To be really irritated by Children in Need

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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?

Ds2's school has decided that Friday is "superhero or wear your pyjamas" day for CiN for £1 donation. Ds2 wants to wear a superhero shirt that he has. Done. £1.

Ds1's school has "superhero or casual dress" day for CiN for £1 donation. Ds1 wants to wear casual dress (he doesn't "do" fancy dress, it upsets him). Done. £1.

£2 in, done and dusted. Thank god, because so far this year, they've brought stuff home asking for donations for this and that practically every week, and I've had to take a stand and say "sorry, but no, it's getting ridiculously regular now." I also sent a note back in with the requests for donations for the shoebox drive for Samaritan's Purse and included the internet address for a few legitimate sites that have some less than lovely information about them - all well documented, of course - and informed the school that we do not donate to them as I am not comfortable with their ministry practices. (I have yet to get any feedback from the school on that - they probably are still chewing that one over)

If you want your children to take part in CIN then great! If you don't - then don't. Keep them home on CIN fundraising day. Its a no brainer really. This is the most mean spirited thread I have ever read tbh.

Aren't we lucky to be living in a country where we are adequately housed and fed. Sadly there are millions of children suffering in poverty. Aren't we lucky that we have no first hand experience of exactly what they are suffering?

TBH I would prefer my children to learn about the plight of others less fortunate than themselves and for them to feel they are able to make a difference.

For all those complaining of having to buy a "super hero" costume. I say again an old t shirt covered in felt pen drawn spots will suffice. Isnt Pudsey thought of as a "super hero" on CIN day???

Lets be honest £1 for each child you have isn't going to break the bank!! But it will make a huge difference to the lives of other vulnerable CHILDREN!

1. I don't keep my children at home unless they are ill.

1. Yes, we are lucky, and yes, I believe children should learn about others less fortunate. However, I prefer to give my money to local charities or charities that I support. I know CiN support some amazing causes, but if you read the whole thread you will see why many of us object to it.

1. DC3 does not have an old white t-shirt, and furthermore, the superhero criteria was such that it did not include Pudsey.

1. It's not £1 per child, and it does break the bank of some families (again, read the whole thread), vulnerable CHILDREN! can be supported by many other charities through donations from families as and when they have the money.

HTH.

I wonder how many people who give to CIN actually have any idea were the money goes, I used to give on the assumption that the money would go to making sure children were safe had enough to eat, looking after ill children and for extra treats for the really underprivileged etc which no doubt a lot of money goes to.
However a lot of money goes to some dubious charities and projects, to pay wages and cover administration so who really knows how much money given by CIN actually gets to the kids who need it, certainly not the bloated CIN who use 6-7% of all the money raised on admin alone never mind the 90m in assets plus other investments they have.
I much prefer to give directly then at least you know were the money goes here are a few examples of CIN donations that raised an eyebrow or two.
Bikur Cholim Dsatmar Trust (Home
Hospital Link)
London £80,497 This project will provide practical and emotional support to young
people from the Orthodox Jewish community, to ensure they receive
adequate support to cope with a variety of challenging personal
situations.
Kent Ethnic & Refugee Action Network Dover £91,617 This project will provide life skills training and activities for
unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people.
Christ Church Armley Community Projects
Ltd
Leeds £70,246 Christ Church Armley Youth Project (CCAYP) offers a variety of
activities and support to young people from Leeds including a meal
they can prepare and eat together.
Gateshead Young Womens Outreach
Project
Gateshead £119,337 The project include issue based work focussing on the issues pertinent
to young women/ teen mums; sexual, physical and emotional health,
life skills, parenting, relationships, body image, confidence building,
self esteem and raising aspirations.
Action for Achievement Liverpool £97,644 The Crossing Boundaries project will deliver dance and music
sessions in Norris Green, Croxteth and Fazakerly 3 times per week,
weekends and during school holidays in order to breakdown
geographical barriers and bring young people together.
Ariel Trust Liverpool £90,160 This project will support young people identified through youth
inclusion projects and engage them in a media campaign programme
aiming to both reduce their negative behaviour and promote more
positive images of young people.
Some people will call me mean spirited I don't really care I give and have done a lot for charity and will continue to do so just not for CIN

Why on earth did they raise eyebrows?

When will somebody condense this Charity Appeal to one day - it's coming at us 24/7 for weeks on end and beyond. We are all paying a Licence Fee for this and having it rammed down our throats. Last year my mother endured a horrendous whole day in hospital whilst doctors and nurses in fancy dress frequently disappeared into a side room with a table groaning with cake and drinks, with shrieks of laughter. Near the end of the day the surgeon was really 'pumped' and 'went to town' with my mothers procedure. It was awful and we are reminded of this event for weeks during November. Somebody get the BBC in hand.

Why on earth did they raise eyebrows?

Agreed, none of those particularly worry me.

London £80,497 This project will provide practical and emotional support to young
people from the Orthodox Jewish community, to ensure they receive
adequate support to cope with a variety of challenging personal
situations.

Yes, Damn them for giving money to the Jewish community?!

Leeds £70,246 Christ Church Armley Youth Project (CCAYP) offers a variety of
activities and support to young people from Leeds including a meal
they can prepare and eat together.

FEEDING PEOPLE THE SHAME!

Kent Ethnic & Refugee Action Network Dover £91,617 This project will provide life skills training and activities for
unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people.

A project to help, CHILDREN IN NEED. this must stop

And so on, i'm not doing all of them.

Ariel Trust Liverpool £90,160 This project will support young people identified through youth inclusion projects and engage them in a media campaign programme aiming to both reduce their negative behaviour and promote more positive images of young people.

This one must stop, imagine children being given a good role model in life.

volkswin i think you need to explain why these are bad things?

Gabby

No, I am not going to keep my child off school for a day. What a peculiar idea.

My DCs are doing naff all for CIN this year. My DS came home with a letter saying that since the school was aware it was already asking for a lot of money from parents following read-a-thon, shoe box appeal, etc etc, they were not participating this year BUT there will be a bucket on the gate for collections????

CIN is ONE charity/event I would actually like my children to participate in, even if it were to just wear a onesie to school and play a few games on a Friday afternoon - I would like them to have some fun whilst raising money for a worthy cause, I would pick this over a bloody read-a-thon any day.

Rant over

Sorry, that is my DC's SCHOOL is doing naff all this year

Everyone has a choice whether they would like their children to participate in CIN activities in school. Its great fun for the kids and helps to make a huge difference to Children in Need. Most parents are happy to contribute. Those who don't are not forced to.

I am sure CIN or the school wont care whether you child rocks up in a superhero costume, Pudsey T Shirt, Home clothes, pj's or school uniform on CIN day. Don't make CIN day to be an impossibility. Send them to school - or don't. The choice belongs to the parent!

No-one is disputing that some smaller charities benefit - this is absolutely not what anyone is saying. I can't really be bothered to summaries the entire thread, but if you read it carefully you'll get a better understanding of what the objections are, and why they are being made.

Gabby - no-one in their right mind would keep their child off if they were not ill. Can you try and come up with something more sensible please?

As for not contributing - as I've already explained (as have others), it's not nice for your child to be the only one not paying their money.

SirChenjin. The choice is yours! If you wish to send your children to school without money to participate in fun activities that is your prerogative. My kids have always participated in school CIN days. They are all now teenagers and still enjoy CIN day.

Why should they, as well as thousands of others, from schools around the country be denied this once a year opportunity to help enrich the lives of others through fun based activities just because YOU don't agree with it?

Your child - your choice!

People are not "screeching hysterically" by making their points. Please don't say stuff like that.

Feeling saddened by people moaning about a night of TV which features kids from my DD's school and helps.to fund her after school club is far from "screeching hysterically".

www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/11599685.__33k_boost_for_Devizes_Opportunity_Centre_from_BBC_s_Children_in_Need/?ref=fbshr

The link above is for the preschool that ds used to attend, it is an incredible place, the only one of it's kind covering a huge area. Children In Need have provided a grant for years, and continue to do so (£33,000 for the next 3 years) making sure the centre stays open.

give, don't give. I am glad that the charity exists to raise funds for a centre such as this, which would close without their support.

miaowthecat I look forward to you calling tomorrow and requesting a bad song - I will be one of the people answering the calls on the day.

Gabby - so no sensible suggestion other than to keep my child off school, which I've already said I don't/won't do because it's very wrong?

As for "Why should they, as well as thousands of others, from schools around the country be denied this once a year opportunity" - again, I've already explained that I will be taking part.

Have you actually read the thread?

6-7% on admin for a charity is pretty good actually.

The thing that pisses me off is the auctions on ebay. If they raffled the prizes they would probably get as much or more money. And they would be open to anyone. The monied could buy more tickets, but anyone would have a chance of winning. With an auction - you know you have no chance of winning. VERY bad. Sends completely the wrong message - they obviously think only the very wealthy are 'deserving' of these treats.

Why should they, as well as thousands of others, from schools around the country be denied this once a year opportunity to help enrich the lives of others through fun based activities just because YOU don't agree with it?

Exactly! Which is why parents feel forced into donating to a charity they don't agree with, because they don't want their children to miss out in fun based activities. And your YOU is presumably aimed at a parent, exactly the person the child is going to need to get money from!

And what makes you think it's a once a year opportunity? I could question it being an opportunity at all, but plenty of us give our children a chance to learn about ways in which they can help other people and why that's important all throughout the year. It's not an opportunity my children need from school, especially when they already have dress up days, fundraising activities and fun based activities for other reasons.

Some of you support CIN, and that's great. Your choice. But it's just silly to criticise other people opinions on it when they are equally as valid as yours.

that it has been suggested that children should miss a day of school if their parents don't want to support CIN! That's just ridiculous.