MNHQ calling: Giving Week (our recent match-funding drive) - your thoughts please!

PurplePidjin - though I can't take credit for it - it was a typo someone else made on another thread!

Well done, Dulcet, you've managed to turn this thread into something more constructive. Hope it flies.

And I love the idea of local fundraising events!

Here's a Woolly Thug I made today inspired by Cate. He'll be sent off to be part of the WH auction for Mia's Wood (in memory of an MNer's daughter) in September :)

And it could activate the local groups themselves, some of the less active ones but with active individuals from those areas.

In some places you could combine local groups that are next door to each other if there was the drive - get neighbouring MNetters to work together.

Yay, it does have legs!

Yes - you could make the week known well in advance and, perhaps, rather than extending it, have a lead up to it with all the central and local MNetters involved. Possibly involving local representatives of charities also.

Not only might that generate the sort of advance publicity that people have been asking for but it could provide a potential short term and long term assist for local Muumsnetters who might be feeling isolated for some reason.

Loads of other possibilities as well - but I'm afraid I've not thought this through fully.

That reminds me......

I agree. At the risk of incurring CateBlanket's ire again, the Glasgow Woolly Huggers do get together from time to time, and we could definitely make one of those meet-ups a fundraiser of some sort.

I think getting local MN sites involved is a great idea.

I rather like that last idea - as an important part of any charity drive, perhaps? (Which might also have spin-off benefits for local Musmnetters themselves.)

This thread look like it might have gone a bit odd but can't quite dedicate the time to read it all and be sure.

Did want to reply to the original post though, mainly to say I didn't know anything about it until I read this post! I'm not always in the active threads and most my MNing is on the phone, not computer. Maybe there's some awareness to do there and more work with the app to promote these things.

Also, wondered if there would've any legs to make this kind of fundraising something MN local can do together as well as individual donations. Members from regional areas, hold a small event and raise a bit? Like coffee mornings/cake sales/whatever! Then it's fun, social and charitable! But obviously not that easy...

Cate - Unfortunately, that's typical of the criticisms mean-minded people raise against all organised charities to justify their refusal to give.

If Women's Aid half-funds the helpline with Refuge, this doesn't devalue any contribution to that half. Tight people say "they only fund half", as if the helpline would be just the same without that half. It wouldn't, it's only be half as good! How many times is the Women's Aid website quoted on here? That takes funding. Women's Aid lobbies parliament successfully and mounts campaigns.

Similarly, "the federation doesn't directly fund refuges". It depends entirely on your definition of 'directly'. Without Women's Aid, women wouldn't be able to find a refuge place, wouldn't be able to access the many support services & fast-tracks made available to them while there, and refuges wouldn't have access to government funding or even be able to let women in need know they exist ... and so on.

Miserable people like to act as though a national charity's somehow corrupt because it is national. Which is bollocks, naturally

There's a mountain of detailed information on the Women's Aid website if anybody wants to check.

As for the OP.....I wasn;t actually on MN during the giving week, but I did know about it.

I didn;t contribute as that particular week I was lacking decent funds.....I do however contribute when I can and when Woolly Hugs puts a shout out for yet another family needing some Hugs (sadly too often ).

I make a monthly DD to two other charities of my choice anyway, so I feel I help the ones close to my heart..

In the main, I do think choosing a different week might well have made more difference, altho quite when I don;t know..

However, I do think this was a FABULOUS idea and one I hope is repeated.

I rarely come back on MN due to the often unbridled nastiness on threads such as these, and the way some people just spout ignorance and bile without looking into the facts. Higgle (for one eg) has really niggled at me, and her unrelenting inability to learn and understand more about WH has shocked me enough to pop by.

It all makes for a nasty taste in the mouth really....so many more vocalised bullies really, wading in where they ought not to tread, through ignorance and plain old petty mindedness.

I have to say, I hope Higgle's mother would be ashamed that Higgle has such a poor view of the elderly, and of raising a daughter who spouts such ignorant bile.

I admit I had a poor view of blankets previously due to being draped in them from an early age by MY mother, but that was (I am sure) mixed in with my feelings towards my mother. What Woolly Hugs do is a whole other level, and they are simply filled with so much love I don;t GET how they can't be adored on sight, and how anyone can belittle them so vehemently. Besides, does she REALLY think they would have got so far if they weren't truly HUGS??

In my head, for any charity to take hold in people hearts, people have to care and have compassion and empathy. She clearly lacks those emotions which is why she comes across as she does, and I feel sorry for her. She must live a very sad life.

It is like that age old saying.....'You can take a horse to water, but you can;t make it drink'......she is like that, and she will never understand and absorb the whole ethos behind it all, nor the wonderful women who make it possible. And that goes for all the charities......we might find some of the pointless, but they are no less worthy.

I didn't know that only charities raising more than £5000 could register for gift aid. I donated to WA as I see it recommended a lot here and also it was gift aid registered.

I didn't know that

And actually, CateBlanket (an unfortunate choice of name, seeing as you clearly don't want us to talk about them any more ), lots of us have actually bothered to answer the OP.

Or do you just not like to read about the good work of one of MN's charitable causes?

The problem Cate is that Iggle has upset so many folk who either contribute or have been recipients by dismissing WH. As long as new people keep reading this thread, of course it will keep flaring up.

To be fair though, there have been lots of interesting comments re the OP, looking forward to MNHQ coming back on the points.

Oh I am so sorry for answering a point raised on this thread, Cate. I shall go away and flagellate myself whilst repeating "Cate is in charge of the MN Giving thread" a hundred times.

Yes, we all know what Woolly Hugs do now and how much they are appreciated. How about ignoring higgle and answering OP?

Cozietoesie - Woolly Hugs is something that people can do without having to give money. Thanks to the people who donate yarn, or money to buy yarn, someone who can't afford to buy the yarn can get some sent to them, so they can contribute a square or squares to a blanket.

Higgle - you are making yourself sound like a total idiot.

Woolly hugs are offered - we would not make one if the family did not want one.

Little hugs are sent to Yorkhill Hospital - again, the hospital offers them to children who they think would benefit - no-one has to have them.

Angel hugs - used to wrap babies who have died, so their parents' memory of that awful time is not made a tiny bit worse because they are wrapped in a sheet or ordinary blanket. Again, the staff will use their judgement.

And you have completely missed the symbolism of a woolly hug, whether it goes to children from Chernobyl, sick children in Glasgow or bereaved families of MNers - every stitch is done with love, and every blanket conveys that love. We are not sending a blanket - we are sending the comfort we cannot offer in person.

You think that is pointless and condescending. You are wrong.

And you say disappointment at the amount raised?

Money is very tight for so many families, many really have to think where every penny goes, so everything raised was fabulous. Trust me, we are used to juggling a fiver, so were blown away by the funds raised for WH, it really will make such a difference to what we will all achieve together. So a huge thank you

Ahem..we did a 10k I'd I remember correctly........

I've remembered...

We found Giving Week took place in a difficult time, being immediately after May Half Term, wondered if there was a different week it could be? Maybe the build up etc during HT was missed by many as they were away? Lots of schools were on INSET on the launch day too.

I understand mid year etc, just maybe not that week?