Stranger knocking door asking for sponsorship

[BobbyBiscuits]

Just wondering how others feel about this, as it's never happened to me before.

A bloke knocked on my door, when I got there he was almost running away down the road, but turned back and said 'I thought you weren't in' almost looking cross. So I assumed he might be a delivery man.

He then said he lived in the street next to mine, but didn't give his name, and showed what looked like a home made sponsorship form, he garbled something about football and that it was for UNICEF.
I didn't see any branding for them on the thing he was weilding.
He was asking for sponsorship but did so in such a garbled fashion I was taken aback.

I politely said that sounds awesome, but I'm not able to help at the moment. He then immediately practically ran off.

This was a middle aged man, maybe mid 40s. I'd not seen him ever before and have lived here ages.

What would be your take on this approach?

Is it legit to ask for sponsorship from strangers knocking on their doors?
Was he really giving the money to UNICEF?
Should I have given him some money? (I had no change and would've been uncomfortable giving bank details anyway tbh)

What would you have done in my position? Or his?

Thanks and I look forward to your views.

Say no thanks??? You aren't obligated to give me money to every stray person who knocks on your door.....

I suspect it’s more probable that he’s casing properties to see which might be worth breaking into at a later date. The ‘sponsorship’ is just an excuse if someone is home.

I'd have done the same most sponsorship is done online now or you just ask the people you know.

@HundredMilesAnHour gawd, he'd be disappointed trying to find anything worth stealing from us. But that was my concern!

It might have just been a scam to part you from a tenner rather than looking to rob your house, you never know though.

Club I'm connected with did similar recently handed out sponsorship forms for people to around house asking money
I didn't just donated a bit myself but was taken a back by number of people who went door to door houses they don't even know.

I'm reasonably certain it's not even legal anymore unless you have correct permissions!

I ask the name of the charity they're collecting for and tell them I'll look them up and decide if I want to donate directy but that I don't donate to cold callers.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I think what threw me most was he seemed in such a rush. Like not trying to build rapport. You'd think he say something like 'Hi there, My name's Bob, I live at no 10 buttercup close, I don't think we've met? (Pause to see if they warmly introduce themselves) I hope this doesn't seem an imposition as we've not met before but...blah blah blah..'

I guess I'm a better salesman than him. Or he was indeed just casing the joint!

I actually did Google UNICEF and looked on their site very briefly for sponsored football challenges but nothing immediately came up. I could be wrong though.
Either way he's not getting owt off me!

Blimey that's very odd, I would have said no too! Have had Dogs Trust knock and ask me to sign up for direct debit - I was a bit taken aback as I didn't know charities did that. I don't think anyone should be knocking on your door asking for money!