So many good causes, how do I choose?

A tail of two charities

When giving to a charity it should be local and address the big issue that you are concerned about the most. You want highest impact for your pound. I support the Maggie Oliver Foundation, which provides support to survivors of grooming gangs. The charity supports girls who have experienced the worst level of abuse and are now survivors and rebuilding their lives.

The second charity is the Wildfowl Trust. I signed up whilst visiting one of their centres twenty years ago and have never cancelled the annual direct debit. I think ducks are ok, but im not the biggest fan. It goes to show the pull of charities and how careful you have to be in not supporting to much. Especially with TV advertising.

I have donated most to AgeUK and DiabetesUK - the latter because I have a friend whose diabetic son has had terrible problems. I also make a weekly donation to food banks via my Ocado order. As someone has already said, they double the donation. I like to donate to a charity that provides books for children who can’t afford them. I think it’s called the Book Trust.

It is certainly hard to choose!

No, it's not.

For those in peril on the sea
They put their own lives at risk

An RNLI coxswain is paid just £30,000 per year. In return, he's responsible for making sure that every boat is ready and sea worthy 24/7/365; lead the volunteers out to sea, manage the rescue mission and get them all back safely, in the most terrifying sea conditions and often in the pitch black of night. £30,000for putting your life, and those of the volunteers, on the line isn't much is it?

I really think that they should receive funding from the Government but I think the RNLI prefer it that way to maintain control of how they operate.

We're an island nation and this is an essential service.

Yes I like to support the RNLI too Callistemon, especially when I learnt how much they were allocated for going out, sometimes all night, to rescue those who need it. I was truly shocked.

I like to support the RNLI and the local marine and land rescue service too.

I agree with you Harri I couldn’t support a charity that pays their executives six figure salaries .

Hope this has helped phoenix

A friend of mine once said ‘yes charity begins at home, but it doesn’t have to stop there’.

I feel desperately sad though for people in African countries (and others) who lead such miserable lives whilst their corrupt governments cream off aid or steal resources from their own countrymen, bringing a retinue of wives over to Harrods for shopping and taking several suites of rooms at top London hotels. They have no shame and to be honest it puts me off donating.

I have for many years set up several direct debits that benefit various charities in the U.K.

I wish the world were a kinder place. It breaks my heart sometimes to read or see distressing stories.

Most big charities pay their CEOs around £200,000 a year, they do not get my money.
I also do not give to overseas charities, as a country we give millions in overseas aid.
I give to local hospices and small charities that support medical conditions such as MND and certain cancers such as gynae and prostate.

As you say phoenix so many good causes - it's really so very hard to choose.

I have a standing order for the homeless charity Crisis and donate to food banks via my Ocado order - they double your donation, so £5 from me will result in £10 of goods that have been asked for, so not any old rubbish. Like others I occasionally give to worthy charities like Water Aid.

As a matter of principle I don't contribute to things like Air Ambulance or Great Ormond Street Hospital, or appeals for a scanner, etc. I feel these should be financed by general taxation.

I get a lump in my throat when I see the increasing need for foodbanks in the UK - a lump of bile I think at the injustice of it all.

DH and I go online to the pens we sponsor with Cats Protection to see who’s currently occupying them until they find new homes.
Sadly Annie not many cats have been leaving since COVID-19. ?

merlotgran

*gilly*, It's from the Road to Emmaus story in the bible where Jesus appears after his resurrection to two disciples

emmaus.org.uk/about-us/history/

This link gives lots of information - quite a fascinating history.

Thank you for the link merlot I had never heard of it . We do have a community furniture shop here and a helping hand group where we can donate anything from a bed and a pram to a tea-set and cutlery . I also donate to Freecycle which is a brilliant way of getting rid of things you no longer need while helping someone who might need it . From reading your link I think EMMAUS goes a lot further than this though .

Great minds think alike Puzzler61!!

We do the same 3 as you Annie.

Our city Food Bank is manned by an incredible bunch of people who are always grateful, and friendly, when you drop off food.
The Big Issue lady was back outside our M&S yesterday - first time I’ve seen her since March.

We donate good to our local food bank every week - just order extra which delivered with the sainsbury's order. It is run by a few volunteers and I know they have seen a massive increase in families in need over the past few months. I also subscribe to the Big Issue - I believe this to be a really worthy thing and it is advertised as "a hand up not a hand out". I support the local branch of Cat's Protection too. I do think it's a very personal choice and there are so many worthy causes out there

I pay 2 reasonable direct debits every month. One to a Welsh hospital where my son was treated. The money goes to pay for treats and toys/books for the children whilst they are having treatment. When Leukaemia patients immunity goes really low they can only play with brand new things in case of infection. When I lived there I used to buy stuff and drop it off now I live elsewhere I pay so they can be bought by staff.

I have also for some years sponsored a child through school in Uganda, through a scheme started by a colleague where I was working in education. I’ve committed to supporting her through school and university. She wants to train as a doctor to go back to Uganda to help her own people . I have met some of the African people who run the charity there when they have come to the UK. I receive news about her and the charity in general a few times a year and she writes to me ( but doesn’t have my address) and I write to her and arrange to send a gift at Christmas. The charity is run on Christian principles

Mary’s meals for me. I’ve supported them for a long time, also a local charity that is close to my heart and just recently sight savers.

I give to one charity through payroll giving. It’s WaterAid, they install water pipes in villages, where there are none, in the developing world.

I donate through Amazon Smile to my local cat charity.

I donate a bag of food to my local food bank, once a month and a larger donation at Christmas.

Decide on what theme/area it is you want to help first.

eg Themes:

Children?
Food shortages?
Water shortages?
Mental illness?
Hospices?
Illness /research?

etc

Then think about what aspect of that theme you want to focus on.

Then look at charities that address that theme and priority.

Good luck

I have Macular disease and I am a member of that society but I find it mind-boggling the number of people employed- many having company cars added.

Every time and it is very frequent, I am emailed or sent a letter they are always asking for money for research but if I gave each time I would be needing the help from a food bank. They tug at the heartstrings but I think they should look closer at home re saving money. At least they do not have expensive offices in the centre of London, another bugbear of mine.

I have direct debits set up to my chosen charities which are those which help the Vulnerable or homeless for the most part. Most have a Christian foundation. So I do not respond to extra appeals or emergencies abroad.

The local food bank and a small charity helping Syrian refugees run by one woman plus her willing helpers.

Any charity shop donations go to the local Red Cross shop; they do always seem to be first on the scene when a crisis occurs, or to the local hospice shop.

Medicins sans Frontieres seems to be a worthwhile charity too.

Dick and Angel Strawbridge support their local EMMAUS and are often seen buying items to upcycle on Escape to the Chateau.

I've lost count of the times we've uttered, 'Good old EMMAUS' after we've sent stuff to them or found exactly what we're looking for for less than a fiver.

When we built the annexe to our bungalow we needed to find a way to cover the electric fuse boxes which were situated in the corner of what was to be our bedroom. It needed a full length, narrow cupboard. DH was dreading having to build one.

We went to EMMAUS and in just a few minutes spotted a narrow cupboard which had been ripped out of a kitchen. The measurements were exact.

All we had to do was take off the back, attach it to the wall over the ugly electrical stuff and paint it white. It cost less than £10.

I then added a floor to ceiling cheapo bookcase to make it look more of a unit.