To give to a different charity rather than comic relief

[ILovePud]

I was watching comic relief last night with DH, I was really upset by the video clips but particularly the ones of children in desperate circumstances in Africa. I decided to make a donation to malaria no more instead of comic relief because the comic relief money goes to lots of different projects. Whilst I feel they are all undeniably worthy I feel that at least people over here have access to education and a national health service whereas the plight of the people having to walk miles to a malaria clinic with their gravely ill child and see them treated on the floor because there are no beds is more pressing. DH thinks I'm unreasonable for watching comic relief and then giving money to a different charity as that's against the spirit of the thing, what do other people think?

I think you can give money to whoever you want to.

YANBU I would quite like to see a televised charity for uncovering VIP paedophile rings and have some much needed coverage for that.

YANBU, thanks for giving

I think Comic Relief would be fine with you making a donation to a project-specific charity that covers a cause they broadly support.

I don't give to Comic Relief. It is so so hard for small charities on the ground to get money out of them or to get money directly from people because of the likes of CR. CR spends enormous amounts on admin.

YANBU, donate your money to which ever charity you want, I'm sure CR are doing alright.

Yanbu

hurrah, my first unanimous YANBU, in your unreasonable face DH! Oh dear that's not very charitable.

Yanbu. I prefer smaller charity giving myself. It's almost as if the big charties are a business and the charity bit is on the side.

I would like to give direct to the charity helping those boys sleeping on the streets or the girl wHo only had an ill GM.

YANBU

I seem to remember one of the comics being interviewed before the first Comic Relief. He was asked if he still wanted to be doing Comic Relief in 20 years, he said if they were still doing it then they had failed.

So have they failed or are things worse now than then??

YANBU. Each to their own. Personally, I can't abide Comic Relief, Sport Relief, Children in Need et al so avoid them whenever possible.

That sounds fine to me. Actually Comic Relief pass the majority of the funds they raise onto the charities and projects they are promoting, such as Oxfam, Save the Children and other smaller groups.

I don't see it is a problem to pass your donation directly to the project you were most engaged with.

You are donating to a very worthy cause, that is what is important. Well done you Op :)

I am a small charity girl really. It's hard as there is so much sadness and inequality in the world.

Comic Relief is just a fundraising umbrella who hand out the takings to other charities, I think. Mostly big ones.
YANBU to have donated to a cause highlighted by them. If they brought your attention to it then that's them doing their job isn't it?

"That sounds fine to me. Actually Comic Relief pass the majority of the funds they raise onto the charities and projects they are promoting, such as Oxfam, Save the Children and other smaller groups. "

Who then spend much of it on even more admin, managers etc.

I like to give directly to smaller charities. I understand why the big ones have such colourful, expensive adverts and top-notch directors paid 100s of 1000s - they are running a big business charity - but personally I prefer my money to go to the needy rather than a poster/tv ad. Also, I feel uncomfortable about celebs getting lots of ego boosting for a charitable event. Again, I know it makes money, I just don't like it.

How much of the charity's income goes directly to the people who need it is always a contentious issue isn't it. Malaria No More says on their website that over 80% of funds raised do go to front line projects so I was thinking with gift aid everything I give will help directly. I know a few people who periodically travel out to parts of the developing world and I always support these trips but I don't know whether that's just feels better because I feel more of a personal connection with the projects because my friends feedback what they've done with the donations.

Yanbu!

I have a chosen charity who I give to through my employer. I usually also give to whatever the big national appeal of the time is too - Comic Relief, Children in Need, Sport Relief etc. I also sponsor all friends and family when they do sponsored runs etc for their chosen charities. I also gave to the MN appeal a few months back. But I decided not to give to Comic Relief this year. I bought the red noses, pins, a mug etc. DS1 gave a donation when he wore his own clothes into school.

I gave the money I would normally give to Comic Relief to my favoured charity which is the Family Holiday Association, in case anyone is interested! They pay for holidays in the UK for UK resident families who wouldn't be able to afford to go themsleves. They are generally caravan and holiday park holidays.

Of course yanbu, its your money

Actually Comic Relief pass the majority of the funds they raise onto the charities and projects they are promoting, such as Oxfam, Save the Children and other smaller groups

How did I not know this? I'm not a fan of Oxfam (or indeed, any big pseudo-governmental charity) so it would certainly affect my desire to give to Comic Relief. I don't give to DEC because they are an umbrella charity.

Another one who feels it's your money to do as you like with

Personally I've always had doubts about the "big business" aspects of major charities, so the fundraising I've done has always been for local concerns who give more of an idea where the money actually goes

Each to their own, though ...

Good god they give it to oxfam and save the children?! I regret donating now.

Didn't save the children give Tony Blaire a humanitarian of the decade award?

YANBU.

Presumably you pay for your TV licence so you are completely entering into the spirit of the thing if you watch Comic relief. You aren't obliged to give to any charity, but you have chosen to give to one you care about, so good on you.

I don't give to CR or children in need for various reasons, but I don't feel any guilt at watching the programmes for the small amount of time that they're worth watching.