Wages and pressure not appropriate for charities

AN ARTICLE in the Echo recently underlined an unpalatable fact – that many charities now seem more like big businesses, with six figure salaries paid to chief executives.

Criticism of any CEO’s huge salary will bring the response that it is within the norms for the charity sector. That is a most unsatisfactory reply, to say the least.

Hard-up people who out of the goodness of their hearts contribute a few pounds a month to a favourite charity will be completely disillusioned.

Surely, even in this moneygrabbing age, it is possible for charities to find dedicated, well- qualified CEOs who are prepared to work for an average wage.

The trouble with big-businessminded bosses is that they tend to introduce pressurised fund-raising that is not appropriate for the voluntary sector.

A friend told me the other day that a few weeks ago he was giving a modest sum each month to a major charity. It was as much as he could afford at the time.

He received a phone call from the charity asking him to increase the amount. He said he could not afford to do so. Yet he was put under constant pressure until he had said no three times. He asked to speak to a manager, expecting an apology. But the manager said the tactics used by the sales person were normal practice.

My friend ended up cancelling the monthly direct debit.

No doubt many other Echo readers have had similarly unhappy experiences – including being harassed by so-called chuggers in town centres.

A method used by some charities is to request a small monthly donation. Then, after a direct debit is in the bag, the donor will be regularly requested to buy raffle tickets or support special events. These requests are often backed by an emotional appeal designed to tug at the heart strings (as well as the wallet).

Huge amounts of money are being donated by the kind-hearted people of this country. But too much of it is swallowed up by overheads, including staff salaries.

I must add that many charities still do not resort to high-pressure fund-raising and are giving vital support to good causes that desperately need money. Anthony Nolan, which is among the charities that I support, certainly comes into this category. John Rippin