CIN lost its way some years ago, it doesn't help as many as it claims due to bloated bureaucracy and the methods smaller charities receive their funds from them, the organisations and people it's donated/donating to are under considerable and justified criticism in some cases (and conspicuously absent from the heart string tugging videos they play throughout, which are just one or 2 examples of those receiving help played on repeat) plus of course the revelation that Wogan was paid for presenting it and I'm not convinced that other presenters and "stars" weren't also, plus of course it's a great opportunity for them to plug their wares and boost sales so their appearances are far from totally altruistic anyway.
I've been very uncomfortable with the organisation for many years, I was criticised for this initially but now most of my friends and family feel the same and local schools don't always participate in fund raising.
Plus I'm in a deprived areas and the fund raising is frankly insulting as most of the families around here are more in need of receiving support than giving it.
Fund raising methods where it's obvious if a poor child has been unable to donate and therefore participate - eg uniform free days where a donation is required to participate - are patently unjust and often a precursor to or encourage bullying
To push for donations from families who've been particularly hard hit by this years events I think is tone deaf and seriously dubious.
I know the argument will be that means there's more families in need but I really don't feel CIN are as good or effective as they claim.
How do you benefit personally op? Ah ok, well are they not a charity in themselves that people could donate to? Although to be honest I personally feel such things should be at least partially state supported as they are arguably important for your ds development. Plus the amount donated to cin when you remove admin costs your club could probably receive more in terms of money actually available to use if it were directly donated. Plus there's no guarantee CIN will keep funding it, the grants are reviewed annually I believe? Certainly they make it clear future funding is not guaranteed and the events of this year could mean they decide to fund other projects instead of yours - what happens to ds club then?
Personally I prefer to donate to charities with specific causes close to my heart and who have a better record with admin costs and more ethical behaviour
@LER83 you're in that fortunate position what about other children attending the school yours are with such frequent events who are from poorer families? I've been in that position and I'd be worried and pissed off at such frequent demands on my limited budget! Especially ones like Christmas jumper day which is problematic for a number of reasons.
The recipients are supposedly children personally I think it odd to expect the donors (via their parents) to be mostly children too.
I just think there are many, better charities one could donate to and that people should exercise their choice in which causes they support.
Schools running fund raising events that can easily lead to marking poorer children out as "other" is in my opinion not what any decent charity, especially one that supposedly centres children, does.