Children In Need and BBC Radio 2 bidding

[Gweipo]

I usually listen to Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 but end up turning it off a few hours into the constant CIN plugging.

From what I have heard they have a lot of things to bid on e.g. Michael Buble concert, Spice Girls concert, fancy Rick Stein lunches. I have heard these in previous years so know they reach a high amount. For example the Michael Buble concert reached 11K I believe.

So, is it the case that these CIN "goodies" are just for rich people? I said to my DH that someone rich could basically sort out their social calendar in a couple of phone calls. I'm sure companies buy them and do something with them as well but it seems really unfair to me that Joe Public are not able to bid on these special prizes.

Foe example. The Michale Buble concert reached 11K. A bid from one person. The other bids dropped by the waste side. Why not have a phone in, say the cost of a call and an extra £1-2. Why wouldn't that exceed 11K and everyone is included? It is fair.

Its OK for Joe Public to make up the majority of the millions of ££££££ CIN donations, but they can't bid for the goodies. How is that fair?

This is actually the reason why I am not donating to CIN. I'll donate to a cause, but not through them. AIBU in the above?

I can't listen at this time of year, Chris Evans gets on my very last nerve because he goes on and on with no respite.
I have never, and never will, donate to children in need

So how would an egalitarian auction work?

Bidder 1 - I'll give you ten quid
Bidder 2 - I'll bid a tenner
Auctioneer - any more bids?
Bidders 3, 4, 5 etc...... yeah, I'll bid £10
Auctioneer ...... yay we've raised £10

Auctions work when someone bids more than me, I decide if I'll put in a higher bid and so it goes on. Whether we start at £1 or £1,000, there's always going to be one person having bid more than the rest by the time the bidding closes. Homes Under The Hammer anyone ......
There's a variety of opportunities to donate and / or get involved without the auctions.

Understandable if we're not all Chris Evans fans, nor even CIN supporters ..... but I still can't get excited about folk with spare cash donating it to help those without, or in need of support services the State doesn't provide.

I switch it off too. It does make me uncomfortable that people are probably going to use their donation as a tax deduct able charitable donation when they have paid for a luxury for themselves. Yet some of their tax could probably have paid for social services for those very children. However, we do have the same argument every year, and it's been going on since Wogan days and it would be difficult to raise that amount of money from £2 lottery tickets etc. I get that so I leave them to it and switch off as the programme is not for ordinary people this week.

The amount of money being spent doesn’t worry me because frankly there are people out there spending that all the time. What bothers me is having a national radio station devote so much time to listing impossible auctions for a massive percentage of its listeners.

Yes, I think as the most popular radio station on a public service broadcaster, Radio 2 should offer more accessible prizes (such as the ticketed draw suggested by a pp). They could run the auction alongside as an internet-only competition, without having to rub people's faces in it. I find it quite distasteful that the BBC has a charity which is tackling child poverty and yet feels it is appropriate to point out huge discrepancies in wealth between its listeners and hold such an exclusive auction in such a prime slot.

LOL. Should the BBC also cancel holiday programs about expensive locations, or property programs because some people can't afford houses, or Masterchef because people can't afford expensive restaurants or ingredients?

I don't think it's entertaining radio but it's raising money for very needy children.

Some people are mind boggling rich. That's just a fact. I'd rather they gave their actual money than those celebs who just lend their faces to some cause to give themselves kudos.

Until the Socialist Republic of Britain comes into being get over it.

I’m torn. I really admire Chris Evans.
Raising money for a good cause is a good thing. He is very good at it and goes out of his way to NOT make it all about rich folk.

But it makes me feel uncomfortable . Because it kind of is.

I haven’t heard them refer to the lots as “ auctions for the things money cant buy ‘ this year. Thank goodness.

Because it’s all about having a LOT OF MONEY TO BUY SUCH THINGS

I think they are doing a £10 draw for the Spice Girls.

I switch off. Only the super rich can participate so that's why it's not suitable fodder for the average BBC licence payer. Although I briefly heard a "text for a tenner" prize this morning which seems a better idea?

We have this thread every year and on the whole I think people dislike it (even though a great deal of money is raised for a really good cause).

I like how "Omaze" do it.

They started with a draw to visit the new Star Wars film set a few years ago I think and now they do regular raffles of really cool prizes. There's one there now to win an evening with the fella from Outlander. Swoon.

I think CIN could do similar stuff. A VIP seat at Strictly, a tour of Eastenders or maybe be an extra in the Queen Vic. The list is endless.

It's doable surely and it would be a lot more fun than listening to Evans droning on about something 99.9% of listeners can't join in with.

YABU. Each year they now do something that IS attainable for the masses too. They are having a concert at the O2 this year where you could bid for a pair of tickets, the price when I was tuned in was as low as £40 for the pair. I think of all the things ‘rich people’ can do with their money paying over the odds for a once in a lifetime experience while also benefiting a charity is not so awful.

I think it's quite simple, ditch the auction format, offer the places for each prize/experience in a lottery type draw which will attract many many more participants on a reverse economy of scale theory and we don't have to listen to the super rich attaining things we never can via a public ally funded platform that ultimately sends people to prison for not contributing towards (generally women and mothers in poverty - oh the irony)

Thank god it's Chris Evans's last year. I've got high hopes for Zoe Ball not being so annoying

My ds has directly benefited from a project funded by cin - I really don't mind where the money comes from I'm just grateful

Bleugh!😝
YANBU! I can't stand the CIN fundraising campaign! The whole thing makes me feel very uncomfortable, as do comic relief, sport relief etc.

It irritates me as it’s so far away from the majority of his listeners, and hearing how much money someone is bidding for something when so many people are struggling I find quite depressing so I switch off now and leave it to those who can afford it. I’m glad they are getting such wonderful experiences (tax deductible....?) but all it does is remind me of the way how it’s the haves and have nots.

The other thing that makes me uncomfortable is the buts with kids who have been through difficult times / health issues or whatever. Stuff that money can’t make better.

I think most recipients of charity DO care where the money has come from.... Just because you are disadvantaged doesn't mean you have no morals....
Think of the Save the Children sexual misconduct cases- charities absolutely should behave with integrity.
The Breakfast show and Save the Children are obviously at different ends of the scale... but charities should act with integrity.

I think it’s just a strange thing to hear on the radio. People bidding huge sums that probably most of the listeners can’t afford. No issue with it, just find it odd.

Aren't CIN hoarding money or something?

If by hoarding you mean making sure they have enough money in reserve to meet their long term funding pledges, then yes.

A couple of years ago it was unattainable for the masses but there has been a real effort in recent years to make it much more accessible.

There is always a £10 text competition, this year for a VIP trip to New York to see Springsteen and the first two days of the week were devoted to a concert at the O2 where you can get a ticket for £35 each. Then 2 days devoted to the big money prizes.

Seems to me like that’s a fair cross section of people and prizes.

Also, even the £40 for 2 tickets for the thing at the O2 still needs return train tickets to London and a night in a hotel. Plus someone to look after my children for 24 hours. Beyond my reach.

I think this way raises the most money which is best for the good causes.

I do think it's crap just how huge the gap between rich and poor is, and things like this highlight that. I tend to assume very rich people could not be so rich if if wasn't for poorer people or some sort of exploitation (whether it goes back to slavery/tobacco/arms/being the Lord over the peasants). But CIN isn't there to resolve generations of society shiteness.

the best way to get big donations was to let rich people show off how rich they are

That's the galling part. I switch off and take heart that I'm neither rich nor stupid enough to squander bags of cash on a weekend twatting about with Chris Evans.