h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Talking Point: Does Giving to Charity Really Work?

how do you give
*I give time. I am a charity volunteer, I give an hour or so a week of administrative support to a local charity, this frees the charity staff up to use their time more effectively, to offer the counselling support that they were ultimately set up to offer.


How do you decide which cause to give to? Do you favour medical research charities or charities that aim to improve standards of life for those with medical conditions or disabilities?
*I applied to our local central volunteer bureau offering my skills, they paired me up with charities that could use these skills, one was a youth work charity, very worthy, the other was a rape & sexual abuse survivor charity offering counselling, again a more than worthy charity, I was happy to give a little time to both

Do you choose to raise funds and get a life changing experience into the bargain or quietly fill in a direct debit form? Or do you think it is all a waste of time?
*I am currently raising funds for a life changing experience with a national charity

Do you give to charity regularly?
*Only my time

If so how? Do you do it by direct debit, do you raise funds by jumping out of aeroplanes or do you drop spare coins into collection boxes?
*In essence the aeroplanes, I do collections/pub crawls, events etc.

What are your favourite causes and why do you consider them to be worth supporting?
*ROSA also known as RUGBY ROSA working in the midlands with Rape Or Sexual Abuse survivors offering counselling support, also RUGBY YOUNG CARERS, local charities that are very worthwhile

Is it better to give to big multi-national charities or small local ones?
*Small local ones wherever possible

Do you know want to know how your donation will be spent?
*That's why I give time, it's worth so much more than a pound in a tin

If you won the lottery, how much, if any, would you give away?
*A percantage

What do you think about the people who stand on the streets?
*They're fine, as long as they don't stick their tins in my face, which they are not really supposed to do anymore

These activities are very rewarding in many ways, the little things that you do are always more than appreciated when they are voluntary, it feels great to be needed/wanted but also I know that in a small way I am helping people