Is it really nearly 25 years since Mr Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof urged; “Just give us your £$@#*&-ing money!” from the Live Aid stage? At the risk of revealing my age, I will admit I went straight down to the post office on the following Monday, filled out the requisite form and donated the few shillings I could then afford.
Since then – and thank goodness – giving to charity has become exponentially easier. Thanks to the marvels of the worldwide intrawebs and social media in particular, we can now set up our very own fundraising pages to cajole our mates into coughing up. Today’s telethons only have to flash up a text number and a few dreary T&Cs and you can salve your conscience with a simple SMS. Yet, if only it were quite so simple to give something other than money?
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m all for donating hard cash, especially if time is in short supply. It is now easier than ever thanks to sites like Justgiving.com, “Fundraising made easy!” (Other fundraising sites are available). Only this week, I’ve been able to divest myself of a few tenners with a few simple clicks. Once for a very old friend – amazing feat at your age, Niall – and once for a relatively new one – great job, Jude! Both ran marathons, Paris and Brighton respectively, both for excellent causes that I just don’t have the time or the funds to support regularly. (I do, however, have slightly less sympathy for people on extended exotic jaunts who need “a minimum £5K to cover my expedition costs…")
I’ve seen the power of JG and social media in action myself, when my own last attempt at raising a few charity squids featured on their blog. I soon exceeded my original £500 target and ended up raising nearly £3K for the Royal Marsden where my brother-in-law was successfully treated for cancer.
The magic of mobile, in the form of text-to-give, now plays an increasingly vital role, particularly for one-off campaigns & disaster appeals. Millions of dollars were texted to the U.S. Red Cross within 48 hours of January's Haiti earthquake. Last month’s UK Sport Relief saw more than 10 per cent of its total £31.6m come via text.
So far, so great for charities. But what if you’re still feeling slightly credit-crunched or your pockets simply aren’t that deep? Between charming chuggers and old mates running for heartbreaking causes, we all have a lot of call on our spare cash these days. What if you would just like to DO something good for a change? Change the world with a random act of kindness? Be a good neighbour? A mentor? One of Dave’s shiny new citizens? In the last 13 years, it has become practically impossible.
I’ve already written on this forum about the tragic case of Derrick and Jean Randall, found dead in their bungalow before Christmas. Neighbours had tried to alert the relevant authorities, only to be told it was “none of their business”. I was told the same thing several times during the last months of my father’s life; Social Services refused to tell me where he had been sent for respite – I was not next-of-kin, thus, the whereabouts of my frail, confused, often incontinent father was “none of my business”.
The same Social Services department asked last year if I would cooperate with an investigation into their dealings with my father. I readily agreed, hoping the exercise might help raise awareness of the vulnerable adult abuse to which he was subjected. Sadly, their eventual report contained several material errors of fact and scores of libellous references to myself, my uncle and the distinguished solicitor who tried her best to help my father while he was still alive.
Despite repeated requests, the local authority in question refuses to correct even the factual errors while their chief executive (annual salary c.£200K) refuses to meet with me. I’m now saving for formal libel action – to correct a report with which I fully cooperated! There is obviously more I'd like to write about the above. However, as much is still sub judice, I am advised that this blog itself (sole aim: to raise awareness of elder abuse and of Lewy Body Dementia) could be jeopardised if I do. As we say in 140 chars: *sighs*
In other news, the mentoring/careers advice network I have been trying to set up with some old college friends has also been held up – not exactly by the now ubiquitious CRB checks for anyone suggesting direct contact with young people but, sadly, by the machinations of good old office politics at the old college itself. Is it any wonder that I am reduced to the far simpler gesture of doling out dosh?
I am far from the only one frustrated. One of the great "Endeavours" slots at LikeMinds in Exeter in February was by Malcolm Scovill, who was so frustrated at how difficult it was to volunteer, he ended up founding LeapAnywhere. Read his inspiring story here. Another NFP approaching volunteering in a practical and constructive way is Timebank.
I am also really heartened that so many of my friends, particularly the younger ones, have taken the Facebook Page campaign so much to heart? Even it is for Feel Your Boobies or should that be especially if it is for campaigns like Feel Your Boobies?! Raising awareness is the first step for any campaign, any cause and that is why I remain determined to keep this blog going and to widen the scope, just as soon as I get the green light....
Very best of luck to all the mad London Marathon lot btw!
