To not donate to CIN

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

..because I strongly disagree that anything that requests donations should be covered by our wonderful NHS.

We shouldnt need Cancer charities, we shouldn't need children's charities. We're one of the moe developed countries in the world. Why should we have to appeal to anybody to get children fed and looked after.

Do you give to Comic Relief?

I don't really understand the question.

Ignore me its ok!!

I donate because it helps others who may need it more than myself. Only a small amount as i am on benefits but i do do my bit and donate.

Oh thats sounds blunt, i mean ignore me, (see my other thread) i thought CR was for 3rd world and not UK but it seems i am mistaken.

Not your question IRBIB, I don't understand Jareth's!

I know what you mean, Jareth, gets me angry too. I wouldn't mind if it was to raise money for stuff like games consoles or extra books or something, but to pay for essential treatment - that really grates on me.

It would be much better if we all just paid a little more in tax and if the government didn't waste money on crap.

i think its time i went to bed

Tbh I feel that no matter what anyone donates either to CIN or Comic relief nothing will change. I remember seeing a report on BBC News about some poor famine stricken place, apparently after supplying this place food aid since the 60's, the ptb decided that this was now a bad idea, they stopped the food within a week. People were starving and trying to eat their own houses.

Honestly this was a massive fucking wake up call, the fact that they would intentionally starve people, then report on it with no moral bias either way shook me. Nothing will get better until rich people no longer have the power of life or death over poor people, never then.

I don't donate because I have no power over where the money would go, I don't trust the fuckers to actually help people.

I found it heartbreaking that children who need special schools cant get to them because they cant afford to fund them. Shouldnt it be common sense for the Government to GIVE the funding themselves rather than ask for the publics donation to something so vital in a young persons life who really needs that help. :( it saddens me to think that the government would rather spend money being in the Euro than help their own children :(

Er...the government doesn't spend money on being in the Euro. We aren't in the Euro.

LivingDead you are right in what you are saying...how do we know where the money is going?!

Look at the earthquake appeal in Haiti the other year when all them millions went over in aid and it never reached there - where the fuck did it go? :(

Errmmm hasnt the government just helped out Greece along with other countries?

or some where or other?

This is totally off-topic, I'drather, but that's not really how economics works. The government didn't just hand Greece a few million quid for a laugh. If the eurozone collapses, that would be much worse for our economy and also the sick children who the government isn't helping.

It is shit that we have no idea where charitable donations go to though.

Exactly how much additional tax would citizens have to pay for the NHS to have enough left over to fund all of the research and development cancer charities, etc do?

Would you rather said charities be total reliant on these funds and potentially held back in developing life-saving drugs because of the possible restriction of funds?

How would you sell the rise in taxes to the general populous?

What percentage of these addition taxes would go towards the additional administration costs and personnel costs that such a huge extra responsibility would bring?

Would these admin and personnel costs be enough to make it worthwhile?

How would you continue to lower the country's huge deficit whilst doing all of this?

I am torn. The clip with the hospice which can't afford to fill all beds cos of lack of staff funding for nurses made me rage at the government for failing its people. But the volunteer centres which provide breakfasts, activities etc...well those are a nice to have sadly, and the government can't just support every volunteer centre that wants to open!

What had me wondering was the amount of children whose families fail to provide them with a breakfast, with a morning routine of food, clean teeth, good start. No matter how poor my parents were we had a box of cereal and some milk. We may not have had other things but I cannot imagine how a parent lets the child start the day on am empty stomach, and of they are forced to through abject poverty and go hungry themselves, how fucking tortuous that must feel. Whilst I agree with the benefits system completely I wonder if there is some way to make a portion of it for food only...but actually is that too prescriptive. Hmm there is a reason I do not write governmental policy!!

The whole 'Can't afford to give them breakfast' doesn't run with me. A cheap (Value) loaf of bread is what, 17p? A cheap (Value) tub of butter is 20 odd pence, If you don't have 40p a week to give your child breakfast then in my eyes there is something seriously wrong the that parent.

Maybe I'm looking at it all wrong but I just can't see that people would, or could not feed their children, I would beg, Borrow and steal so my kids ate.

Wouldn't* not would

What I liked about the CIN clips was the positive attitude of the children and adults in the clips. IMO a lot of the funding was not stuff covered by the NHS, it was to provide extras such as art sessions, sensory rooms, youth clubs etc.
Not things that are life or death for children, but things that make disadvantaged children's lives a little bit better or happier. Even the breakfast clip was focused on giving children routine in the morning, and emotional support. I doubt it's an issue of not having 40p a week for your children, more that grinding poverty makes parents make different choices than more affluent people would assume.
I have studied the effect of poverty on families as part of my OU course, and found that often "value" options are not viable, as social housing is often located in areas with little access to supermarkets, so it's a choice between a bus/cab to a supermarket or a walk to a smaller shop. For the amounts these families can spend, it actually costs more to go to the supermarket.
Also, heating costs are higher for poorer families, in actual terms, not just relative, as social housing is often poorly insulated, and card or coin meters have higher tariffs.
If you have to choose between breakfast and heating, it's not so black and white.

When I look at it like that then yes, I see what you mean. There is something wrong in the world when you can't afford to feed your children.

Indeed....but what about that family with all that huge entertainment system taking over their lounge! No money for food but money for games consoles and tv's

Value branded foodstuffs aren't as cheap as they used to be either. The bread is about 50p and the spread closer to a pound I think. Again, not a vast amount, but indicative of the rising cost of everything:(

We threw some change in the bucket in town yesterday, but we haven't made a formal donation. I fundraise at school to do things to help enrich the experiences of the kids there. It's a lovely school, but straddles a boundary between ok and poor areas, so any given activity or club that gains benefit from our fundraising is helping disadvantaged kids too. And we know where the money goes, as the wad discusses things with us, cheques are written and results are visible deter.

Blimey value bread and butter has risen LOADS! Wow.

I've always joined in CIN things but never thought too much about it but it paid for music therapy for my dd and pays for a sibling worker at the childrens hospice we use. Before dd I could never have imagined the difference those things could make, I am very very thankful now.

It is up to the individual to decide if or who they'd like to donate to, I just wanted to share that I personally am grateful for CIN.

I now only give to uk charities, at least I know it won't end up in some Parisian penthouse of some African govt official.