'Pressured' charity donations

[reallemonade]

I don't use Facebook much, but I looked on there to find I had been shortlisted and invited to donate to a charity by a past aquaintance I have ignored, though it's clear who has/hasn't donated as there is a list of names invited and then a list of who donated.

At school they collect for various charities, parents expected to give £2 per child and child is given a sticker when donation paid, so it is obvious if a parent hasn't. I don't mind if it's for the PTA but I don't always like the charity chosen. I understand if you don't pay they add the donation to your school account for trips etc.

Aibu to think charity should be voluntary? I donate to charities I like (usually cancer) I don't expect or oblige anyone else to. Probably not a big deal but just wondered what others think.

Saying "no" is absolutely your right. I support the charities of my choice, and that's that. I'd check out the school stuff - if they're adding charity subs to your school trips, that needs to be knocked on the head. Do you know this for a fact, or is it just playground gossip? If you're concerned about it, I'd personally talk to the school directly and get the full story, and insist on a printed copy of an itemised breakdown of your payment account for trips etc. Nobody can force you to donate to charity, so if they are (through surreptitious means) then I suspect that's not legal.

Donate where you want and say "sorry, my charity budget has already been spent on those I support personally" to anyone else.

ps just press decline on facebook. Nobody else gives a monkey whether you give or not, or how much, I promise. And if they do, they need a hobby.

It's not just happening to parents.
The charities themse!he's to go schools and pressure children too. So those with parents who couldnt/wouldn't give ended up being bullied.
Yeah, tell children they're bad people because their parents are struggling to put food on the table, what a charitable message.

Lots are doing it on their birthdays too. 'This year for my birthday, i have decided to....'

Gah, I get this constantly for my business page too, where I am pressured to donate high value items to charity auctions. I now have a standard stock reply saved to paste in response, thanking them for their interest but I have committed to one charity I support.

Of course it’s voluntary, nobody’s stealing your bank card or going into your purse. It’s an invitation to donate that you can accept or decline. I don’t see the issue?

VietnameseCrispyFish it isn't really voluntary if it's added to your school account though? I haven't had this but have been told by friends, also state school.

When you go for a day out and they offer an entrance price or an entrance price + gift aid. It's hard to say no to gift aid.

The one about the children whose parents who have donated getting a sticker is particularly awful.

Had a few places where I have worked, where on a regular basis you would have people you barely know walking up to your desk and asking for a donation for their sponsored whatever.

Obviously I get the point that you can say no, but it puts you in an unnecessary awkward situation.

@3in4years

I don't understand what you are saying? Gift aid is free for you. As long as you pay tax it's just claimed by the charity off your tax.

@3in4years Why would you say no to Gift Aid?