I'd like to boycott children in need

[IWouldLoveToStandAsAnIndie]

but I don't want to not donate to those in need. Shall i let my child take part but donate the money directly to charities or is there a better way?

[LilQueenie]

damn wish I knew where that article was I read earlier. Someone on the board of CIN had doubts about jimmy savile and kept him away from the whole thing. I feel assured there are some good people in the world. On the other hand why is everyone bidding so high on that leeches book on ebay. seriously just over a hundred quid for one copy.

[threesocksfortheguy]

well it looks like the most vulnerable will be hit again

[LineRunner]

Not if people give money directly to a relevant front line charity or service.

[QuickLookBusy]

threesocks I hope people complain to the BBC and Max Clofford is removed, rather than people not supporting CIN.

[LineRunner]

That would be best, QuickLook.

[mignonette]

Please email the BBC to get Clifford removed.

[EmmelineGoulden]

The problem with the idea that people should keep on supporting a charity despite it showing questionable judgement over the sort of people it aligns itself with, is that it is that sort of logic that made JS untouchable in the first place. Even though nurses said children would pretend to be asleep when he came on the ward no one wanted to say "no" to JS because "what if it hurt fundraising?". The reuirement for good judgement cannot be held hostage to short term fundraising - it will ultimately hurt the publics trust in all charities and hit fundraising very badly in the medium and long term.

Everyone involved in charities - volunteers, board, staff, people who donate - all need to be insisting on the high standards. As a charity, aligning yourself with someone who admits unapologetically to trying to cover up child abuse is not really doing that. The association sends the wrong message about the aceptability of abuse by celebrities generally. It also makes me wonder what has happened at CiN that they feel needs the sorts of skill Clifford brings to the table. He's not exactly known for his honest and forthright approach is he?

[mignonette]

Excellent point Emmeline

[Viviennemary]

Yes Emmeline you have made excellent points. If JS hadn't raised so much money for charity then he would have been exposed sooner. It was not wanting to sabotage the fund raising that held people back. So it seems from what I've read and seen on TV.

[stinkinseamonkey]

"Complaining is fine but I cant see how its going to do anything other than children suffer the loss of funds."

the OP and others will still have the same amt of "spare" money to donate direct to charity

[Trills]

There are a lot of posts here from people who seem not to have read that you do want to give money to charity just not via Children In Need.

Find a local charity that you like and give directly to them.

[LynetteScavo]

"It also makes me wonder what has happened at CiN that they feel needs the sorts of skill Clifford brings to the table"

Yes, I am about why MC is involved.

[FromEsme]

Emmeline very good points.

[hazeyjane]

I understand that people will give their money to another charity, my worries are that people will tend towards giving to the 'big name' charities, and one thing that CiN is good at is spreading out regular grants to smaller charities,and centres that receive some govt funding, but rely on things like CiN and fundraising for equipment, extra staff etc. The other worry is the point about it being a regular grant - it is a bit like setting up a direct debit for a donation, these are valuable to charities, because they can plan for the future, with some idea of the sort of donations they are likely to receive. My worry if people boycott and don't donate money, then what will happen to the regular grants?

I understand the concern, and the connection with the JS case (although I think there was a lot more to it than covering up because of fears over fundraising). But I also worry about the effect on the actual people who benefit from the money that CiN raises.

[stinkinseamonkey]

I think most people prefer small local charities that they can see, around here anyway people go out of their way to donate to/shop at the charity shops for the smaller local ones than the big ones

personally I have a few fav big ones and a few fav local ones

[hazeyjane]

But there are lots of places that rely on charitable funding, that I don't think people are even aware of.Ds's nursery had a fundraiser last year and most people I asked for sponsorship had either never heard of it, or thought it would be completely govt funded (it is the only specialist early years setting in a very large area). The same with portage, no-one knows what it is (unless they have a child who has benefitted from it), but the one question every paed, SALT, physio and ot asked me about ds, was 'does he get portage?' - such an amzing thing, which relies heavily on charitable donations.

[stinkinseamonkey]

corporate donations are also usually to small local ones

[LineRunner]

Very thought-provoking, Emmeline.

[mignonette]

I'm donating to a local appeal for a specialist wheelchair....

[hazeyjane]

corporate donations are also usually to small local ones

and with the recession, a lot of business donations have stopped. I know that one local business has had to stop donating to ds's centre.

[bigwombat]

A small local disabled children's charity I'm involved with is currently receiving a CIN grant. We're getting a significant sum (for us), can't see how we could possibly raise a similar sum from individual donations - the amount of extra fundraising work and administration would be huge and, as we're all unpaid volunteers with other jobs, practically impossible! CIN have a very strict process for awarding the grants and then monitoring them (similar to the Big Lottery). It would be a very sad thing if the appointment of MC seriously affected their income.

[Darkesteyes]

Great post Emmeline. Some very good points.

[IWouldLoveToStandAsAnIndie]

Thank you all for your comments. Have been reading through the thread and to the comments concerned about fewer donations to groups in need, kept thinking but, but , (!) and then I saw Emmelines post.... well said. I couldn't articulate the right words but I feel you have captured my feelings perfectly.

[hazeyjane]

I have emailed the bbc, stating that I fear that appointing MC will lead to people boycotting Children in Need, and that they have made a mistake in giving him a role within the charity.

I'm afraid I won't be boycotting the charity though.

If anyone would like to contribute directly to a small charity, please consider this centre in Devizes or wiltshire portage - thankyou.

[Mumfun]

Also CIN were economical with the truth when they said Savile wasnt involved. His involvement was stopped at some point but he was for several years in CIN and there are photos to prove it!