Red Nose Day

[blueshift]

Is anyone else doing anything for Red Nose Day? I 'volunteered' at work to have my head shaved (we had to do it a day early since the guy doing the cutting isn't in Fridays)

So far I've raised over £200 in physical donations, go me! If you want to add anything to the total, I've set up an online form here: www.myrednoseday.com/blueshift

[Shockprowl]

That's incredible, Blue! Good man! You look like Phil Mitchell!

[Grand Moff Muffin]

I think Red Nose Day's great for getting kids interested in giving to good causes, and remember doing things for the first couple of Red Nose Days when I was young. Nowadays I just give a couple of token pounds as I prefer to give regularly to charities by direct debit on a monthly basis - and charities prefer to get their money that way too, as they have a steady known income stream to work from that way rather than random surges of money, plus they get Gift Aid. But yeah, Children in Need and Red Nose Day are good educational tools, and no doubt influenced me for the better when young, priming me to give more later in life.

It's a strange phenomenon when viewed from a distance, mind you. £57 million raised in one night (that's about £1 per person in the UK) for very, very worthy causes, given not because the good causes needed the money - everyone knew they needed the money last month, but didn't give that £57 million then, and they will still need money this time next month, but people won't give another £57 million then. They gave £57 million this week however because it was Red Nose Day. Same amount of money in people's pockets this week, same needy charities that everyone knows about, but the money gets given this week because people dye their hair red, and there's special telly on. I suppose what I'm saying is, why do people who have money to spare wait for someone to shave their head, and for a special evening-long telly appeal, before they give that money to help the poor people they already knew existed?

Do Hubbers reckon they give more money to charity as a result of people doing things for sponsorship, i.e. money that they wouldn't give if the person simply asked for a charity donation without doing anything?

Do Hubbers feel they give more money to charity in total because of concentrated appeals like Red Nose Day or emergency response appeals for Gaza or tsunamis, or is the money you give to such appeals coming out of a set total amount you can afford to give to charity in a given year?

I don't know the answers speaking for myself, but the questions make me think.

I've just sponsored Blueshift, but will that be money that wouldn't otherwise have gone to charity? Dunno. Maybe next time I see a collection box I'll feel less guilt and pass it by, because I've already given some money today. I suppose not knowing hammers home the point that I have so much money compared to the people the charities are there to help, and don't give enough to charity to make a noticeable dent in my lifestyle - which rightly makes me feel uncomfortable.

Ho hum. But... red noses, eh?

Martin

[The Doctor]

I'll be honest and say that I don't donate to charities much as every job I've had has been with a charity and I feel I'm doing my bit already.

-Ralph

[karla]

....I forgot it was red nose day

[Andy Turnbull]

Well done mate on getting the locks shorn!

Andy

[Shockprowl]

Just going to what Martin was asking- I deffinately more likely to give to someone I know who's asking for sponsorship as opposed to just donating. Not sure why though.

Blue, can I send you sumat?

[blueshift]

Go for it!

If you want to add some money to the pile you can go through the link at the top straight to the official site (http://www.myrednoseday.com/blueshift )

My hair is also growing back at an astonishing rate!

[karla]

LOL "i've found a number here" what number was that blue?

[blueshift]

Mar 19, 2009 14:27:49 GMT karla said:

LOL "i've found a number here" what number was that blue?

In the Omen films, the Antichrist has the number 666 on his scalp

[Gav]

I think it's mostly about people looking for a 'return' on their donation. For Comic Relief, they get their red nose and some dubious comedy television. From my experience in organising charity events through my responsiblities at work, it's been interesting to see which events are most popular and reap the most donations. It seems that any charity event involving the staff receiving buffets or gifts tend to generate more money than something as simple as sponsoring someone.

People seem to be more likely to donate if they're getting something in return, whether it is a red nose, or even a wee sticker from someone collecting outside a supermarket.

As for feeling more inclined to sponsor someone you knowthan simply donate to charity - I think it's the same kind of thing. People may be looking more towards helping the friend than the charity in some cases. Nobody likes to see their mate being shaved for a pittance.

For example, I myself always give to the wee nun outside my local Asda because she always chirps 'God bless you' when I donate - and having a nun say 'God bless you' can't be a bad thing in a cosmic sense, surely? I also give to raw old soldiers who collect outside Buchannan Galleries- but only if they have an amazing waxed moustache. They usually do. So yeah, it's the whole 'reward' thing for me.

Which sounds incredibly selfish, when you lay it out like that.


(My Firefox has stopped spell checking- so please excuse any errors whilst I fix the problem with a spanner and gun)

[legios]

Mar 19, 2009 23:05:44 GMT Gav said:

I So yeah, it's the whole 'reward' thing for me.

Which sounds incredibly selfish, when you lay it out like that.

It is a normal human response. Donating to charity, like holding doors open for people is often something we do because it makes us feel good about ourselves.

Although I am a bit odd that way. If I do put money in a street collection box. I always make a point of refusing the sticker or whatnot. It even goes so far as I will donate for a poppy at that time of year but then not take/wear said. For some reason I am uncomfortable with the outward display thing.

Karl