Local Waitrose supporting anti-abortion charity

[WaitroseSucks]

Waitrose gives shoppers tokens to drop into collecting points to support local charities. My local Waitrose is currently supporting a 'pregnancy counselling service'. I checked the 'charity's' website, which has all the usual guff about offering 'impartial advice', then checked their parent company and discovered that it's run by these guys.

AIBU to think Waitrose should check the credentials of 'charities' before collecting on their behalf? I imagine there would be outrage if Waitrose openly supported a charity like Abortion Rights, whose name does what it says on the tin.

Have tried to contact someone at my local store, but relevant person is 'away until Wednesday'. Meanwhile the collection points will continue to operate and unwary shoppers will be supporting a 'charity' that is concealing its true agenda.

Have name changed for this, but am MN regular.

[MaidOfStars]

Twitter?

[CatKisser]

Not good. I agree wrt Twitter.

[aprilanne]

i don,t think this is wise .people feel very passionaetly about this /no matter what side you on .

[alemci]

is it such a bad thing?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Waitrose is probably completely unaware. For a lot of the local causes they support they may not be able to do many checks. I wouldn't be fobbed off, speak to manager if right person is unavailable or go through head -office or something?

[5madthings]

Eek i think someone will be in trouble when they realise what they have done. They should have checked out the charities more thoroughly.

Give them a chance to reply maybe but then yes Twitter/fb or contact waitrose head office

[Aeroflotgirl]

Would it be any different if it was a pro abortion charity!

[MaidOfStars]

These people have been secretly filmed and found to be spreading the most terrible lies about abortion.

[CatKisser]

Yes, Alcemi I think it is a bad thing.
The centres came under criticism in another investigation by The Daily Telegraph when some counsellors were filmed undercover claiming abortions would increase chances of breast cancer and could predispose women to becoming child sexual abusers

[MaidOfStars]

could predispose women to becoming child sexual abusers

Oh yes, that was a particularly horrific exchange.

[ILovePud]

I think it's inappropriate if this charity has a hidden agenda and a track record of giving misleading information to women. Good on you for looking into this OP, I'd take this higher and e-mail Waitrose Head office.

[WaitroseSucks]

is it such a bad thing?

Yes, it's a 'bad thing'.
The 'charity' is describing itself as a counselling service when it has an anti-abortion agenda.
My point is that Waitrose probably wouldn't have a collection for 'pro-choice' so why have one for the anti-abortion brigade?

[alemci]

like what Maid? i know it is a contentious issue

[WaitroseSucks]

Would it be any different if it was a pro abortion charity!

What is a 'pro-abortion' charity?
Do you mean 'pro-choice'?
Could you use less offensive terminology if so?

[MaidOfStars]

...something to do with having already degraded the normal female-child relationship (by electing for a termination), you would begin to lose sight of other adult-child boundaries, such as not punching them or not sexually assaulting them

[WaitroseSucks]

I have tweeted by the way. And written on Waitrose facebook page.

[WaitroseSucks]

i know it is a contentious issue

It is precisely because it is a contentious issue that Waitrose should NOT be supporting it. Unless, of course, they're willing to collect for Abortion Rights next week, which I'd happily support BTW.

[alemci]

i have never heard of that train of thought and I do move in christian circles to a certain extent.

i remember CARE when I went to Spring Harvest 20 years' ago.

i agree the charity should be impartial.

[CatKisser]

That is horrifically twisted line of thought to give to a vulnerable woman, Maid. Would be interested to know how Waitrose respond.

[aprilanne]

i suppose they are a charity non the less and maybe waitrose cant discriminate just because they are a pro life group .maybe not clever but they are allowed there views and an awfull lot of people hold the same views

[BuckskinnedAstronaut]

^Yes, it's a 'bad thing'.
The 'charity' is describing itself as a counselling service when it has an anti-abortion agenda^

But the link you posted said that some centres were impartial and gave good unbiased advice and it was only some that were giving out misleading information.

Is this appeal for one local centre in particular? (I'm guessing yes, given that Waitrose supports local charities). Do you know specifically which group it fell into?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Of course Waitrose should not be supporting these people.

[ghostyslovesheep]

counselling with an agenda has the potential to be massively damaging - of course it matters

[alemci]

but are you upset because the charity is connected to a christian organisation whatever the charity supported.

you are right though Waitrose haven't thought this through

[CatKisser]

I would hope an awful lot of people don't believe women who've had abortions are more disposed to sexually abusing children.