To have found the radio 2 Children in Need auction this week quite unbearable?

[ImagineJL]

All this week Chris Evans has been doing the annual Children in Need auction for "prizes that money can't buy", such as meals cooked by celebrity chefs, formula 1 racing in Monaco etc.

On the whole, these prizes are eventually given for totally crazy money. Over a million for the racing I believe, and tens of thousands for other stuff.

I think it's fantastic that such a worthy cause gets a huge donation, and I'm all in favour of the super-rich parting with a bit of cash for Children in Need. BUT I find it really depressing and also infuriating to listen to.

Firstly, it is something that the vast majority if the population can't get involved in. After all, what's the point in someone stretching themselves and bidding a few grand on something they really want, when a multi millionaire is going to rummage down the back of the settee and find 100k more?!

And secondly, it just reminds me of what a topsy-turvy world we live in. We're in a recession, people are worried about heating their homes this winter, charities across the country are struggling all the time, and yet there are people out there who have this kind of crazy money at their disposal, just for frivolous treats. I can't help thinking that the nation's finances are being managed wrongly.

And don't get me started on charities being left to fund things that should really be the responsibility of the government and tax payers.

Chris Evans said the other day "come on everyone, if you've had a good year and want to put something back in, get bidding". What planet is he on? Practically the entire country would have to combine their collective "good years" to come anywhere close to these bids!

I'm probably just being grumpy and bitter, and I guess ultimately the end justifies the means. But I've avoided the radio 2 breakfast show this week as a result. (but Capital fm's listening figures have increased, so I guess someone's benefitted!)

A great example of Cameron's have and have not society.
Very rich folk who no doubt pay accountants a lot of money to make sure they pay the least amount of tax possible, make ostentatious donations to beleagured charities who receive no government funding

In my house we call them 'prizes that lots and lots of money can buy!'

I have really mixed feelings about it tbh. It does raise a fantastic amount of money but something just doesn't sit right with me about people enjoying luxury treats in the name of charity. I always feel a bit like that about charity balls and the like too.

I was a bit like this shock this morning when someone pledged £36,000 for him to play a song, but you know, hey ho.

Yeesh. I think it was Capital many years ago did something like this, but it was only a few hundred pounds tops per song and everyone could donate a little bit if they wanted and still feel like they contributed. They did it for a week or so I think, so raised quite a bit.

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact I've enjoyed it as I love cars and F1 so found it interesting.

Whilst I wish we were better off (who doesn't) I don't begrudge those who have more and I love that the auctions this week have tapped into people who are normally targeted, not me!

To be honest I'm more fed up with the saturation of fundraising aimed at ordinary people. Between DDs school, hubby's work, my hobby contacts, neighbors and friends as well as media events, all these people are part of my life and having given through school I then can't give to all the others and feel shit about it as I want their sponsorships to raise good amounts. The Radio 2 auctions have been a relief as obviously they are for the likes of me!

who are not* normally targeted

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, nice that people with evidently an awful lot of money funnelling it towards charity.

YABVU

joysmum.. x post!

the important thing is that money is raised for charity. full stop.

i chuckle to myself reading the mumsnetters getting their knickers in a twist about this, and referring to their own small yet important donations.

Yes, they are important. But no doubt about it, they will likely be small.

In contrast, in one fell swoop, this has raised more than many hundreds of thousands of small yet important donations, and I rather think the charities are not going to give two hoots about anything other than the money funding their important endeavours!

Any accountants around? Will the amounts paid be classed as gift aid so it comes off their tax bill? I'll be less bitter if auction donations are not done this way.

And don't get me started on charities being left to fund things that should really be the responsibility of the government and tax payers.

With you on that OP. YANBU.
Can't stand the whole CiN whoopla and Chris Evans is an infuriating dick.
We give money and time to charities all year round - I hate the haranguing of telethons.

And don't get me started on charities being left to fund things that should really be the responsibility of the government and tax payers.

With you on that OP. YANBU.

This doesn't make me chuckle though. In absolute terms (and bear in mind we are a bloody small country!) the UK government is the second most charitable government in the world.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_governments_by_development_aid

I too believe that if government was effective we wouldn't need half as many charities. Reality is that the charities are needed though, mores the pity.

yanbu

charity giving is just that giving to help others not only giving to gain for yourself

its great we get involved to make money for charity but to gain something apart from a sense of being united, feeling you have helped is not what charity is about

ds is giving some of his birthday money to the children in the Philippines after i explained to him what had happened if a 6 year old boy can grasp charity is about giving why is it too much to ask of adults

I've turned radio 2 off this week for exactly these reasons. I'm glad they are raising lots of money but I don't need to have my nose rubbed in it.

i agree Joysmum. We have the money in this country for children not to go without

there is enough money in the world for children not to starve to death and have basic healthcare

I used to be a regular Radio 2 listener back in Wogans day but I remember getting fed up at this time of year for exactly this reason. Yes it is a good cause but it is dreadfully dull to listen to IMO

I've read a few threads on this theme over the last couple of years and I don't know what to think really.

I will never have this kind of money, nor will anyone i know, but I get quite excited listening to the auctions. When there's a bid of £225k for something I'm just thrilled that the CiN charity is going to be that much better off.

But it does seem rather obscene, in view of the greater and greater numbers of children falling into poverty, and with future targets to reduce child poverty already missed, to flaunt such over the top extravagance.

The fella who pledged £36,000 to hear Have a Nice Day this morning brought a lump to my throat. All he asked in return for his donation was a song, the same as the other callers who pledged £5 for a song. Assuming he acquired his wealth through legal and moral means, why should I resent him being able to afford it?

Maybe the auction organisers get carried away with the generosity of those donating the prizes, Bernie Ecclestone, David Coulthard etc, only thinking that their spectacular prizes will attract loads of publicity and massive bids, without considering how all this conspicuous consumption by the wealthy few looks to the rest of us?

Dunno, just thinking aloud really. If I had to get off the fence I would say, when all's said and done etc, it does more good than harm.