To disagree with Children in need

[BrokenBrit]

Perhaps I should preface this and say I do give to charity and I recognise we don’t live in a fair and decent society where services are properly funded.

However, I think it’s pretty shameful having children plastered all over the tv revealing their private medical diagnosis so as to get some money for essential funding.

I also hate the narrative of disabled people needing pity and charity with the sad music and dimmed lights (I’ve not watched it this year but that has been previous years experience!). Either that or as some sort of inspiration! I just hate this narrative!

Then there are the jolly celebs making themselves feels good singing a song and raising a few £ when what really needs is change to policy and practice, a properly funded NHS, proper provision for children with SEND and much, much more. But let’s donate a quid and feel good about ourselves hey.

AIBU?

All I can say is you weren't missing much. It was awful 😣 tonight.

I wonder if we'll ever have properly funded services. Does all the money raised go to charity?

I totally agree with you! It's the job of the Govt to support people in the UK and not a load of virtual signalling Clebs.

Virtue even

I'm pretty sure they're a problematic organisation if you're gender critical, too.

YANBU.

I'm put off by looking into how much they have in the bank . Surely the monies collected should be spent to dole out to the respective charities / those seemed in need . Not in high interest accounts / offshore accounts etc.

It’s says here 95p in every £1 goes to charities so a lot higher than a lot of them.

https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/about-us/faqs/

YANBU

We shouldn't need fund raising events like this. We should have properly funded services.

Howecer, I admit to shedding a tear at seeing children from DD's old primary school singing on National television.

I agree with you that it’s the job of the Government to properly fund loads of things, including hospices, charity centres and counselling for bereaved children. But they don’t. So if Vernon can raise well over £4 million doing some walking, good on him. That’s going to make a huge difference to some of these charities, especially the smaller ones

These children shouldn’t be presented as ‘needy’ and something to be pitied. They are in need of equality.

There you go :

BBC Children in Need has kept £87.7million stashed away in its investment portfolio instead of giving it directly to charity, its latest accounts reveal. The charity, which has raised more than £600million for youngsters in the UK since 1980, is preparing to launch a fresh appeal to viewers.

Same argument every year. If you think it’s just about virtue signalling and replacing what government is doing then you could say the same about most charities

I know people that benefit from CIN and yes you could say in a perfect world those funds are not needed, but this is reality and charity money will always be required to support those that need help. If people get a bit of entertainment while raising £33m on a Friday night then what is the issue

Jason Manford has been good at calling the trolls out on Twitter tonight who have been saying similar to this thread

the Big TV appeal just feels very outdated.

what really needs is change to policy and practice, a properly funded NHS, proper provision for children with SEND and much, much more.

This is obviously true. But could apply to loads of charities.

And it's not like that will all suddenly be provided if the charities stop.

Food banks for example - all well and good saying they shouldn't be needed, but that doesn't help the people who do actually need them today.

As for children in need night, I never watch as I think it's crap.

Thanks, @Changingplace That's more than I would have expected.

With you all the way OP. I never watch it. It is a disgrace that our welfare state cannot provide for these children and I hate seeing them paraded about at this brash pity party.

Being 'properly funded' means a massive rise in taxes to cover costs. Are people willing to pay?
The reality is, it would be almost impossible to fund every charity, socisl service, hours of free childcare, and so on.
Not saying this is right, just reality

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I don’t like the children’s privacy being compromised before they are old enough to give informed consent.

@DGPP

I agree with you that it’s the job of the Government to properly fund loads of things, including hospices, charity centres and counselling for bereaved children. But they don’t. So if Vernon can raise well over £4 million doing some walking, good on him. That’s going to make a huge difference to some of these charities, especially the smaller ones

Agree with this.

Can’t bear it. I never donate to it. As for the gushing over Vernon K all week, awful, Zoe Ball has been particularly sickening.

I support charities in principle, but do wonder how much scrutiny goes into who the money is handed out to. Eg. small charities providing mental health support to schools/ kids etc, but not providing evidence based therapy/ no proper research on outcomes or value for money etc.

It's better than Comic Relief, but only marginally. Both are awful and outdated.

The general public have got charity fatigue too.

I wonder if the charity fatigue has been acknowledged. It all finishes around 10pm tonight whereas I remember they used to go through the night!