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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really irritated by Children in Need

226 replies

Timeforanap1 · 09/11/2014 14:29

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with the concept of helping CIN. But it seems that it's schools which are targeted for the fund raising. Schools which include the very children the charity is trying to help. So schools are asked to hold special days and raise money, asking those very children and families who are in need to give money they don't have. Isn't this just twisted?

OP posts:
Jasonandyawegunorts · 09/11/2014 14:33

[quote]asking those very children and families who are in need to give money they don't have. Isn't this just twisted?[/quote]

Not really no...

skylark2 · 09/11/2014 14:35

I don't mind having a special day to raise money for CiN. I just object to it being associated with hour on hour of crap TV.

HamishBamish · 09/11/2014 14:36

The Head should really be fielding these fund raising issues within the school. If the majority of the parents are unable to contribute, then the children should be allowed to participate in a different way. A lot of people have no concept of having so little spare cash that a giving a £1 to a child for CIN would be problematic. It's tricky because the children will be aware it's happening and will want to take part.

christinarossetti · 09/11/2014 14:41

All these events irritate the life out of me. Systematic attacks on those with lower incomes all year round by central and local governments then a couple of days of dressing up and wearing stupid costumes.

I'd be much happier analysising and addressing the structural causes of so many children being in so much need.

SmilesandPilesOfPresents · 09/11/2014 14:56

It's not too bad now both are in Secondary but in Primary I really struggled funding it all.

Every week without fail, they came home with a letter asking for money towards something, if it wasn't trips, it was some local thing, RND, CIN, Poppy, daffodils, raffles, discos, dress up days, baking days, art stuff...

I threw a hissy fit when they wanted over £100 for a two day residential trip and refused to donate to anything since and I wasn't the only one.

It's bad enough when you have 1 child, but when you have 2-3, or even 4-5 in some cases it was bloody expensive.

jasper · 09/11/2014 14:59

I hate it too, especially Chris Evan's auction of " things money can't buy"
Er, yes they can, that's the irony, but you need LOTS AND LOTS of money

Hurr1cane · 09/11/2014 15:04

I stopped giving directly to children in need when I discovered how much the presenters are paid. Are they paid out of the donations do you know?

Anyway I tend to watch it and just give straight to a charity. Usually my local autism group.

cleanmachine · 09/11/2014 15:11

Presenters pay is an issue for too. As is the pay for those running it. My friend used to work for CIN and she always went on about how rich the charity was and how little trickled down to the children in need.

Hurr1cane · 09/11/2014 15:13

Clean machine, what nice way do you tell the school you won't be donating to CIN? I would so rather the school get a donation from us all to be quite honest.

Hurr1cane · 09/11/2014 15:14

Or should I just say nothing and let them think I'm tight fisted?

SirChenjin · 09/11/2014 15:16

I hate it too - although I always donate out of guilt. HATE the Chris Evans 'things money can't buy' thing as it's only open to the very rich (who probably claim tax relief on the charitable donation or something), and get fed up with the endless requests at school/work/the street for money - I wouldn't dare say that I'd already donated as I do with other charities

DrElizabethPlimpton · 09/11/2014 15:28

I can't abide the Chris Evans thing either. I think it would be far more in the spirit of the BBC, for the lots to be raffled and the tickets to be priced so it is much more within the budget of everyone.

grocklebox · 09/11/2014 15:41

They are asking all children. Do you think they should stay away from anything to do with children because a percentage of them might be the target recipients? This makes no sense. In this line of thought no women should ever be asked to raise money for breast cancer research or domestic violence charities, because they might actually be part of the target demographic.

vienna1981 · 09/11/2014 18:39

Children in Need is excruciating, toe-curling balderdash. I can't stand it. An excuse for people to dress and behave like twats.

AesSedai · 09/11/2014 18:42

I've already recorded a couple of films to get me through CIN. I hate it.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 09/11/2014 18:46

My DD's school benefit.

One of the classes is collecting as an educational project. They really enjoy it.

I do hate people whinging about the programme being boring when I see the benefits to DD's school.

MrsCakesPrecognition · 09/11/2014 18:47

I find the auctions on radio (2 & 4) really weird. The presenters badgering every listener to call in and bid on something that is already at several thousand pounds, with no recognition that these sums are way beyond the means of the vast majority of listeners.

cleanmachine · 09/11/2014 18:47

Hurr I always donate. To school and over the phone. Its the guilt, and the short films really do tap into the guilt.

bloodyteenagers · 09/11/2014 19:06

Schools don't have to get involved with CIN. None of ours do because of many of the reasons stated on here, plus several schools and a playscheme asked and where turned down. The playscheme/youth centre faced closure, CIN didn't give a shit the amount of disadvantaged children they had helped over the years and the support they gave the community. The scheme was there for all children from 4 all the way to 19. Asked comic relief and they bent over backwards to help. To help boost funds, a couple of the presenters turned up on a couple of fund raising events. CIN were also asked, to keep it fair, if they would help, said yes and started talking about costs.

Hurr1cane · 09/11/2014 19:14

I don't get the guilt. I voluntarily run a group which supports parents, children and siblings affected with autism. I arrange the fundraising myself and run groups and give advice.

Families are referred to me by CAHMS and paediatricians because they have no means of supporting families other than this.

I have fuck all money though because I do all of that for free.

Recognition? I get a newspaper article once a year and tend to big up the volunteers more.

But I'll still probably be called names for not donating to pay presenters wages.

Nerf · 09/11/2014 19:22

I'm more irritated that I have to buy it make a costume for the dcs to join in. So suggested donation a pound but dress up as a fucking superhero. Obviously , I have loads of costumes lying around or character t Shirts

Nerf · 09/11/2014 19:22

Buy OR make

hazeyjane · 09/11/2014 19:23

The sn preschool that ds used to attend relies on a grant from Children In Need, so we support it.

I do hate the Chris Evans thing though!

Whyjustwhyagain · 09/11/2014 19:28

I didn't realise the presenters were all paid! Stupidly, I thought they were donating their time, and hopefully, a bit of cash too!

SirChenjin · 09/11/2014 19:28

We have this as well Nerf. I fought the urge to write a "why are you having yet another fucking dress down day" letter to the school, gave up and spent £12 on some Transformers outfit for DS3 Angry