To not want to sponsor a kid

[missbatty]

I was accosted today after school by a Mum in the class who wanted me to sponsor her childs sponsored walk.
I do direct debit to contribute to chartity every month.
I object to this as it is very difficult to say no to a child doing a good turn but i don't even like cats (the seven year olds charity of choice).
The other parents were falling over themselves to give money (and I don't mean a pound!)
No doubt all the kids will want to do sponsored something or bloody other and we'll have to indulge them all for being so worthy!
If children are so mad about doing something for charity why don't their parents suggest they give some of their pocket money and see how keen they are then :0)
Look I am half joking i think it is really good for young children to start doing things for other people (or cats) but I do kind of object to being put on the spot 3 times in as many days (especially when out of work and other parents are throwing tenners around like nobodies business!)
Am I being unreasonable?

I'm too scared in the face of all the alpha mum's!!

Do you think they really are all delighted as they act to give money or do they go home and moan about it like me?

This annoys me. In the past, when you sponsored someone it was to do something very difficult - ie you might sponsor someone to lose a lot of weight or do their first marathon.

Now you are asked to sponsor someone to do something they could do without any effort. That isn't the point, surely?

In your case, I'd say, "Oh sorry, I already give to charity through direct debit" and leave it at that. Otherwise they'll all be walking round in a circle and asking you to sponsor them.

YANBU. You've spent the charity budget already. And I hate being put on the spot like that too.
I think some of the 'Alpha Mums' probably do secretly think the same, but don't want to upset a seven year old - very difficult to refuse when the children are present.
I've never asked anyone at school to sponsor the girls for anything - I only approach adults whom I'm reasonably certain have some disposable income left, and then not with the children present, so that they don't feel too embarrassed if they want to say no.

I do think it's nice that the child has got off their arse to do something to help, tbh. I kind of think it's a better thing to do than set up a passive direct debit and then refuse to participate in anything else because you've done your bit. I don't think that's really the point of charity. Not saying yor doing this OP but quite often people with these arguments seem to be quite chippy about it without considertion for the young person who decided they wanted to do do something good which they've put a lot of effort into.

Despite all of this, I do know how annoying constant requests get. I just think of the little kid behind them who has no understanding of this adult problem.

Feel a bit better - felt like i was being really mean spirited and was expecting everyone to tell me IABU.
I also thought an email to the class would have been a better approach so you could politely pretend you didn't get it but should you feel you wanted to contribute you could.
I am pretty sure she knows I have been looking for a job - and christmas is coming aaargh

In my experience these things kids get sponsorship for involve a prize for the one who raises the most / passes some threshold. I don't like even doing them for my own children.

I think YABU. It's nice that a 7 year old is trying to raise money for charity. You could just give a small donation.

YANBU. Practise saying "sorry no, I can't" and not caring what anybody thinks. It can be liberating .

Not quite sure what that's supposed to mean, that it's "not the point of charity" ?? The OP does donate to charity, but obviously very few can afford to donate for all charitable requests, so she limits her donations to a direct debit donation. How is that "not the point of charity"??

I always thought a donation was voluntary...

Just say no, if you don't want to donate to that particular request. It doesn't hurt children to hear the word "no" - their little psyche is not going to be bruised or traumatised. Part of doing a charity drive is realising from a healthy viewpoint that not all people can or will donate to a particular cause, and that doesn't necessarily make them bad or unkind. It's actually a good thing for children to learn.

What annoys me is being asked to sponsor (the 'effort' sometimes being in the local paper) someone to go to Ecuador or the Himalayas for something or other. My opnion is that if they cannot afford to go to Ecuador they shouldn't go. It's just a way to get a free holiday!