To tell you about *BESOM* if you are fed up with freecycle?

[GuffSmuggler]

I have read a few threads on here recently about people being fed-up with the rude grabby people on freecycle and I would like to direct you to //www.besom.com if you have stuff you want to get rid of and would like it to go to a good home.

This is from their website:

Many of us have good quality things that we do not use or need and local Besoms provide a service that enables you to pass them on to people who really need them. Those who are re-housed are often given flats with absolutely nothing in them. Those escaping domestic violence may have to leave all their possessions behind. Through a network of contacts in social services, charities, refuges and family centres, The Besom constantly hears about people living on the edge. We are then able to match up the things given with the needs we hear about.

If you have good quality items you wish to give away, your local Besom would love to receive them. We can pass them on immediately to vulnerable people who really need them. These include women escaping domestic violence, homeless people, refugees, families or individuals living in extreme poverty

They collect stuff and are the nicest bunch of people making a real difference to the needy in their communities. They aren't everywhere, but if you click on the local besom link you will find if there is one near you.

[farrowandbawl]

Oh bloody hell....they could have had my old TV that I've just taken to the dump. I couldn't give it away anywhere because it was an old fat one.

[caramelwaffle]

That looks rather excellent.

We should try and keep this bumped.

[caramelwaffle]

Rather excellent? Hark at me

[GuffSmuggler]

[RenterNomad]

How do they store things, though? When I tried to give maternity and baby stuff to Women's Aid, they couldn't accept it, as there was no storage!

[chocoluvva]

The Prince of Wales Hospice charity shops do this too (or used to).

Also you can advertise on Gumtree for someone to take-away no-longer needed things.

[chocoluvva]

Posted too soon - Besom sounds great too.

[meganorks]

They don't have one near me which is surprising as live in a big city.

[GuffSmuggler]

renter the one near us has a big storage facility so can take lots of big things.

osmior yes I think they have problems with some electrical stuff as it needs to be tested/made safe but I know they have taken white goods.

[eccentrica]

I've checked out their website. It's a bit disingenuous of you not to mention that they are a religious Christian charity.

I am one of the people who is a bit sick of Freecycle, however as I am not a Christian I won't be donating to this organisation.

[hiddenhome]

what's the matter with being a Christian? We don't eat children or torture puppies you know

[eccentrica]

hidden as I said, it's disingenuous not to mention it. I've noticed that often happens, Christian organisations are often not upfront and you have to do a bit of digging to find out that they are in fact heavily religious.

I have even donated to charities in the past without realising they were specifically Christian.

Don't you think people should be given the full picture before deciding whether or not to support a cause?

[hiddenhome]

You're prejudiced. It obviously states on their website that they're a Christian organisation.

You shouldn't be talking to me now because I'm Christian

[AwkwardSquad]

Does it matter if they are a Faith-based organisation? Surely they are just doing what Christians are supposed to do according to the tenets of their faith? As long as they are not discriminatory re the people they are willing to help, I'd happily donate, as I have done to local faith organisations that help others. I am an atheist.

On another note, the name 'besom' made me laugh. I grew up in Scotland and was frequently called a 'cheeky wee besom' by my teachers.

[eccentrica]

hidden No, I'm quite happy to talk to Christians. I'm sorry if you can't see the difference between talking to someone and giving them money.

Many Christians have views that I'm not comfortable with, such as being anti-abortion, anti-semitic and homophobic. Of course this doesn't apply to every Christian, but there is enough correlation that I personally choose to donate my money to non-religious charities.

Incidentally, it doesn't "clearly state on their website that they are a Christian organisation". But I was more pointing out that the OP of this thread hadn't mentioned anywhere that it's a religious organisation.

I wonder how many posting here have donated to Jewish, Muslim or Hindu charities? Or would that seem a bit weird?

[eccentrica]

But kim the thing is, with religious organisations of any sort they are very unlikely to use the donations for good in a way which is totally uninfluenced by religion.

For example, many religious charities would not support a homosexual couple in need, in the same way they would support a heterosexual family. Or help a woman to get access to emergency contraception. Or any number of other examples. if they did, there would be objections that they were going against the morality and beliefs of their own religion.

[hiddenhome]

[tulipsgirl77]

This looks amazing. I've been trying to find a home for my DD's baby clothes, this looks perfect and they have one near me!

I don't have an ounce of religious blood in my body, and frankly I don't care they are a religious organisation, surely this has to be more about helping people less fortunate than us rather than turning this into a tirade against all that's wrong with the church.

[redlac]

Mmm don't think they took account of what besom means in Scotland

besom
(biz·um) Dialect, chiefly Scot -n.

1. obstreperous girl or woman; female upstart (as in ?Dinnae pou? yer brither?s hair, ya wee besom?)
   
2. woman of low moral standing; a hussy (?Thon yin?s a right mucky besom?).
   
3. a broomstick or scourge; any broom made from loose twigs

[GuffSmuggler]

eccentrica I'm sorry you felt I should have mentioned it was set up by Christians but it just doesn't seem relevant to me. They give to the needy in the community irrespective of what those people's beliefs are (I have checked and they confirmed this).

Quite frankly I couldn't care if it was Muslims, Hindus or Jews that set it up, it's a brilliant idea that benefits the poor in society where the local services are falling down.

Alternatively you can keep giving your stuff to the greedy freeloaders are freecycle, it's completely up to you!