Child Sponsorship Advice

[quisling]

Not so much 'Did you know...?' as 'Do you know....?'

 

I've asked my kids to sponsor a child in a developing country instead of buying me a birthday present this year.

They're happy to do so, but we're struggling to work out which charity to go with.

Do any of you have experience of this, or any links to somewhere which gives an unbiased overview of the different organisations?

I'd prefer to go with a non religious charity if possible.

Thanks.

 

[IdaInFife]

what an absolute brilliat idea and well done

 

unfortunatley i don't but would probarbly prefer on of the bigger and recognised charities

 

i know that save the children are non profit and you can actaully donate to a village to help the children in that village rather than just one child

[Conniff]

I think if you must do this then you should look at the corporate information on the charity before coming to a conclusion. They are in it for the money and pay massive saleries. Oxfam boss had a £26,000 payrise a couple of years ago to add to the already massive salary commanded.

 

I refuse to give to any overseas, so called, charities, only local like Lifeboat, Air Ambulance, Poppy, Help for Heroes and local Hospices because of what I have seen ref the above.

[quisling]

I refuse to give to any overseas, so called, charities, only local like Lifeboat, Air Ambulance, Poppy, Help for Heroes and local Hospices because of what I have seen ref the above.

 

Obviously your perogative.

I also support the RNLI as well as my local neonatal unit where both my children were born and cared for for the first few months of their lives.

I'm hoping we'll all get something out of sponsoring a child as a long term project, and I'm sure I won't miss all those bubbly baths and boxes of chocolates if I can feel reasonably confident that a child somewhere is not going to bed hungry and uneducated because of our efforts.

[Conniff]

I would contribute if it was in goods and not money, I don't mind sending a can of beans, that is not so likely to be pilfered by the so called charity.

 

We do all get something out of sponsoring a child, it's just that some get more than others and it's not the child. You will also get pestered with mail asking you to up your contribution so much so that they become a nuisance.

[caledfwlch]

Obviously your perogative.

I also support the RNLI as well as my local neonatal unit where both my children were born and cared for for the first few months of their lives.

I'm hoping we'll all get something out of sponsoring a child as a long term project, and I'm sure I won't miss all those bubbly baths and boxes of chocolates if I can feel reasonably confident that a child somewhere is not going to bed hungry and uneducated because of our efforts.

 

As an example, out of every £1 donated to Oxfam, only something incredible like 8 pence makes it to Africa. All the rest is swallowed up in jollys and wages for the chief executives.

[quisling]

As an example, out of every £1 donated to Oxfam, only something incredible like 8 pence makes it to Africa. All the rest is swallowed up in jollys and wages for the chief executives.

 

I'd be interested in seeing a link to that information please.

(Not that Oxfam do child sponsorship anyway, but I don't think you should post 'facts' that can't be verified).

[Conniff]

Google up their accounts and you will see.

[quisling]

I read The Charity Commission's report on their accounts and the Intelligent Giving website's summary and still can't find where it says only 8p in the £1 gets to Africa.

 

I'd be really grateful if you could show me.

 

Thanks in anticipation.

[summerbreeze]

I sponsor a child here . Mods I hope its ok to post a link . If not please remove and sorry .

 

Save Children | Sponsor and Support Child Rescue Charity Organization in Goa

 

I have visited my sponsor child a few times up to a year or two ago and met the people who care for her and spent time in the house where the children live and are cared for.

[hightail]

I once saw a brilliant way of working out if a charity really needed my money - someone had calculated how long various charities could carry on with their work if no further money came in. As I remember, Guide Dogs for the Blind were sitting on such huge reserves that they wouldn't run out of money for many years and at the other extreme tiny local charities like hospital radio stations were existing week to week.

 

Does anyone know if there is a current website with this information?

[quisling]

There's the Intelligent Giving site which gives a fairly objective overview, as far as I can tell -

Independent ratings and reviews of charities | Intelligent Giving

 

and obviously the Charity Commission website, where you can look up detailed accounts etc -

 

Charity Commission Homepage

 

 

Unfortunately Conniff hasn't posted me that link yet.

As far as I can see, Barbara Stocking, the CEO of Oxfam earns around £90,000, which although it looks like a lot, is less than the principle of a medium sized secondary school or a GP.

[anneemack]

Hi, cant give u a link to an overview website but you may want to take a look at this child sponsorship charity

SOS Children: The World's Largest Orphan Charity

Unfortunately last year one of our colleagues tragically died and we decided to sponsor a child in her honour.

The research done was so that like you we gave ALL our money to the child and not to the the charities wage-fund!

Hope this helps. Kindest regards A