giggirl

Very useful links ianr - thanks for digging around for them. It is either a scam or it is being run by people who don't know what they are doing and need to get input from experienced charity workers. Either way, the lack of transparency about what is happening with the money is alarming. When the forum was being used to recruit fundraisers last week, questions were put and remained unanswered.

I apologise that my last comment was a bit bitchy but really buddug, what are you doing? James is a local councillor working on behalf of local people and a lot of what he does is dull but that sort of stuff makes people's lives better in the community we're in and that's what he's there for. He isn't Barack Obama.

Chick Pea Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > GG you are quick to jump to assumptions. I said > that the tone of your posts is hostile and > arrogant, not that it offends me. > Pedantic and passive aggressive. I'm guessing people normally let you get away with that crap.

Buddug - please let us all know when you've cured cancer or achieved peace in the Middle East or whatever it is that you do on a daily basis. I'm guessing you must do something pretty bloody major to enable you to belittle the achievements of someone who works tirelessly for their local community.

OK I've signed it.

Many years ago (about 15) I was bumped off a Ryanair Stansted to Dublin flight and put on a later flight. I needed to get to Wicklow and Ryanair had a taxi waiting at Dublin airport ready to drive us to Wicklow. That's a big taxi fare. They also part-refunded the flight. It hurts me to say this because I detest Ryanair's two fingers approach to its customers these days, but they were once a decent airline. Not any more.

OMG how annoying. People are often at the worst and most vulnerable when they find themselves in A&E and they certainly don't need/want a camera in their face. Quite shocking.

Oh dear, what a shame; I think the BBC blew the budget on bonus payouts.

Chick Pea Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If a member if this forum was trying to pass a > dodge organisation off as a charity I would > imagine EDF would be the last they would > advertise. > > Giggirl has yet to provide a shred of evidence to > prove that this group are not worth a donation. I > find the tone of her posts hostile and arrogant > and the use of insults weak. > > Can anyone explain what this organisation is being > accused of? If you're going to use a public forum then you might like to grow broader shoulders before taking offence at someone's tone. You might also pay attention to your own arrogant tone. I did not realise that I was tasked with proving or disproving whether this group is worth a donation, I merely responded to the OP. On balance, I think the group is being accused of a lack of transparency. The EDF was used to recruit fundraisers at ?7 per hour plus bonus, and our community has been targeted by street collectors. If you stick a charity label on a bucket and people put money into that bucket then there should be transparency about where the money is going. On the threads last week the OP did not respond to questions asking what the charity was about and did not seem to know much about the registration process of the Charities Commission. Those threads have now been removed. The organiser is a forum-user and could contribute to this thread. Maybe the money will be put to good use. Who knows? Perhaps the organiser may find that if s/he is forthcoming about the aims and objectives, and transparent about use of funds collected, then local people may be inclined to give input and get on board.

Here are some facts about the people collecting in East Dulwich this week. The person associated with Save the Kids and who organised the collection is a member of this forum. Last week, three separate threads appeared looking to recruit fundraisers to collect money. The wage being offered was ?7 per hour + bonus on top. A number of questions were put to the OP, asking for clarification on the status of the charity and asking for some transparency regarding where the money was going to be spent. The OP declined to answer questions about where the money would be spent. Admin removed all three of the recruitment threads for Save the Kids. As the OP of the original threads is a member of the Forum, he or she could come on here and comment if they desired to do so. Certainly if I myself was running a charity and someone questioned the legitimacy of my charity I would have something to say. The link posted to the American charity of the same name was misleading and pointless. A link to a website for Dogs for the Blind or Save the Tiger would have been no less relevant.

Chick Pea Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Secondly the link posted is the only web presence > for Save the Kids - it is not beyond the realms of > possibility that collections were being made here > for an overseas organisation is it? > Yes Chick Pea it is completely beyond the realms of possibility that a charity which works with kids in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York and has no presence whatsoever outside of the USA is fundraising at East Dulwich Station. It really isn't enough to Google things and then randomly post links without engaging your brain first. Posting links to a website of a bona fide charity, as you did, gives credence where non is due.

Chick Pea Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Save the Kids is a "grassroots organisation" > according to the website > http://savethekidsgroup.org/ Chick Pea - can you not do a little bit more reading before posting misleading stuff like this. The link you've posted is to an American charity, based in the USA and operating in the USA. Are these people fundraising in SE22? No they are not, so therefore not helpful of you to post this link which gives credence to the mob collecting from the station this morning.

Here is the Martin Lewis guide and he's usually spot on. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/flight-delays

What really pisses me off is that at some time a genuine, registered charity will be outside the station or outside the Co-op and people will pass by, not giving because they aren't sure if it's a genuine thing. Shame on anyone whose actions take money from charities who need it.

I don't think any laws have been broken.

jennyh Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I feel cheated! I knew that something wasn't > right but wasn't really thinking as I often drop > my loose change into boxes and everyone else > seemed to be ignoring them. I didn't see the > other threads, wish I had. > Jenny - sorry you feel cheated as you are obviously a generous person. Your instincts were correct so maybe trust your instincts in future. I'm glad that others were ignoring them. A lot of people never give to charities and unfortunately this sort of thing gets twisted somehow so that such non-givers convince themselves that they are right never to give. Personally I give monthly by direct debit to my favourite charities so that they can get the tax back. I usually ignore people in the street unless I am 100% sure they are genuine registered charities. I always ignore chuggers.

This is not a registered charity. There is a charity in the US called Save the Kids but nothing in the UK. Someone was on the forum last week recruiting for PAID chuggers to go out and raise money for this organisation. There were three separate threads and they have all been removed. It is definitely NOT a registered charity and the people collecting are being PAID to do so. It is up to you whether you give or not but personally I like to give my donations to people who are ACCOUNTABLE for the money they receive. Save the Kids, whoever they are, were unwilling to answer questions last week regarding accountability and claimed they were too small to be granted charitable status by the Charities Commission (which is actually not true).

James Barber dedicates himself tirelessly (and often thanklessly) to this community. There are robberies on every street and in every postcode. My sympathies to anyone who has been a victim of any crime (and yes, it could be me tomorrow). Whilst it is obviously good for people to be vigilant, please get a grip and let's not have a run on pitchforks at Lordship Lane DIY.

Another recommendation for Prestige. They've done a massive amount of work on my house to a very high standard. Because they only work in this area, if you need them for anything urgently they can generally have someone with you within the hour.

Nah, basically he's well fit for a guy his age (or any age). All these photos have been taken on a public beach. Anyone in the public eye would be crazy to photoshop snaps taken in a public place because somebody somewhere will post an untouched photo. http://socialitelife.com/photos/bruce-springsteen-vacations-in-porto-cervo-italy/semi-exclusive-bruce-springsteen-vacations-in-italy-2 He dyes his hair though and his roots need doing.

Normally I'd concur WoD, but in the case of the Menier, it is a tiny tiny theatre trying to make ends meet so I guess they can't always offer discounts. BB - I applaud you. I have tickets for Emile and the Detectives at the National and Let The Right One In at the Royal Court, both of which I'm taking teenagers to. The National gives discount but I'm not sure about the Royal Court. Looking forward to both.

I don't think you would CARRY a mattress from Lambeth or Lewisham to dump it in Southwark.

Titch - give credit where it's due; the man is hot for ANY age. Not photoshopped; too many photos of him looking good over too many years http://socialitelife.com/photos/shirtless-bruce-springsteen-is-the-boss-of-the-beach/bruce-springsteen-enjoys-a-day-at-the-beach-with-his-wife-patti-scialfa-st-barts-on-january-12-2010-1 He works out and he looks good. Hooch - this isn't the thread for you. Let's pretend this never happened.

I just came across this item online. I don't know if it works but you can buy at Argos. It was developed in the US for dogs who have anxiety during thunderstorms, but reviews show it has also works for separation anxiety. http://www.thundershirt.com/ http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/211221.htm There are thousands of reviews on Amazon, here http://www.amazon.com/Thundershirt-Anxiety-Treatment-Large-Solid/product-reviews/B0028QK6EY/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 worth a look

I wouldn't pay it. I don't think there is much they can do. This might help: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets