shiney]

My mother made a small gift to the Vulcan restoration fund and they passed her details to all the other military charities, resulting in loads of begging letters. underhand or what?

[Kaziebelle]

No,we would not cope,just like we don't cope with our very mild winters and in a couple of weeks time,the country will grind to a holt because we've had two inches of snow!...incredible!

[Silver_Shiney]

I don't think we'd cope. The food banks are having a job to cope with just the tragedy of rising family debt, never mind what might happen in the wake of a disaster like the Phillipines. and that's only one example of charitable aid.

[Kendhni]

SS, probably one for another thread, but sadly (and predictably) food banks are being badly abused ... I know for a fact some people use them simply because they can and it allows them to save money for the luxuries in life ... some also get what they can for free and then sell it on cheaply to anybody who will buy it.

A good charitable idea that falls due to the fact that when you give people something for nothing then they end up putting no value on that item. The politics of envy then kick in with the concept 'if she can get it why can't I' and so the abuse spreads like a cancer.

[Gill W]

Gill, I know CAF can claim back tax under Gift Aid and you issue vouchers for donors to use as cheques (or set up standing orders to charities) - how much does CAF deduct for running costs, please?

I'm not on that side of things - I'm in the banking arm of the organisation.

However, the best thing I can do is to direct you to the Charities commission website, where full financial details are held.

I noticed that for the financial year end 2013, 94% of income was spent on charitable spending.

[Silver_Shiney]

SS, probably one for another thread, but sadly (and predictably) food banks are being badly abused ... I know for a fact some people use them simply because they can and it allows them to save money for the luxuries in life ... some also get what they can for free and then sell it on cheaply to anybody who will buy it.

A good charitable idea that falls due to the fact that when you give people something for nothing then they end up putting no value on that item. The politics of envy then kick in with the concept 'if she can get it why can't I' and so the abuse spreads like a cancer.

Ken, the ones in Bristol only give to those who have been vetted by police/social services/doctor and have been issued with a voucher. You can't just turn up. Your assertion of the system being abused strengthens my view that they wouldn't cope when the smelly stuff impacts on the air conditioning...

[Silver_Shiney]

Gill, I know CAF can claim back tax under Gift Aid and you issue vouchers for donors to use as cheques (or set up standing orders to charities) - how much does CAF deduct for running costs, please?

I'm not on that side of things - I'm in the banking arm of the organisation.

However, the best thing I can do is to direct you to the Charities commission website, where full financial details are held.

I noticed that for the financial year end 2013, 94% of income was spent on charitable spending.

And a very fine bank it is, too.

94% would infer deductions of 6% for running costs.

Thanks for that, Gill

[Kendhni]

SS, probably one for another thread, but sadly (and predictably) food banks are being badly abused ... I know for a fact some people use them simply because they can and it allows them to save money for the luxuries in life ... some also get what they can for free and then sell it on cheaply to anybody who will buy it.

A good charitable idea that falls due to the fact that when you give people something for nothing then they end up putting no value on that item. The politics of envy then kick in with the concept 'if she can get it why can't I' and so the abuse spreads like a cancer.

Ken, the ones in Bristol only give to those who have been vetted by police/social services/doctor and have been issued with a voucher. You can't just turn up. Your assertion of the system being abused strengthens my view that they wouldn't cope when the smelly stuff impacts on the air conditioning...

Ironically, I reckon many who have experience of making ends meet would survive much better than those of us who have not had to suffer major hardship. I know when I got made redundant I went to members of my family on the 'other side of the track' ... and they tried to be helpful, but unfortunately many of the things meant being very economical and selective with the truth or bordering on illegal .. but that is their way of life!

[Silver_Shiney]

I'm quite sure you are right Ken