To whine that it's difficult to support charities if you work full time other than just giving them money?

[wigglerose]

I know I am, I'd just like to actively volunteer with local charities and it's almost impossible since they want volunteers that can help out during the week, and I work full time?
I don't just want to give them money. Although weirdly I believe that all money given to charity is useful, provided they don't embezzle it or piss it up the wall on vanity projects. I've got a lot of skills and experience that could be really useful but not a lot of spare cash if I'm honest!

Fund raising events, helping advertise events, selling raffle tickets etc?

@ThousandsAreSailing

Trust the charity sector with your time and money if you like but I have seen too many well thought of charities behave badly The local donkey charity are amazing. Once they get national I wouldn't trust them at all

Like any company then..

Precisely, like any company
So they should be taxed and regulated like other sectors

Some charities may be more flexible about the hours?
Some charities spend a lot of resources on recruiting and training volunteere even if you have skills, they want to train you in their ways and so will be picky about who they choose as drop out rates are so high.
I think with a charity if you give £2 a month but you always do it thats better than a one off £10.. donating food, clothes, books etc when you can is also giving to charity.
Sport runs, bake sales...

@ThousandsAreSailing

Precisely, like any company So they should be taxed and regulated like other sectors

But they're charities

Why not try finding a new job that allows time off in the week? Either reduce your income and work part time, or work weekends. Alternatively you could use your annual leave to volunteer if it is as important to you as you say.

@ThousandsAreSailing

Precisely, like any company So they should be taxed and regulated like other sectors

Charities pay tax when appropriate such as VAT. They are regulated by the charity commission.

In my opinion, tiny charities are less accountable and potentially more at risk of mis-management.

The majority of charities, whether tiny, small, medium or large are well run by people who care about the causes they are set up to support. To dismiss charities based on sweeping generalised assumptions is a shame.

If its any consolation, I used to work for a small local charity & we really appreciated our regular givers. Monthly giving by standing order is particularly helpful because it makes it easier to budget longterm. Also trustees are very important for small charities. The charity I worked for assumed trustees had full time jobs (because they mostly did) and fitted round that

Depends on the charity. I’ve helped with several around full time work. Is it a set one you have in mind?

We support a few small local ones with monetary donations but rarely give money to large charities as some have large salary bills and I’d rather help those that rely on volunteers not highly paid staff.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Depends on the charity. I’ve helped with several around full time work. Is it a set one you have in mind?

We support a few small local ones with monetary donations but rarely give money to large charities as some have large salary bills and I’d rather help those that rely on volunteers not highly paid staff.

Of you think anyone working at a charity is highly paid for their role you're sorely mistaken

In most large charities at least 80% of all donations is ring-fenced for use in the field/direct use for charity mission and for many it's more than 80%

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Depends on the charity. I’ve helped with several around full time work. Is it a set one you have in mind?

We support a few small local ones with monetary donations but rarely give money to large charities as some have large salary bills and I’d rather help those that rely on volunteers not highly paid staff.

I work for a small national charity and I would say that well-trained conscientious staff are our biggest resource. They work tirelessly to help vulnerable families and donations to our charity help to make this happen. One of the best things you can do for a charity is to support their work financially (although our volunteers also contribute a huge amount to our work).