Go Fund Me Page, tell me the pros and cons please?

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DS is abroad studying plus doing a sport and he needs sponsorship to help support this plus everything else that comes with it all!!!

Someone has suggested a Go Fund Me Page. Never done this before at all dont know where to start

I wouldn't do it. I think it's in very poor taste to ask other people to fund your/your children's lifestyle choices. Sorry.

I really wouldn't. It isn't for supporting your child to have a lovely time abroad.

It’s basically begging your friends and family to give your son money. Is that something you’d feel comfortable doing? Do you honestly feel that your son’s choices are so important that other people should pay for them?

Agreed. They've been so abused now that people don't bother donating except for a tragic death and funeral costs or something.

I remember when it first came out, my CF friend well known for being grabby gleefully told me, "there's this website where they give you free money!" And promptly set up a page asking for funds for a motorbike because "obviously I need transport" (actually put that on the page).

I was rather smug when the sum of his donations was zero.

I mean this kindly, but theres loads of things we'd all like to do but we can't expect other people to fund it.

sorry, not a good idea, I agree with aquamarine1029.
we all have things we'd love to do, but can't afford, you can't ask others to fund a desired lifestyle

He's on a pathway to becoming a professional sportsman, that's his goal. He used and we did all our savings this year to get him out there but going forward he needs a sponsor of some sort.

I think yr right...although we're not asking for money for him to have a 'nice time' I can see what you mean. Will scrap the idea

It isn't really sponsorship when it is expecting people to support his choices.

If he can't afford it any other way, he will have to either work or come home.

Sounds like you need a corporate sponsor, not a begging Go Fund Me

So he needs to look into corporate sponsorship. Go fund me is absolutely not the way to do that. He needs to speak to his coach/team etc for support in how to try and get sponsorship.

As I said above someone mentioned the page and I said I hadnt a clue about them etc

Another route is scholarship with a school/college linked to his sport pathway...think will look at that.

Thanks for yr advice, I do actually appreciate it

Probably better to have this thread removed if you don't want pages and pages of people telling you off!

How about approaching clubs of his type of sport and asking for sponsorship? I have no problem with gofundme’s and often give small amounts, if loads of people do, it adds up. So you have a club that he used to belong to that you can share it to and ask them to share?

Athletics club back here said they may help

Any sort of grants available from sport England or the body of whatever sport it is?

As you said athletics club I assume he is an athlete. How old is he? Has he explored scholarships (Rosie Clarke has just set up a business offering advice for people exploring studyIng/ scholarships in athletics in the USA if that's any help?).

Depending on age and whether he is eligible if living abroad is he eligible for stuff like UKA futures programme etc?

Don’t do it as it makes you look like a grabby twat. If he wants to do something like this then I’m afraid that he needs to get a part time job like other people or you will need to support him. I never contribute to these things because I would love to do something like this but don’t expect the help of others.

The problem is that there are countless dc and young people excelling in various fields. Musical theatre, diving, pottery, cello, comic book writing, cricket. The list is almost endless.