Forum Topic

Donating your energy rebate (or part of it) to charity

There's a great write up on this idea on the front page of this website right now - so if you do feel that you can help others less well off than you - there are some suggestions and details on how to go about it:http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=chiswickcharity126.htm

Philippa Bond ● 1423d20 Comments

Maybe Rishi will?  And all the MPs and those at the top of big business as they all earn a good salary? Most of us need every penny at the moment.

Claire Moran ● 1423d

Unfortunately it seems that those who have less tend to be the ones who give more - which is interesting.and there are quite a few articles.https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-science-behind-behavior/201711/why-people-who-have-less-give-more?amp

Philippa Bond ● 1423d

Very interesting article, Philippa, and it chimes with my own experience.  Quite recently I was both very grateful and taken aback to be approached from behind by a very poorly dressed woman in a poor part of town thrusting a £20 into my hand which had just slipped out of my back pocket.  (And often it is those with the most money who are least willing to pay their taxes!)

Alastair Banton ● 1422d

Those with the most money have the money to employ others to make sure they pay the least tax.  Meanwhile those with the least tend to be on PAYE and may not even be earning enough to live on.

Philippa Bond ● 1422d

Well done for donating yours Philippa!

Maggie Dodge ● 1422d

Sounds like a good idea but I don't think we qualify for the payout since we are on a fixed rate contract!

Chris Blackwell ● 1422d

The Bedford Park Society have put together a very handy list for those who feel that they can - on the front page of the website - and my point was in drawing attention to it.It can also be very easy to add some extra items on a trip around the supermarket to put in the Food Bank container - which is what we usually do. I've noticed that sometimes supermarkets shelf mark items which are requested food bank items - a great help and reminder.

Philippa Bond ● 1420d

No one should 'donate' their publicly funded (from exchequer's public purse) energy grant or gratuity. If you don't need the energy gratuity or Winter Fuel Allowance send it back the government's exchequer. Who gives anyone permission to donate the public purse they don't need or want to 'any old charity' off which many are of the most dubious character paying their CEO's huge salaries which must come out of charity giving?

Bobbie Carnegie ● 1420d

That's an interesting take on charity.  Of course they can. Many of those needing to use foodbanks need to use them because they are not being adequately paid for the jobs that they do. 

Philippa Bond ● 1420d

Charities are a poor substitute for decent pay and properly funded welfare provision.

Peter Evans ● 1420d

‘Who gives anyone permission…..?’No one because it’s not needed.

Stewart Jones ● 1419d

TBH I don't or rather I can't believe Bobbie can have read the article on the front page before posting as our local food banks and homelessness centres aren't generally the same as large charities.  To now have so many people including nurses and carers and teachers using foodbanks and struggling because they don't earn enough together with cost of living increases is very worrying.Also as we get older many of us will have used charities for help, information and support at some time and formed our own opinions on which other ones we support.

Philippa Bond ● 1419d

My own view is if you are able and know someone struggling to pay their energy bill, pay it on their behalf at least you know all the money has gone to someone who really needs help

Jayne Thorburn ● 1419d

That's always an option only they may be paying for heating but not eating.  A lot of these places also have experts who can help people to deal with and prioritise debts.

Philippa Bond ● 1419d

Good point,Philippa, The  Citizens Advice Bureau offer great advice too but needs charitable donations itself.

Stewart Jones ● 1419d

If you are having to do more than one job and/or long hours and balance family commitments as well the stress can make it much more difficult to clear your head and make decisions.  It is very useful to find organisations you can trust to signpost you towards help.

Philippa Bond ● 1419d

http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=chiswickcharity127.htmSee also this on the front page

Philippa Bond ● 1418d

If all those people who have spare money and give regularly to charities could stop and think for a moment, maybe they would consider that they could pay all their donations in tax and a proper, efficient government could cover all the charities' work and the charities would become redundant.  That would also save advertising costs, CEOs of charities excessive payments and be much more value for money.Well, unfortunately that's not going to happen

Vivienne Cox ● 1418d

That’s quite a radical idea, Vivienne. I would agree that the present government, at least,  needs to take far more responsibility for the welfare of disadvantaged citizens but I don’t believe that they should cover ‘all the charities’ work mainly because the field is just too huge for this to be administratively practical.  Besides, individuals will inevitably want to direct some of their money to specific preferred charities that have a personal resonance.Part of what I would like to see in the long term is the introduction of a universal basic income (U.B.I.) to replace a lot of the current benefits system which is over-complex and expensive to administer.

Alastair Banton ● 1417d

I see that St Nicholas' is looking for volunteers and possibly (you'll have to ask them) more clean coats and clean duvets.

Philippa Bond ● 1411d