to feel uncomfortable about people bidding huge sums of money for Children In Need experiences (Chris Evans this morning)?

[Megainstant]

It made me feel...odd. Or something. To hear people bidding thousands and thousands of pounds to play tennis at the Queens Club. I know all the money goes to charity. I know its a worthwhile cause. But it made me feel strangely uncomfortable and I don't really know why.

I just don't listen/watch. I've bought a couple of CIN wrist bands, and there is going to be a cake sale at school on Friday.

I've donated over the years, never dreaming that I would ever need these charities myself. But ds1 now attends activities for young carers in our area, as ds2 has disabilities. It gives him a chance to have time for himself, doing things that he enjoys with other kids his own age, in similar circumstances. The group has been funded by CIN, so I have mixed feelings about it. Some good does come out of this money some where a long the line.

The National Lottery raises an average of £36 million each week! Do people play it because they want to make a small charitable contribution or are they hoping for a big win? Most people need to be prompted to give. The big auction isn't much different. For all we know, some of the unsuccessful bidders in the Breakfast Show auction may decide to donate anyway.

Evans has clearly hit on something
No, it wasn't his idea. Terry Wogan started it years ago.

It makes me feel pretty nauseous TBH, especially since the leading item on the BBC radio news last night was that funds earmarked for child mental health had been diverted to fill funding holes in the rest of the devastatingly cash strapped NHS.

It made me wonder how many of these bidders either actively or passively support this government, and whether they might not be better off using their disposable funds to fight against this kind of massive structural inequality. I don't know, perhaps they do . Or perhaps they've just bought an opportunity to boast to their mates at the golf club about how very caring and philanthropic they are, while getting to drive some bloody sports car or something.

Agree with the pp who said it's ostentatious. That's what it's about - same as conspicuous consumption. I've been to loads of these investment wanking charity dinners/auctions and this is it. Look at meee. I'm so generous - because I'm so rich and successful. On the other hand, charities DO get some donations they wouldn't have had otherwise, so I suppose it's win-win. I just don't like it dressed up as philanthropy.

I know someone who is currently "fundraising" for a charity. Except she isn't really, she is fundraising for her own trek across South Africa or whatever, for which she pays above the odds and then some money gets given to the charity out of that

Don't get me started on this sort of thing, though. Truly ought not to be allowed without the breakdown of costs and who's paying what emblazoned all over any publicity material. Have you read "Is it Just Me or is Everything Shit?" The guy there is spot on - it's the moral equivalent of asking you to give me £20 for a couple of drinks in the pub and saying I'll put the change in the collecting tin for Lifeboats. You won't? But I'm doing it for Lifeboats, you meanie.....

There's a whole other political debate to be had about the existence of any charitable organisation in this country. But until services are properly funded and provided what can we do?

I hate it - I don't want it rammed down my throat and I don't want the "but its charity" attitude - I am not a sheep I will do as I please and the rest of you can go hang. I just loathe the taking over and forced participation

I don't know vango....we all help out with charitable organisations, and I'm sure that even in the most fair and equal world we'd still have to do that. However, I get the distinct feeling that, for wealthy and powerful individuals, this kind of ostentatious charitable giving acts as a sop to the conscience, and could prevent the kind of uncomfortable self examination necessary to actually bring about change.

Yeah I'm sure what a homeless kid really needs is the chance to play a round of tennis at Queens

So what would happen then if Chris Evans said 'right this year, you just donate, there's nothing in it for you'

Dead phone lines. Less money given to charity. Fewer children supported.

Still failing to see the issue here.

At least it's not called the
"Auction for things that money can't buy" anymore. That used to do my head in!

If Chris Evans can tease money out of those that have to benefit poor children then more power to his elbow. But I'm not watching it or cheering them on.
I detest performance wealth/charity as much as I detest scathing comments about poverty, benefits scroungers and how poeple should be grateful for an underfunded NHS.

Maybe stubborn but we don't really know anything about the auction winners (except that they have large amounts of spare cash!).

They may well be small business owners providing jobs in their local communities, they could be wealthy parents of disabled children who see how others struggle with the lack of support; they could be ongoing supporters of charity in general or, just as you say, wealthy people who want to feel better about themselves with a reward attached.

I suppose the question is does it really matter why they do it as long as they do it?

Yes, I see what people are saying, but then again, I don't really mind if some rich person is feeling all good about themselves and gets a nice treat, so long as some good is coming out of it.

It does make me wonder though - how many rich people ARE there, phoning in and donating? I don't know ANYONE who could afford £23,000 for a meal out. Am I just mixing with plebs?

i know!! Or 18k for a game of tennis!! Who are these people?!

So what if they brag about it down the golf club? Everyone has reasons for donating. If you managed to somehow screen potential donors for the worthiness of their motivation before allowing them to donate, who would that even benefit?!

I don't think someone bidding £50k on a car experience or something detracts from the 12-year-old who raises £15 in a sponsored silence, or the 5-year-old who pops her £1 pocket money into a collection box.

Re charity money, the biggest place that it goes for many large charities is to plug a hole in the pension fund because they have promised final salary pensions to their staff and don't have the funds to pay in it

As with most charity's, a fraction of the money goes where it says it does

That is such bollocks. If you want to find out how a charity spends its money their accounts are perfectly accessible and well regulated by the charity commission. If you don't like what they tell you, don't give. Yes, a few bad eggs slip through (Kids Company) but to say that 'most' charities misappropriate funds is ridiculous.

I can't stand it either, but then I can't stand Chris Evans. He is so odious and SO out of touch with how the vast majority of people in this country live. He speaks like everyone listening has as much money as him. One time I heard him giving the most vomitous patronising monologue 'hey guuuuys, don't work so hard, spend time with your family, who needs money, quality time with your kids is worth more than money, get out, see the world, have amazing experiences, you only live once' kind of tripe. He's fucking CLUELESS!

If they had a CIN thing where if you donated £5 you got put in a prize draw for driving a bloody supercar, or playing at Queens or whatever, I wonder if they'd get the same amount?

And no, I don't listen to him any more!

If they had a CIN thing where if you donated £5 you got put in a prize draw for driving a bloody supercar, or playing at Queens or whatever, I wonder if they'd get the same amount?

I'll hazard a guess and say probably not. So (though not a fan of it myself!) it clearly appeals to the big spenders who might otherwise chuck £20 in a bucket.

Yeah, maybe its just Chris Evans. He is beyond awful

I don't think I have a problem with the principle but it makes for terrible terrible radio.

To be fair, people have been complaining about the annual auction for as long as it's been run.

I work for a charity than runs auctions, often with 'once in a lifetime experience' prizes. At least 5 or 6 prizes every year will be donated back to the charity by the winning bidders, so they a service user/dedicated community fundraiser can have the experience instead.

If someone came along and pitched a new radio show where people could listen to very rich people bidding for fabulous experiences with the odd tune in between, how far would they get with that as a broadcasting idea?

There is nothing of interest to listen to, so just attaching it to a charity doesn't do it for me.