to think that Children In Need should, for a change, raise money for the poor children in desperate need in the Philippines?

[Shallistopnow]

It raises such huge amounts because of all the publicity. I just think its a bit selfish to use it all in the UK.

CIN can't just change their charitable aims because something has happened elsewhere.

However I'm glad that one of our schools asked the children if they would still like their non uniform day money to be donated to children in need or if they would prefer it to be donated to the Philippines. They took a vote, and will be donating the money to the Philippines, which I think is the right decision so I gave ds more money to take in this morning than I would have done if it had been for CIN.

YABU - you have a choice whether to donate to children in need or OXFAM or Red Cross. CIN help children who have suffered horrendously in the UK.

This link shows the list of projects in the south east alone

www.bbc.co.uk/tv/isite_assets/pudsey/grants/cin-grants-southeast-april13.pdf

I think that all the projects are worthwhile. However I do wonder if the money is spread evenly around the country. (OK I would expect pockets of social deprivation and some areas of the UK are more needy, but the south east is a far greater area than just London)

Change.org have a petition at the moment for the National Lottery to donate the £12 million Eurolottery prize that was not won this week to be given to the people of the Philippines if anyone is interested in signing.

The thing is CIN does go to needed causes here as well, and a lot of people rely on that money coming in so I think it needs to go ahead. There are a lot of appeals for people to give to both at the moment, so I dont think CIN should lose because of it.

Ok points taken but Moomin are you seriously suggesting CiN prevents child deaths in the UK?

Depending on the charities it's giving grants to, yes, it ca nhelpprevent child deaths in the UK.

It saved my life Shallistopnow so yes, I am suggesting that.

Charities have to give their money to the people they've announced will get it, says the law.

As it happens, Save the Children, which formerly fundraised only for causes abroad, is now helping projects in the UK, because Britain now has so many poor children.

Can I also say, it is not just about children in poverty. Many child development centres and hospices rely on children in need grants. Ds's special needs nursery, which was the only one covering a large rural area, and serving the needs of children with a range of disabilities including life limiting illnesses, received a children in need grant. Every year the funding for centres like these are cut, it is often the only provision for children with disabilities, and they rely on fundraising and grants like the CIN one to stay open.

I think it's worth remembering here that CIN is not all about raising money for poor children.

there are many, many different causes that CIN helps e.g. children with disabilities/hospices for children with terminal/life limiting illnesses/disabilities/children who are victims of domestic violence/child abuse, poverty doesn't have to have any bearing on whether those children are in need.

YABU. They're not allowed to donate to the Phillipines.

I work for an adult education charity. Should we completely change what we raise money for because something happened in the philippines?

And that donkey sanctuary over there? Can it give it's funds to my charity when we have a particularly big adult education disaster next month?

Charities are not actually allowed to suddenly decide to divert donations to a different cause to the one they raise money for and is covered in their mission statement.

I think the BBC should make the best use they can of their guaranteed viewing figures tonight and take the opportunity to publicise the number for the DEC appeal for the Philippines.

That way CIN is sticking to its charitable aims at the same time as helping people who are in a desperate emergency situation.

Luckily, not everybody will agree on what to donate to. I have horses and I donate to animal welfare, mum has cancer so I donate to McMillan, hubby has diabetes and MIL died of a heart condition whilst FIL is in final stage of dementia. I have a daughter so I donate to children's charities and my daughters school. Lastly I ride horses and have a motorbike so donate to the air ambulance.

I donate to what touches my life. I give what I feel I want to but no doubt, as with many people, I could give more and just subsist with no luxuries.

It's up to all of us what, and how much we give. As far as Children in Need is concerned, I do a couple of quid through my daughter but would rather donate directly to individual projects.

i am surprised that people are comparing the tragedy in the phillipines to any kind of life here in britain. there are dead bodies in the street, no medical care or food. the predators are out raping women and children. some areas have not had food or clean water for days. people's homes have been reduced to firewood and there is no where to get shelter. the situation isn't like that here, not by any stretch of the imagination.
anyway, i think people should give to any charity that appeals to them. i don't think either 'side' will lose out as people will be inclined to give more.

It's not about making any comparrisons and I haven't noticed anyone doing that anyway. It's about realising that just because that has happened and is awful it doesn't mean money suddenly isn't needed elsewhere

people upthread were comparing the two situations by saying that things are difficult here, we know that but the phillipine situation is on a different scale to anything people are suffering here.

Things are difficult for some children over here Creighton, that's not comparing, that's the truth.

But things are difficult here for many families, that is the truth of the matter too many families in this country are struggling for whatever reason, many families are in a better position because of support from CIN and other charities.

Thats not comparing the situations, its looking at the whole picture.

Australia are collecting on every corner for the Philippines , so CIN should keep on doing what they do best

I'm sure many charities will give to the Philippines.

Maybe Wogan should donate the £100k's he's trousered over the years presenting CIN to the Philippines.

I will donate to both, both are good causes and I think it's easy enough to donate to both if you can afford too.