Which charity?

[menz83]

Hey, just wondering if people can give me a suggestion to which charity I should donate some money too! Its not much, only £10 but its from money I dont feel comfortable keeping myself!

To cut a long story short, I got into a trading dispute through this forum after a parcel I sent was lost. I applied to royal mail for compensation and was given a postage refund of £9.30. The parcel I sent had already been sent back to me after a month of passing so I called RM to cancel the claim and ask what to do with the cheque. The lady I spoke to told me that the cheque is mine regardless and I can do what I want with it!

Now im stuck in a moral dilemma. Do I keep the money and run, or do something else with it? Thats why ive decided to donate it so please suggest away!

[krish]

something local perhaps that relies on voluntary work and/or public donations ...
- a soup kitchen, macmillan nurses, hospice, children's cancer wards, animal rescue, youth activity groups etc

[jon12355]

what about a charity for sufferers of ME?

[menz83]

Anything specific? I do have a few thoughts on some charities that have had an affect on my life like cancer, children and pets, its just trying to choose one. Its not like 'who deserves it more', its just that there are so many I cant decide! The one I have thought of is PAWSS (P.A.W.S.S Pet & Animal Welfare Support Service Aberdeen) but I donate to them regularly and am also on the rat rehoming list and regularly adopt new ratties!

[eric pisch]

I always support

RNLI
Guide Dogs for the Blind
The Kent air ambulance
Comic Relief

and the DEC Gazza appeal

https://www.donate.bt.com/bt_form_gaza.html

[Jacksonjnr]

You can also raise money for your favourite charity through this website

Home | Easy Fundraising Ideas | EasyFundRaising.org.uk | easyfundraising

All you need to do is register then pick your charity or group. Once you have done this you click on the links on their website, then shop as normal but a percentage of your spending will go to your charity. I raised £5.21 just shopping online for Christmas presents at Amazon who give 2.5%. It may sound iffy but it is genuine and I was told about it by The German Shepherd Rescue charity I support.
There are over 600 big name retailers and if you have a local charity or group you support there are details on the website how they can register to recieve donations.

[Ayub]

Candlelighters Its a leeds based charity at St James hospital Leeds which assists children with cancer and their parents.

I give as much as i can to that charity including 1% of my wealth a year.

[Abbeygoo]

I have two favourite charities, the NSPCC and British Heart Foundation. Every time I see the adverts on TV for the NSPCC it gets to me and so recently I started the direct debit they suggest for a very small monthly contribution.

[indianwells]

I can't think of a more worthy cause than the Macmillan Nurses. As close to living saints as you can get in my opinion.

[jay mc]

Somtimes its best to give money direct to smaller groups, hospital units etc. Some of the bigger charitys tend to have way to high admin fees and very little goes direct to the cause. A lot of the big animal charitys are bad for this.

A recent example was my brother done a parchute jump for the ms society, he raised a few quid and sent to them. We where latter told that the unit my mum goes to for her ms needed funds for something but the charity wouldent help them! If he had given the money direct it would have made more use.

Another example would be my cousin chrissy, he raised a lot for the unit treating his lung cancer and a local help group. With the money he bought needed supplies and equipment so the money again made much better use. He got a mbe for his efforts but has sadly passed away now.

[krish]

Originally Posted by jay mc

Somtimes its best to give money direct to smaller groups, hospital units etc. Some of the bigger charitys tend to have way to high admin fees and very little goes direct to the cause. A lot of the big animal charitys are bad for this.

Sadly the main big medical research charities are extremely wasteful ... I deal with them regularly and they never bother negotiating for the best deals on their key product supplies and services for their research work, regularly spend a lot on cosmetic changes to their premises and carpets that don't need replacing, regularly spend huge amounts on high end buffets to attract new postgrad researchers (i.e. undergrads thinking about doing a PhD) that largely go uneaten. Compared to govt agencies and research councils who I deal with on a similar basis and manage to get good value for money, these charities are very very sloppy with their cash.

[Homer X.Y.Z]

I like giving money to Animal charity's. The Blue Cross and WSPA.

[menz83]

Originally Posted by Ayub

Candlelighters Its a leeds based charity at St James hospital Leeds which assists children with cancer and their parents.

Thanks to everyone for your ideas but I have decided to donate to a charity similar to what Ayub suggested. The Archie Foundation supports children and their families have a more comfortable stay at Aberdeen Sick Kids Hospital. The provide medical equipment as well as support for staff and families that use the hospital. I think they provide a great service and they are local so they will be on the receiving end of my donation!

Again, big thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

[Ayub]

Originally Posted by jay mc

Somtimes its best to give money direct to smaller groups, hospital units etc. Some of the bigger charitys tend to have way to high admin fees and very little goes direct to the cause. A lot of the big animal charitys are bad for this.

A recent example was my brother done a parchute jump for the ms society, he raised a few quid and sent to them. We where latter told that the unit my mum goes to for her ms needed funds for something but the charity wouldent help them! If he had given the money direct it would have made more use.

Another example would be my cousin chrissy, he raised a lot for the unit treating his lung cancer and a local help group. With the money he bought needed supplies and equipment so the money again made much better use. He got a mbe for his efforts but has sadly passed away now.

the neilproject,org is one very close to my heart. Candlelighters is a very good one ( both cancer related) Ummah welfare trust ( Islamic) Imran Khan Cancer appeal ( Islamic) the Islamic ones share my "zakaat" ( 2.5% of my wealth a year) and the rest receive my "Lillah", which is money i spend in the path of Allah ( God) to please (Allah)


On that note British red cross rang me ( i donated a littlr while back) they went through a over the phone questions and answers etc" in the end the man told me he worked for a company APPOINTED by Brit red cross who will pay them £WAIT FOR IT 68000 YES SIXTY EIGTH THOUSAND POUNDS for administration of this so called over the phone ballocks. Needless to say i dont support them anymore.

[jay mc]

Originally Posted by Homer X.Y.Z

I like giving money to Animal charity's. The Blue Cross and WSPA.

Blue cross are very very good, sadly wspa have become overrun by the animal rights extremist types that dont want to do anything in direct help (infact these people dont want us to do anything or even see animals). WWF are a much better option to help world wide wildlife at present.

I also give to the local wildlife rescue and the wildlife trusts as the money goes further with them.