UK Charities need help first

ninny you started a similar thread the other week and didn't come back to respond to those, including me, who answered you.

Why don't you expand on your thoughts?

Could you spare the three quid for the Trust and give a little to overseas charities?

Tell us more about China.

This year I have started to donate to Water Aid as all children should have access to fresh water,no matter where they live.

Good one Glam.

Why do these UK charities have to get the begging bowl out, why doesn't our government help its own people first. I could send money to Anthony Nolan and Great Ormond St but that's not the point I shouldn't have to, they should be supported by our government. As for China they are sending rockets to the moon! Obviously there exceptions Syria for example.

Anthony Nolan is very worthwhile and I don't think it is funded by the government. Some years ago my nephew died of leukaemia at the age of 16.
Just afterwards Anthony Nolan Trust did a 'drive' to try to get people to see if they were a match for anyone awaiting a bone marrow transplant. You just had to go into Woolworths and they just took a pin prick of blood. My DH joined and he was a possible match on two occasions. On the second occasion he was an almost perfect (but not quite) match for a lady in France, but the best she could get. He agreed to give his bone marrow bless him and underwent the procedure in London. They gave the lady the transplant but she later died (she had 2 young sons so it was very sad). The donations are anonymous but after the transplant she sent my DH a letter through the organisation saying how grateful she was that a perfect stranger had agreed to give her the chance of life. This has gone off the point somewhat, but just saying.....

KatyK I applaud your DH for his bravery. The gift of life is a very special one

Charities are set up, often, to fundraise, which in itself, of course, involves asking for money. Their work is invaluable and commendable, and there are many hundreds of then doing sterling work. With the best will in the world, no government could help every good cause equitably. As human beings, we give to the ones that have meaning for us, and it's good for us to do so, if we can.

But as human beings, we surely have a duty help those without homes, food, clean water, adequate sanitation, who are living with disease, fearing brutality, watching their children die from preventable diseases, and so on and so on and so on, regardless of nationality or political persuasion

(Good for you, glamma! Theseus does a lot of work for WaterAid, and is one of their public speakers.)

KatyK Wonderful what your husband did what a shame the outcome was not good. I remember the Anthony Nolan story.

Ariadne obviously people can give to which ever charity they wish to support. Do you think China is doing good work with British Aid?
Everyday on the TV we are bombarded with charity adverts asking for donations, all I am saying is why do UK cancer charities and Great Ormond Hospital have to beg for money surely they should not need to, the government should support them first.

I don't know very much about how overseas aid works (so probably shouldn't comment on this thread!) but isn't most government overseas aid linked to trade with the countries who get the aid. We desperately want business with China for example. Maybe someone who knows more about it could explain how it works. I agree with jingle surely we can give to charities at home AND charities which work overseas. I think this is quite separate from government aid!

Ninny the government does contract very many charities to supply services to local councils; thereby providing a substantial amount of income to them. I am glad that as a country we are mindful of the needs of others as well as our own. Perhaps there is a case for better targeting of foreign aid, but I think it's right that we give.

The China and India things are difficult ones. Undoubtedly those, seemingly rich, countries do have areas where the population is sadly neglected, but their governments do nothing for them. Is that a good enough reason for us to withhold aid?

I mean, it's hardly their (the poor people's) fault is it?

I have never understood why the Great Ormond St. Hospital is a charity, is it not part of the NHS?

We are a seemingly rich country whose government is ignoring the needs of the poor. The growth of foodbanks is quite alarming. Are we so different from India or China? Capitalist countries in general are not interested in the poor. I wish I had answers but I don't but if I hear David Cameron going on again about "hard working families" versus "skivers" I will scream. There are lots of working people struggling in low paid jobs with no job security. Are they not hard working families?? Grrrr! In the meantime I try to support small local charities - without highly paid CEO's.

Wherever other humans are in need, those of us who have, should give what we can. (And of course we choose to whom we give.) No matter what all the devious governments of the world do, or say they are doing, our responsibility is to help each other. My Rotary work has shown me the real poverty and distress in other countries, and here at home.

"From those to whom much is given, much is to be expected." (With apologies to St Luke!)

Ariadne is right "With the best will in the world, no government could help every good cause equitably"

It's easy to say "the government" should do this or that, but don't forget where "the government" get their money from!

phoenix the government gets the money from us to give Overseas Aid, it's easy to say they should give that and forget where it comes from!

Perhaps we should be like the USA and refer to tax dollars rather than government money as it clearly is not their money, it is ours.

Good idea Harrigan .

We can never consider ourselves poor if you look at people who have no shelter, no food, no clothes. Each to his own choice but I don't think you choose just because its your own country surely you should choose because of the need

I too am impressed with Water Aids work and also support Shelter box and a young man in Zimbabwe I supported him through High school college and starting up a business, only small amounts but he's now self sufficient and married and is hoping to visit me next year I m very proud of him I had friends who doubted and thought he would perhaps just be wasting any money I sent him but you need to trust

There are so many worthwhile causes at home and abroad. Aid is a complex issue and, like hosting foreign students, has a benefit to this country.
Home grown charities are sometimes funded from taxes e.g. (I think) Relate and Citizen's Advice. There are also many new charities starting up all the time, so it would be ridiculous if they were all funded. I personally think it should be a bit harder to set one up as the Charities Commission is not able to oversee the way they use donations.
If you watch certain channels on daytime TV you do feel swamped with appeals. I suspect Great Ormond St charity is for those extras that the NHS cannot fund - families go there from all over the UK, and they need more support than if they were at a local hospital.
I support a number of charities including Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. Blood and bone cancers have touched my life on a number of occasions including a few months ago when a dear friend and fantastic head teacher died of leukaemia. I wish they would somehow inform more people about bone marrow transplants - these days they are called stem cell transplants and the samples are no longer collected by a big needle into the hip bone.

One can be overcome with "compassion fatigue" which is why it is important to choose to whome one gives, and be satisfied with one's own, albeit small, contribution.

BlueBelle glad to hear you support ShelterBox! I'm a Rotarian, and very proud of it. (ShelterBox, that is.)

I feel somewhat humbled by some of the posts on this thread. I have in the past been in a position to provide regular (direct debit) donations to certain causes, but at present cannot do this. In fact, to speak honestly I have recently been the recipient of the kindness and generosity of others, which has been appreciated and valued more than I can ever say.

Ariadne is right when she speaks of "compassion fatigue" I remember very well spending time carefully considering which charities we might support, and then having feelings of guilt with regard to the ones that we would have liked to support, but financially couldn't.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that we should do what we can, when we can, and if there are times when we receive rather than giving, remember those with thanks and give again when we are able.