Do you think charities advertising is overkill?

rubin16

So I get why charities need to advertise alittle bit, but some are really overdoing it.

For example in my town where the shops are there is a new charity standing outside the shops each week, they constantly approach you and try to get you to chat with them, standing infront of you and blocking your path to the shops. For someone with bad social anxiety it really affects me, especially when going to the shops is a big deal for me alone. I don't need the constant harrassment from charities each week when trying to do a simple shop. They will stay stuff like "before you go" or "can I just say" I just ignore them as best a possible but does make my anxiety level skyrocket.

another example is TV, when the adverts come on its like 90% charities asking for money all the time, doing really depressing adverts. Adverts today are either charities, gambling or more charities. I get they need to raise awareness and funds but surely all this advertising is just wasting money they could use to help people. I generally have a rule that if a charity advertises too much I won't support them as they are wasting money through advertising.

I'm thankful scope don't overkill with advertising which is why I chose to support them, but some charities go over the top with constant harrassment.

Whats everyones thoughts?

66Mustang

I can absolutely relate to having anxiety with the charity workers who ask you to donate or sign up to stuff. Luckily I have quite recently learnt to firmly but politely say "no" but I understand how that would be hard for someone, even someone without social anxiety!!

The accountants would say advertising works. If you spend £1m on advertising and get £2m in donations, you are still up my £1m so it's not a waste. Though even with that said, I am still not sure I'd feel comfortable with my donations being put into the first £1m pot that just gets paid to ITV or whoever?!

I feel more strongly about fancy board rooms/offices, executive meetings and corporate days out/hospitality. I would rather my donation went to victims/sufferers or whoever needed it, not biscuits for meetings

Just my view but personally I donate to smaller causes myself, even individuals, then I can see where the money goes. I only donate to a few "big" charities, Scope being one

rubin16

66Mustang said:

I can absolutely relate to having anxiety with the charity workers who ask you to donate or sign up to stuff. Luckily I have quite recently learnt to firmly but politely say "no" but I understand how that would be hard for someone, even someone without social anxiety!!

The accountants would say advertising works. If you spend £1m on advertising and get £2m in donations, you are still up my £1m so it's not a waste. Though even with that said, I am still not sure I'd feel comfortable with my donations being put into the first £1m pot that just gets paid to ITV or whoever?!

I feel more strongly about fancy board rooms/offices, executive meetings and corporate days out/hospitality. I would rather my donation went to victims/sufferers or whoever needed it, not biscuits for meetings

Just my view but personally I donate to smaller causes myself, even individuals, then I can see where the money goes. I only donate to a few "big" charities, Scope being one

Yeah I am more inclined to support smaller organisations and charities. I tend to do small donations to individuals to support them directly rather than companies to constantly harass people for money as you can't trust where your money goes especially with CEO's taking millions in bonuses, the advertising and other things.

I only support 2 big charities, WWF to sponsor elephants which I like as I get regular updates and news about elephants, and scope becuase this forum has helped me so much over the years and they don't harrass or constantly advertise for money. The rest I tend to help individuals with small donations who I know my money will make a difference and not line the pocket of a CEO.

OverlyAnxious

The TV ads seem to be shown during programs that more vulnerable people are more likely to be watching which doesn't sit well with me.  Really doesn't seem necessary in the middle of a classic, gentle comedy for example.

The other one I don't like is the paper mail that they keep sending after having made a donation.  Emails can be opted out easily, but paper mail seems to be much more difficult and and almost always an automatic signup when a donation is made.

All that said, I do think they need to keep making themselves 'seen', just not in such a forceful and targeted way.  It should still be up to each individual to decide which they'd like to donate to, rather than being pushed or guilt tripped into it.

jools62

personally, im sick and tired of charity ads, everyone is short of money, yet we’re bombarded with these ads, how they have the nerve to ask for £10, £20 and some £39, i turn the sound down, fed up with begging ads

durhamjaide2001

I'm also sick of how charity shops or giving out leaflets it's more paper and asking people to donate to the Christmas appeal personally I think £4 is to much to be asking people so we just say even 10p 50p or a pound would do

JW77

I'm not keen on it and it's usually for the bigger charities,
I already 'support' around 12 charities by directing/signposting people to them, being a member, or volunteering with them, shopping in charity shops. So I tell them this, or 'iI'll make a one off donation later, as most will have that on their website.

CIN especially I can't stand, as its 2024 and a properly funded state should not have CIN full of pity porn and celebs free airtime!

jools62

there should be a limit to how many charity ads are on tv, sick to death of them

michael57

the major trouble with almost all charities is they are mostly run by volunteers but operated by high salaried ceo,s

jools62

for me, i dont give a hoot who runs them, far too many on tv

Albus_Scope

I'd much prefer them to stop the Amazon adverts that are on every single advert break on 4OD. 😆

jools62

all these charity ads begging for money, so whats happening to the foriegn aid we send to thses so called poor countrys, we should stop it and use it for the good of this country

jools62

then summerlove, stop all foriegn aid, and put right this broken country

jools62

charity begins at home, NOT abroad

Albus_Scope

Come on now folks, foreign aid accounts for a miniscule 0.5 of GNI (Gross National Income) currently, we're supposed to give 0.7.

Foreign aid actually helps us as a country for numerous reasons. For a start, it actually strengthens our economy and overseas trade in the long term, plus strengthens the UKs security.

But I feel this conversation has gotten well off track from the purpose of the original discussion, so let's try to steer it back please. 😉

jools62

foriegn aid hurts this country, and of course its relevent to this discussion

Albus_Scope

It is not @jools62 and I'm kindly asking you to drop that line of conversation on this discussion. Thank you.

whistles

Chugging is banned where I live, I actually think it's rude to stop a stranger in the street and all for money.

I complained to whsmith who had someone outside their premises, effectively putting people off going in.

The two times I have actually stopped, the national trust suggested that even though I didn't drive, a friend could take me. The next person on being told I wasnt in work said that I could set up a direct debit once I am back in work. Both of those replies are insulting and rude.

The problem is big charities, or any charity these days needs to employ people who know what they are doing to run it. I used to volunteer years ago and people did complain about the manager taking a wage. But that person isn't going to give you their skillset for free unless they are retired. We were told it was a shop supporting a charity and that shop needed to take xx amount per week to stay viable.

People are not allowed to shake collecting tins anymore. I was usually encouraged to put pennies in for a sticker when I was a child. I have noticed less collection boxes, I don't know if that's due to less actual cash in circulation.

One advert I have seen is asking for £29.50 for a Christmas meal. I think that's excessive and where on earth are they shopping!! I would rather give to the local food bank so I know it's going to someone who really needs it.

Albus_Scope

I've seen the advert you've mentioned, I believe they're saying it's a Christmas meal for a family, not one person.

JessieJ

IMHO there are far too many charity ads. I mute them as some are upsetting & it's like a guilt trip, can't afford to give to them. Also, I'm astounded how much some ask for, like the Sally Army, £29! Many years ago, I had a friend that worked for Action Aid, she was a manager in charge of the phonebashers. The wage she was on was incredible & that put me right off giving to large charities.

If I have some spare money or change, I give to local charities, like hospice, animal shelters, things like that, also buy A Big Issue if they're around. I also put something in the foodbank trolleys as you come out of supermarkets. Only one I'm signed up with though, is the air ambulance & that's with their lottery.

whistles

I used to buy the Big Issue, but they're was nothing in there relevant to my part of the country. I want to read about how people are being helped locally.

I have always from a child gone to charity shops, and given to charity shops. It's the main places that you get such a variety of unusual and weird things.

I do know sell on ebay and choose the charities off the list if I want to send a percentage.

As for adverts on TV, I miss all of them, so the advertising is usually lost on me. Okay apart from Kevin the Carrot 😂 or anything that's funny.