Unpleasant Save the Children Fund mailshot

[suedonim]

Has anyone else had a recent mailshot from Save the Children Fund? I got a most unpleasant one this morning and was so cross I phoned STCF to complain about it.

It looks like a genuine school exercise book, riddled with bullet holes, and is printed inside in a child-like font. Our porch is quite dark and in the gloom I actually thought I'd been sent a poison pen letter! Also, my 10yo dd saw it and looked very worried until I explained what it was about.

The aim of the mailshot is to raise money/awareness of the importance of children's education in war zones, a cause for which I have every sympathy, but to me this sort of shock tactic is counter-productive; the last thing I now want to do is give money to STCF. I think I take most things in my stride but this was horrible and I can imagine someone elderly or perhaps a war veteran could end up being very upset by this.

• that is horrible!

well done you for complaining. not seen it myself, but thanks for the warning.

what did they say??? when you tel them

I haven't seen it but it sounds horrible. I've had some very upsetting ones from the NSPCC (who I support anyway so they're wasting money sending me mailshots but that's another gripe). I do understand why they use these shock tactics - charity apathy and all that - but , as your experience shows, sometimes their tactics have the opposite effect to the one they intended.

Disagree sorry. I think the reality of children who live in war zones is undoubtedly very grim and sometimes schock tactics are the only way to get people's attention.

HC, the person I spoke to was v nice, apologised for the upset and said she'd pass my comments on to the team that creates the appeals as they like to get feedback.

Ikwym about the NSPCC, Marthamoo, as I've had those as well, but this has absolutely no identification on the outside of what it is or who it was from. I was scrabbling around trying to open it to see who on earth had sent it, with my heart in my mouth.

Of course it's a grim situation, KatieR, but I don't need shock tactics to tell me that and as I've said, it's been counterproductive in my case. Also, what is to be gained by frightening a 10yo girl? If it had been inside an envelope with ID so that small children wouldn't be alarmed I wouldn't have got uptight about it.

I received mine this morning. I'm totally outraged as well. Before I even saw this thread, I intended to contact them to tell them what I thought. If my 6yo DD had found it, she'd have been really upset.
Like you, the last thing I feel I want to do is give money to STCF! It was a HATEFUL thing to send!

I've received the NSPCC ones before now, but like you say, they're in an envelope and you know what you are getting.

I'm sorry you were upset too, Mary, though also relieved it wasn't just me who'd received it. Do complain, I'm sure it will make them think again.

I've emailed them, so I'll see what response I get.

I told them I appreciated they had a point to get across, but they had to consider that young children may find it distressing. I compared their campaign to the NSPCC where distressing material is inside an envelope away from inquisitive children. I also said that by contacting people in this way, they ran the risk of alienating the very people they were trying to target. I said it was already the subject of discussion on a Mother's bulletin board, and that not all publicity is good publicity!

I had a flippin' dream about this the other night. I dreamt our car had three bullet holes in it and I was desperatly trying to hide us all away. I woke up all hot and bothered - gee thanks a bunch, STCF.

I've not had a response - do you think they care, or do you think the complaints have been overwhelming?