Did anyone else get that v. upsetting 'baby names book' from the NSPCC this morning?

[tigertum]

This morning I got a mailer from the NSPCC asking for monthly contributions. Enclosed was a leaflet designed to look like a baby names book and under each letter was a childs name and underneath a brief desciption of how this child (mostly under two, one at only 9 weeks old) had died of abuse. Many of the deaths were horribly violent and had been at the hands of parents. I read it, and it had me in tears. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry again.

I already contibute to Oxfam every month and DP and I have agreed on this amount and we cant change it. The letter enclosed began with something like 'as a new mum', so I was probabbly targeted as a mother, possibly who is on record of being a regular contributer to a charity.

Yes, it was very effective in that it made me feel incredibly upset and depressed/angry at he world that this kind of thing can happen. As I sat, blothcy faced, staring at this 'baby names book', I couldn't decide if it's right or not for something that distressing should land on my door step oiut of the blue, especially if I was targetted by this mail because on some database somewhere I am logged as a mum who contributes to charities.

Did anyone else get this mail, what's your opinion?

I had something similar to that a while ago - I have to admit that it made me start giving to the NSPCC.

As an ex-Marketeer I actually think that is appallingly abusive in terms of buying in a database of new mothers

I would complain vociferously to the NSPCC AND the ASA

there are things that are unacceptable even from charities

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This was about a save the children fund one.

Very upsetting and ime tend to put people off all together.

of course its been highly commeded and won direct marketing awards

the agency was WWAV Rapp Collins

I think this is what happens when you get 20-somethings creative teams with no real life experience

I have had the same one and was also very upset. I already have a direct debit set up to the NSPCC and they still send me all these mailings and ring every couple of months asking if we would like to "help more children" by increasing our direct debit. To be honest I find both of these fundraising tactics a bit underhand, especially when there is no "we are very grateful for your support..." but instead the undertone that the person on the other end of the phone thinks you are tight for not giving more. I am sure the people who ring are on commission.

I don't know for sure if I was targeted Twiglett, but I'd kind of like to know. Just re-read the letter and it starts..

"Dear my name

Becomming a mum is an amazing expereince. It is the most wonderful and difficult thing I have ever done...

and it goes on describe about the wrtiers own expereince of being a mum.

I've never had anything like that until I a) started contributing to charity. b0 had a baby.

Do you think they would have targetted people specifically for this Twiglett?

Got one but as I contribute to 3 other charities I ripped it up without opening it properly - I can't afford anymore and find their marketing shocking and upsetting like you!!

yes you were targetted .. they have your name and address and your personal circumstances

so they've got you from a database (probably the bounty database but might be mothercare or any other database)

you go to a list broker and say I want names, addresses and these special circs (you could choose anything ... interest in sports, just bought a house, age ..whatever) and it costs anything from £11 to £25 (or so) per thousand names

its a numbers game

Straight in the bin. Felt targetting with the spiel about being a mum.

Problem is even by talking about it we're validating the concept .. you really can't win

I gave a lump sum to the NSPCC after a TV ad. really tugged at my heartstrings.

They have spent that and more chasing me up for further contributions, including at one stage, sending videos.

Sorry - but I would rather support the smaller charities, whose workers genuinely care for those they are helping.

v. true

That's a good point fairyjay

It must have cost quite a bit for some creative mind at a Marketing company to come up with what I was sent.

I contribute to Oxfam and I sometimes cridge a bit when they send me some thick, cleverly designed glossy thing in the post with a pen because it must cost a fortune. I would be much happier to recieve something basic so I can see that my money is being soent on important things.

I used to work for a charity thatb refused to do this sort of thing (Macmillan BTW), when the cancer relief UK TV ads started they were under a lot of pressure to do the same as revenue was dropping, but decided against it as the feedback from cancer patients was that it would indeed upset them. HomeStart ahs a similar ethos, based on the fact that whilst they need money to survive (I don't know if you know, but lots of HomeStart schemes do actually go abnkrupt- ours almost did, one person running it from 5 now) confidentiality and the ability of organisers to turn up at a house without everyone knowing who they re frompublicity shots etc was essential.

I DO give to the NSPCC as a result of one of these mailing, but I think that purchasing a target mailing list stinks. I get the need for money, but there is a need for ethics too.

(And Mamcillan don't send pens eithre for the reason of giving the money in either services or direct grants to patients)

So if anyone is looking for an ethical charity, HomeStart or Macmillan

I find it hard to believe they can get away with sending you something like that. In my naivity I think there must be some law that stops them from sending you emotionally damaging material but obviously not. What you can do is join the mailing preference service - then even charities are not allowed to send you stuff even if you are on the bounty list. I'll go get the link for you.

Mailing Preference Service

I've joined the mailing one, baby one and telephone one. I don't get any junk mail for me or kiddies and no cold calls. Takes about 3 months to work properly.

Fairyjay, sorry but I am really annoyed by your comment and had to respond. I work as a fundraising manager for one of the largest charities in this country and can assure you that I and the majority of my colleagues care passionately about the people who we support through the work of our organisation. I would not work there if I did not.

Yes we do spend money producing marketing materials, for one very simple reason. It works. Our objective in everything we do is to maximise the amount of money we are making for the charity to spend on its work. Marketing and advertising are a really important part of our activity, as they are for the NSPCC, without them neither charity would be the size and success that they are.

there are boundaries of taste though .. and an effective DM piece may well not be in the best taste either through creative executive or target profiling .. don't you agree?

I think there is far too much of a move to shock into action recently .. everybody pushing the boundaries a little bit and a little bit more to grab attention, to win awards

it has to stop somewhere

just because you have the budget to spend doesn't mean you should spend it ..

i got one about 2 months ago.
i thought it was sick personally, i dont need a book to tell me how some children die brutal deaths, the are enough news reports of that nature.

Peachy, MacMillan do advertise on TV now though (for their coffee morning) and have some pretty hard hitting newspaper and magazine articles. They also target the people closest to their causes, ie cancer patients and their families via hospitals and GPs surgeries (look at your doctors noticeboard next time you are there)

Unfortunately being moved emotionally by the ask is the most powerful way to get people to donate, you only have to look at the success of things like Comic Relief. Their donations sour after each piece of heart breaking film footage

its like porn though .. to get the reaction you need to go harder and harder as the senses get more and more attuned to the images they are perceiving

doesn't make it right

thing is,what if a mother suffering from pnd receives one of these? i had it myself for quite a long time and i know that anything concerning death/accidents etc.to children would cause me to burst into tears. i couldn't even listen to certain music or anything. i think maybe this charity really does need to have a rethink.(although i know that the NSPCC is a very good charity and should be supported).

But is tyhat because the only way to get people's attention is to shock these days? The NSPCC Full Stop ad with the child crying in a cot was heart breaking to watch, and was also one of the most successful DRTV ads ever made, as a charity they decided to be more honet and open about the shocking facts around child abuse in a bid to do something about it. (I do not work for the NSPCC by the way)