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Deleted member 18645
Guest
Yes when you do RESEARCH into some of these top charities, you realise they can be a CANCER to the word charity. Which is terrible when the cause is so just.
The Oxfam 'Scandal'
- Thread starter SwingsitlikeHogan
- Start date
Yes when you do RESEARCH into some of these top charities, you realise they can be a CANCER to the word charity. Which is terrible when the cause is so just.
Crazyface
Tour Winner
I refuse to use Oxfam shops at all, and I love rummaging around in charity shops, you can get some cracking bargins, but not at Oxfam. Their prices are sometimes comparable to brand new items in other shops! Nut's to 'em I say! I hope they go down in flames and the thieving untrustworthy management never work in the industry again.
Crazyface
Tour Winner
What you trying to say?
Don't use this place either. I was told by someone that the Pharma industry is and are pumping BILLIONS into solving this, coz the on that cracks it is gonna make ZILLIONS. So there is no real need to give to this one.
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
Any charity that has multiple Directors on six figure salaries for what amounts to part time 'work' doesn't really need my money....
Prefer to donate to more local/focused groups rather than the big money pit ones...
Prefer to donate to more local/focused groups rather than the big money pit ones...
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
And if you remove funding from the big charities and then bow to pressure to cut Overseas Aid - then who is going to be running the big projects - including those that require significant infrastructure build.
In the past I have done a lot of work with some of the UK's largest charities - including Amnesty, WWF, FoE, Save the Children UK, Diabetes UK, RSPCA; Macmillan, Cancer Research UK, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Sue Ryder Care, as well as many smaller ones such as Clic Sargent; Blue Cross; British Lung Foundation; CTC. I know quite a lot about how charities work. And in my experience those who work for these charities are generally very dedicated to their causes - are proud of their charity; work tirelessly; often sacrifice well-paid jobs to work for much less; and are very conscious of the money they are spending on administration and management - with many have very strict targets for maximum spend to maximise funding of projects. I also spent quite some time working with Oxfam (though we didn't get their business) and they seemed to be just the same - certainly the offices I was visiting were very far from luxurious...
I truly believe that we have to be very careful about what we are doing here in respect of Oxfam, baby and bathwater comes to mind.
And my door-to-door collecting for Christian Aid might be interesting this year. I fear that all this outrage is going to make for some interesting doorstep discussions and a reduction in giving. I hope not.
Christian Aid Week (13-19 May). It matters.
In the past I have done a lot of work with some of the UK's largest charities - including Amnesty, WWF, FoE, Save the Children UK, Diabetes UK, RSPCA; Macmillan, Cancer Research UK, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Sue Ryder Care, as well as many smaller ones such as Clic Sargent; Blue Cross; British Lung Foundation; CTC. I know quite a lot about how charities work. And in my experience those who work for these charities are generally very dedicated to their causes - are proud of their charity; work tirelessly; often sacrifice well-paid jobs to work for much less; and are very conscious of the money they are spending on administration and management - with many have very strict targets for maximum spend to maximise funding of projects. I also spent quite some time working with Oxfam (though we didn't get their business) and they seemed to be just the same - certainly the offices I was visiting were very far from luxurious...
I truly believe that we have to be very careful about what we are doing here in respect of Oxfam, baby and bathwater comes to mind.
And my door-to-door collecting for Christian Aid might be interesting this year. I fear that all this outrage is going to make for some interesting doorstep discussions and a reduction in giving. I hope not.
Christian Aid Week (13-19 May). It matters.
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Definitely a baby and bathwater thing. And whilst I agree that those that are customer facing are very dedicated to a cause I would question whether that applies the further up the tree they go.
As to penalising Oxfam, or any other charity, they will be squeaky clean from now on. They know they've got it wrong and, behind the scenes, the blood letting will be harsh. They will be close to a 'perfect pupil' now. As for people falling on their sword because someone they don't know, nor directly managed, went way off the reservation... no, I don't agree with that. Why appoint or promote someone who is good at doing the job, and then sack them for a non-work related failing of the organisation?
However, if there has been a cover up and people being circumspect with the truth. Their feet shouldn't even touch the floor.
Crazyface
Tour Winner
All the money we donate as a country should go to UK Aid Charities that have been scrubbed clean and let them distribute the money to ensure it goes to the areas that need it. We should not donate any money to the governments to buy themselves fancy suits and cars and buildings.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Is the Pope a Catholic? Of course that is what we would want to achieve. But UK Charities and Oversea Aid recipients have to work in-country, and can only be there with the agreement and support of the government of that country - and often can only operate locally in the country with the agreement and support of local official and unofficial 'government'.
The solution seems very easy in theory - but charities and other non-governmental agencies tend to work in countries where things aren't quite what they are the UK and a degree of pragmatism (including turning of a blind eye) will be required ...though see T Dan Smith and John Poulson - we are not perfect....
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
Turn a blind eye........really??
I notice you steadfastly refuse to condemn what’s supposed to have taken place,
I wonder if you would be so uninterested in the parties concerned if ithey were a politician you don’t like?
I have witnessed your “Christian values†from other people when an associated party has been found to have done wrong. The laws of the land apply to everyone, including those associated with religious groups and charities.
I assume since you refuse to condemn what’s reported you support it?
Jacko_G
Blackballed
Why? They appear corrupt to the core. Why support a charity that has been abusing its position, power and trust???
drdel
Tour Rookie
We risk punishing the 95% for the bad/corrupt 5% for which there is no defence. Those responsible/culpable need to be cleaned out and punished.
Hopefully Oxfam and others will see this as a wake up call, revise their processes and ensure their somewhat overpaid managers get control or get out.
I'd be in favour of demanding that any charity receiving large amounts of government grants did not pay senior staff above the level of the PM.
Hopefully Oxfam and others will see this as a wake up call, revise their processes and ensure their somewhat overpaid managers get control or get out.
I'd be in favour of demanding that any charity receiving large amounts of government grants did not pay senior staff above the level of the PM.
The PM salary argument is always a dubious one in my eyes. The PM should get more, the pay review body always states the same, but for political reasons they always have to reject the increase. Trade off for a PM is the amount they make once they leave office so no tears from me there. It does distort the argument of comparing their salary however.
drdel
Tour Rookie
True - I agree tis a complex argument. However the pay levels of MPs and the PM etc. do give a vague measure/benchmark of the 'public acceptability'.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
What makes you think I do not condemn it? I have simply been asking questions on how the story is being treated and the reaction to it.
But since you asked, of course I condemn any act by an individual that exploits the weak and the poor, and will obviously have reservations about acts done by individuals that are illegal - even when done for pragmatic or necessary reasons. But in all honesty I cannot absolutely condemn every illegality perpetrated when it may be necessary to bend or break the rules in order to get done something that - for instance - may be life saving.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
Evidence supporting your assertion that Oxfam appears corrupt to the core please.
MegaSteve
Tour Winner
Had 'management' dealt with the 'bad stuff' right away rather than turn a blind eye and seek to sweep it under the carpet... They wouldn't be in the bad place they rightly are now...
A bit of arbitrary falling on one's sword doesn't cut it for me...
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
jmf1488
Club Champion
Oxfam ran a story about the top 1%
https://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/...nt-bagged-82-percent-wealth-created-last-year
The top 1% pulled out the prostitution card. Nothing to see here as far as I am concerned.
https://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/...nt-bagged-82-percent-wealth-created-last-year
The top 1% pulled out the prostitution card. Nothing to see here as far as I am concerned.
Jacko_G
Blackballed
As has been stated elsewhere on this thread, when I give to charity I try and support local charities, not multi national "companies" with luxurious head offices, numerous board members on high salaries and company cars.
Charity starts at home and we have thousands living in poverty and the same again living on the streets.
Charity starts at home and we have thousands living in poverty and the same again living on the streets.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
What do you want - Oxfam to fold?
