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Monday 7 June 2010

Dear Dave (again)

Here's a quango that can be axed.

Guess who?

World Cup 2010

Whether you're a dedicated football supporter, or someone who just succumbs to football fever every four years, you're bound to be glued to the TV for at least some of the World Cup.
If you're really keen, you could watch 64 matches in 31 days – that's 96 hours of football, without counting extra time or penalty shoot-outs!
Although it might feel like you're eating and drinking football, you'll need some real food and drink too. So check out our tips on how to make some healthier choices about what you’re going to eat and drink while you’re feasting on the footie.

Have you guessed who it is yet Dave?

If you're throwing a party for friends and family to watch a game, there are lots of tasty and healthy options you can tuck into as you cheer your team on. Why not serve a vegetable curry with boiled rice or a tasty chilli with plenty of kidney beans?
If it’s just nibbles, how about some tasty, healthier snacks, such as:

  • low-fat dips (less than 3g fat per 100g) with vegetable sticks, bread sticks or mini pitta breads for dipping
  • lower fat/salt crisps – compare labels so you can choose healthier varieties
  • some easy-to-eat fruits, such as apples and grapes
  • homemade plain popcorn – made in the pan from popping kernels

Starts with "F", Dave.

When you're engrossed in the game it's easy to sip your way though more than you realise. Remember that bottled beers come in different sizes, so you might be drinking more that you think.
Don’t feel pressured by those around you to drink more than you want to. Skip a round or opt for a soft drink – how about try a sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime?

Guessed yet? Thought not.

Answer: FSA.

What do you mean you don't know what those initials stand for?

And yes your first guess was nearly right. You said: "F*cking stupid arseholes" . We said: "Food standards agency"

2/10 Could do better.

Dear Dave

This morning you were banging on about reducing the cost to the public purse. Just to help you out here is a small list I have cobbled together, that could have their funding reduced or preferably axed altogether. These are all so called "Charities". However my Idea of charity is that it should be funded by voluntary contributions. NOT funded from my donations to the Inland revenue.

Addaction

Addaction is an addiction charity, focusing on alcohol and drugs

£652,286 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Alcohol Concern

Created by the British government in 1985, Alcohol Concern wages an incremental campaign against drinkers and the drinks industry.

Department of Health (unrestricted grant): £400,000

Department of Health (restricted grant): £142,190

Alcohol Concern also received £127,275 from the Big Lottery Fund.

Alcohol Focus Scotland

As a Scottish charity, its accounts are not available online. Experience in England shows that the general public are very reluctant to donate to the anti-alcohol cause, so we can be sure they receive a substantial portion of their £1,526,718 income from the state. 

Alliance House Foundation

The Alliance House Foundation is a well established temperance group and a member of the Alcohol Health Alliance

  • European Union's Bridging the Gap project: £41,138
  • European Union's Alcohol Policy Youth Network: £35,098

    Institute of Alcohol Studies

    The European Commission employed the Institute of Alcohol Studies to advise it on alcohol policy in 2003. When the report was released in 2006, the term "passive drinking" was born. Its current activities are centred around raising the price of alcohol. It is a member of the Alcohol Health Alliance.

    They receive most of their funding (£391,995) from the Alliance House Foundation, a temperance group which states its aim as being "to spread the principles of total abstinence from alcoholic drinks".

    Its 2007/08 accounts show a total income of £430,019

    In 2006/07 it received £38,228 from the European Commission (£38,228).

    It receives no voluntary donations from the public.

    The Media Trust

    The Media Trust exists to help charities raise their profile and "strengthen the impact, reach and effectiveness of our work." Their website is heavy on jargon and they are behind a digital TV channel that no one watches (The Community Channel).

      • Office of the Third Sector: £1,950,090
      • Department of Culture, Media and Sport: £333,000
      • ICT Hub: £42,553
      • Capacity builders: £197,405
      • Department for Children, Schools and Families: £314,744
      • Arts Council: £50,000

      -----

      • Total £2,887,792 (60% of total income)

    The National Council for Voluntary Organisations

    Amongst its projects is Only Connect, a scheme that subsidises charity employees to meet up with other charities:

    (Leftist jargon and waffle dominates the charity's website:)

      • Capacity Builders: £5,400,000
      • Future Builders: £141,000
      • Office of the Third Sector: £1,317,000
      • Sector Skills Development Agency: £60,000
      • Home Office: £110,000
        ---
      • Total £7,028,000 (52.5% of all income from donations)

      In addition, it receives £595,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and various other grants that are probably state-funded at source.

    British NGOs for Development

    Took part in the anti-capitalist demonstrations against the G20 conference. Member of the Put People First coalition.

    • Department of International Development: £184,000
    • European Union: £26,485
      ---
    • Total £210,485 (17.2% of all income)

    It received a further £170,790 from the Big Lottery Fund.

    Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust

    Most of its campaigns focus on climate change and it is a member of Stop Climate Chaos. Its climate change campaign is led by the fanatical anti-motoring activist Rebecca Lush.

    The government may be inclined to listen to this lobby group since it is the government that funds it. According to its latest accounts, the largest donor to the Campaign for Better Transport—with £272,266—is National Business Travel Network (NBTN). NBTN is "a Department for Transport initiative and part of the government's ACT on CO2 campaign".

    Not only does the Campaign for Better Transport receive 40% of its funding from NBTN, it also runs NBTN on the Department for Transport's behalf. It also runs Tomorrow's England, which donated £66,311 to the Campaign for Better Transport in 2008.

    Most of the rest of its funding comes from bus and train companies (see here).

    Its 2007/08 accounts show a total income of £603,657

    • NBTN (Department for Transport): £272,266
    • Tomorrow's England: £65,311
    • Small grants conduit: £30,095
    • London: £79,633

    Shamelessly lifted from Fake Charities

    Do it Dave. DO IT.

    (And that is just the tip of the iceberg)

  • UPDATE:

    Just had one of those E mails from call me Dave again. Anyway I replied with this post.