a few thousand pounds behind the bar

[necromumda]

We have a local charity driven organization which serves the public and for which volunteers give their time to help. They are constantly raising money for the organization. I just found out that their end of year do involved having a few thousand pounds behind the car for the volunteers. The next day, back again with raising funds via bucket collections.
AIBU to feel this is taking the piss or am I being mean?

Just to answer one of the questions above. The person who told us is part of the "club" and the money was from funds, not from other sources.

INdividial charities make mistakes on individual levels. That doesn’t mean what they do as whole isn’t valuable.

I don’t work for Macmillan btw. In what way did they cause delays?

A percentage of money raised goes towards 'fundraising' which includes Rewards/ Incentives and Benefit Packages.
The 'fundraising regulator' website has all the info.

Are they a registered charity or a community interest company/similar?

Ginandsonicscrewdriver I’ve spoken to many other families who are less than happy with Macmillan. I’m sure many are delighted with them, and that’s great.

You have neither the right nor the knowledge to confidently make a statement which is wrong, and you certainly don’t have the right to quiz me.

You’re wrong. That’s it.

Ok maybe should reveal this is a RNLi organisation

I think there’s a middle ground Christmas, they let you down. Fair enough. But they do some vital work.

The reason I asked about delays was because people often confuse Macmillan with other charities (or the person is hired/supported by Macmillan but necessarily managed by them), they don’t tend to be involved with the discharge of patients directly for example.

I think there’s a middle ground Christmas, they let you down. Fair enough. But they do some vital work.

Aye they do, I never said they didn’t. But robbing time from someone who is dying is unforgivable, especially when it’s unnecessary. Mine isn’t the only family affected, and their numerous and ridiculous ad campaigns cost far more than is necessary.

Their ad campaigns bring in a huge bulk of their funding Christmas. That’s why they do it.

That definitely makes a difference. If the “volunteers” you’re talking about are actual lifeboat crew rather than random tin rattlers then who the hell would begrudge them an end of year pissup? Feel free to do a survey of all the donors to say “would you be offended if some of your 50p went to a proper thank you to the crew rather than 100% being spent on boat maintenance” and I think I can safely guess what the answer would be.

Jesus you win. You’re right, Macmillan are incredible and didn’t devastate my mum and dad.

All is well, you’re right. Feel better now?

Ffs

Macmillan are fecking useless here too, just as an aside

The RNLI is one of the biggest charities going. They are a professional outfit, with lawyers and accountants managing their funds. If - and the OP still doesn't know that facts - there was money put behind the bar for a volunteer Christmas do, then that will be 100% above board.

We all know that the general public and the press loves nothing better than to put the boot into the charity sector with stories about manager's salaries, overseas trips or whatever. And those stories get far more attention than posts directing people to teh charity commission website to investigate the facts for themselves. No charity is going to knowingly take money donated towards lifeboats, famine relief or research into cancer and put it behind the bar for booze.

Not. A. chance.

Frankly OP, you sound like you've got a bloody chip on your shoulder.

I'll echo the PP above. Any moneys behind that bar would have been 100% above board.

And I would not begrudge the RNLI anything. They are bloody amazing. Many many years ago the RNLI were involved in trying to save the lives of two friends of mine and searched for them for days. Sadly, both were found dead, but their work and dedication was incredible. I will never EVER forget it.

OP you are still posting innuendo and half facts. The charity booked the venue so paid for it. The money could have come from a variety of sources. If you are bothered ask, don’t post gossip and speculation because your confuse an ill informed opinion with fact. Accounts will be published and decisions made by trustees in line with rules.

People donate funds specifically for the use of those who volunteer or work in public service. To be spent on the volunteers and public service workers. It pays for staff well being and social events. They donate to the organisation who pay for these things.

I'd have no problem with the RNLI spending a proportion of my donation like this, in principle.

Out of interest how big was the party? A few grand bar bill at a party for 500 people is very different from a few grand on drinks for 5 people!

It was a crew member who told me. There are maybe around 40 crew and staff plus partners, I guess. Held in a bar owned by one of the crew.
Maybe I am being mean, thats why I asked if IWBU.

I think until we get the context we are clueless here. As the money was being collected that would go towards the volunteers' party, were people giving that money made aware it would go towards the party?

In any charity's accounts there will always be a small amount for volunteer costs/welfare or some similar sort of heading. I've only ever known this to be to reimburse fares or expenses. Its not unusual for a charity to give a modest party for staff and volunteers, but, particularly in a regional branch, you would be talking a few sandwiches and a couple of drinks each. for 40 volunteers, that wouldn't be a few thousand pounds.

So 40 volunteers, £10-15 a head, that doesn't make a few thousand. Most people resent charities using their money for staff costs and overheads let alone volunteer parties and that is a ridiculous attitude, but this sounds like its gone completely the other way. If the RNLI fundraising team heard of this, the branch would be questioned.

The RNLI is one of the biggest charities going. They are a professional outfit, with lawyers and accountants managing their funds. If - and the OP still doesn't know that facts - there was money put behind the bar for a volunteer Christmas do, then that will be 100% above board.

RNLI runs on a branch network, they do not administer the funds of each branch.

The RNLI would not have spent their funds on money behind the bar, as noted, they are way too professional an organisation to take such a risk.

It's very likely that other people will gladly contribute a thankyou to the RNLI volunteer crew that would be above board - ie outside of the charity rules and just a private party.

You are and you are, yet you keep on going for it. Despite a number of explanations for how and why this happens.

If less people got worked up and angry based on fake or assumed information the world would be a better place.

Keep on going for it? That's a bit of a stretch and oddley defensive. Just answering a question from a previous poster actually.

Oddly, damn!

I'd be taken aback if this is a genuine account of something done by a local RNLI. And if there was a donation from the crew member for food and venue if it was his/her bar ( Held in a bar owned by one of the crew. )

That said, around 40 crew and staff plus partners might be around 100-120 people? And a few thousands is anywhere from £3-8K. So, I've no idea if that's £25pp or £80pp.

Gee, I just can't get het up about them spending money on thanking the crew that risk their lives for others and disrupt their own day to day life to save people who've often done idiotic things.