The Forgotten Ones

[rolious]

Hi everyone
As the election approaches and the news is full of rubbish I will be asking my local candidates about the real problems that affect me as I am a member of that formidable group of voters that are not yet organised and are down trodden  THE PENSIONER
I RIGHTS OF PEDESTRIANS  Our pavements are full of cars and taxis
2 CARE OF ELDERLY   Why was a very good small charity called The oak Tree Project (they have a website) closed down losing about 40 dedicated VOLUNTEERS who did a brilliant job.
And many more which I will post if this thread takes off.
Each area will have their own problems but I am sure we all suffer similar.
POWER TO THE PENSIONER
Regards
Rolious (Yorkshire)

[rolious]

Hi everyone
The point I am making is that the news is full of national and international policies which the parties are all addresing. To me they should also be addressing local policy but on a national scale. I watched dispatches on tv who were trying to find out were the money raised from the London marathon was going to, they found it was impossible to find out. The charity I mentioned earlier was disbanded because somebody? was asking for £200000 funding taking in mind it was run mainly by volunteers for the elderly. There are a lot of very good people out there in all areas who arent appreciated and a few organisers who are ripping the system off. You must have similar experiences in your areas. I agree with Papaumau and his web site "Ripped Off Britain" As pensioners let us try some how to unite and try and make a differance
Regards
Rolious

[Papaumau]

Sadly rolious, there are many good charitable institutions that fall by the wayside because they can not get any finance from the government or the lottery commission. WE see them just about every day in the local and national press.

Many of the jobs that these voluntary organisations do are jobs that should be done by national government in the first place but as long as they manage to survive with willing charitable givers the government will let them live or die by their own hand.

THUS..it ever was, I am afraid !

[John]

If some of the Charities actually spoke up - that would be a start.

But I have a feeling that those at the top of larger charities are
so well paid with perks - why should they bother?

[rolious]

I agree John and the sad thing is that a lot of good people who are the back bone of these charities are retired, pensioners and young people who want to help their communities for free. Young people are forever being knocked by the press but in my experience the majority are fine people. I find what I call paid middle management and above have a lot to answer for for a lot of problems.
Regards
Rolious

[Papaumau]

Let me tell you a wee story along these lines:

The wife and I used to be voluntary - UNPAID - workers for a charity called The Arthritis Research Council as because there has been a strong incidence of arthritis in many members of both of our families we thought that we should do our bit.

I started to position and collect for this charity using static collection-boxes in pubs and shops etc'  - where there is always a guaranteed footfall - and over the years that I did this I gathered, counted out, bagged and banked thousands of pounds for this excellent charity.

One day I got a real shock...I was informed by the head-boys at the top of the charity that local and regional volunteers were no longer going to be used to raise money for ARC and that they had instead hired a professional fund-raising company to do this job.

I watched what went on afterwards and found that even although the professional fund-raisers DID generate more income they also charged a lot more for the service. Overnight the management costs rose from about three percent of the total - when the fund-raising was done by volunteers - to 42% of the total. At the same time the top echelons of the charity gave themselves very large pay-rises.

How sick is that then ?

[rolious]

Very,very sick and very sad. One of the many sins of Great Britain today is sleaze
and greed not with youngsters or elderly who in my opinion do their best to follow both the law and moral code (except for the minority).
Regards
Rolious

[Hells Granny]

This is the reason I won't support those charities who use Chuggers, expensive mail shots and expensive TV advertising. Too much donated money is going on non-charitable expenses. And when I am accosted in the street I tell them so.

I tend to support local small charities who really need the cash.

[Papaumau]

Good for you HG ! 

I love that term "chuggers" and I have not heard it for while.

The way that I get round the aggressive tactics of these chuggers and door-step collectors is to tell them that I have three charities that I give to that I pay directly to by what is called "gift aid" so that the charities that I have chosen can also get tax rebates on what I send to them every month.

I do not give money to any others !

This argument stops them in their tracks.

[John]

I just tell them I am not interested and close the door.

The street ones that I have discussed before target the vulnerable
who are just trying to go about their business.

Chuggers no doubt have far better ability at profiling these then
the intelligence services do, profiling a likely terrorist.

[Papaumau]

Often it is not easy to put off doorstep sales-persons just by being polite even if it means that you have to shut the door in their face - which is NOT very polite.

I usually let them say their shpiel and then either give the answer I gave above or if they are holy-rollers I just tell them I am an athiest, ( which is true BTW ).

At this point they are usually lost for words and it is much easier to close the door without being nasty about it.

I guess we all have our different techniques for doing this.

[rolious]

I am that cheased off with what I have read and experienced that if I am confronted by one I would just say "p..s off". I know it is not nice and is rude but thats how I feel (but probably wouldnt say it).
Hells Angel id love to know what a chugger was - sorry for showing my ignorance.
Regards
Rolious

[John]

Answering the door depends on the property you live in and the area.

There have also been massive campaigns that have involved different teams
selling the same product. Electricity supply is an example as is double glazing.

I won't go on about their tactics - you either know of them or you don't. Slamming etc

Chuggers - Charity Muggers.

[Papaumau]

Yeah John, you can tell the charity muggers, ( chuggers ), miles away by their tabards and their clipboards.

Sometimes it is easier just to cross over the road or the pedestrian precinct so as to avoid them than having to revert to telling them to "p**s off". 

[John]

I am a blunt 'Not Interested' responder - in  the street or on the phone etc.

In some areas Chugger form a human ribbon across the main thoroughfare.

You are not unable to avoid them if they want to pounce.

But they are looking for the vulnerable - the idealistic youngsters.

The more money then sense (just at that time) sort of person.