Charity Sacks London Marathon Snail For Slow Sales
LLOYD Scott, the man who took 26 days to travel just over 26 miles dressed as Brian the Snail from The Magic Roundabout, has been sacked. The charity Action for Kids has sacked Lloyd Scott for not raising enough money. He was sacked “due to losses incurred”.
He had hoped to raise £200,000. He raised £19,500. The charity spent £16,000 buying costumes and more on the PR.
Says Scott:
“The trustees made their decision just 11 days after I’d finished the marathon. I hadn’t recovered fully and was unable to fulfil the potential of the event. I don’t think it has been handled in an appropriate manner. Anybody would deserve to be treated better.”
But he cost the charity money. Is the aim of a charity to help the poor or itself?
A brief look at the charity’s accounts for 2009-2010, tells us:
Income this year at £2,446,943 is 11% higher than last year’s total of £2,205,066 and is once again a new record. This is despite the severe economic conditions that have been ever present during the year and continues into the current one… However, our total expenditure on charitable activities, as included in the Statement of Financial Activities, reached yet another new high of £1,903,078…
Wages and employment costs (including pensions) are given at: £1,159,392.
Two employers earned over £60,000 during the year.
Running a charity can be expensive.
Says Action For Kids founder Sally Bishop:
“He was given notice according to his contract with us, due to losses incurred in his latest marathon. Our priority is always to our donors, and the children and families we support. So it is with regret we had to take this decision.”
A lot of hard work goes into running a charity. But not only the needy get the money.
Action for Kids doubtless improves lives for those it chooses to help. But is there value for money in giving to a charity? The BBC did a survey of charity that use fundraising companies to attract new donors:
Last year, 750,000 people signed on the dotted line, giving an average contribution of £90 a year. But a Newsnight investigation has found the charities are often paying the companies, in effect, £100 or more for each signature they collect, meaning in many cases the company is paid more than the charity will raise from that donor in the first year.
Charity is big business. The fear is that the Government creates a shortfall in the knowledge that charities will plug the gap. But would it be better if all money went through the Government?
The best ways to give is via Gift Aid. Learn more here…
Posted: 13th, June 2011 | In: Money Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
