Do these charities deserve their government funding? You tell me?

War on want

War on Want was created in 1951. For much of the 1980s it was run by the socialist firebrand George Galloway and was investigated by the Charities Commission for accounting irregularities.

Today, it remains firmly and openly anti-free trade, anti-capitalism and anti-Israel. It was part of the Make Poverty History campaign and was involved in the G20 demonstrations. Its campaign against world poverty requires the reconstruction of the world along socialist principles

Its 2008 accounts show a total income of £2,010,202. It received the following grants:

• Department for International Development: £231,592
• European Commission: £240,068
• Isle of Man: £13,199
  ---
• Total 484,859 (24.1% of all income)

It also received £69,995 from Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and £250,903 from Comic Relief.

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

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

Its 2008 accounts show a total income of £47,914,000

• UK government: £2,111,000
• European Union: £997,000
• Jersey government: £45,000
• Guernsey government: £25,000
• Isle of Man government: £27,000
• United Nations agencies: £113,000
  ---
• Total £3,318,000 (6.9% of all income)

ActionAid

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

Its latest accounts show a total income of £67,727,000

• UK government: £5,967,000
• European Union: £4,939,000
• Jersey government: £190,000
• Guernsey government: £80,000
  ---
• Total £11,176,000 (16.5% of all income)

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

Members of the Alcohol Health Alliance. (Tossers)

Its 2007/08 accounts show a total income of £4,706,653, of which:

• The Revalidation Fund: £2,591,550
• Medical Management Fund: £14,156
• Health Inequalities Fund: £15,000
• (All of these organisations are financed by the Department of Health)
• --
• Total: £2,620,706 (55.7% of all income)

The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health

The Foundation "works with policy makers" to lobby for greater use of complementary medicine and homeopathy in the NHS and in schools. It funnels money towards organisations involved in reiki, naturopathy, aromatherapy, shiatsu and other pet projects of Prince Charles. (Quack science at it's worst).

Amongst its current activities, the Foundation is "advising the Department of Health". According to its latest accounts, the DoH funded the Foundation to the tune of £332,500 (27.5% of total income).

4Children

Complained about the "media feeding frenzy" surrounding 13 year old father Alfie Patten.

According to its website:

4Children offers authoritative advice and strategic support to help turn policy into practice working with government departments such as the Treasury, Department for Education and Skills and Department of Health.

In practice, this seems to largely involve them applauding government policies...

...and spending government money. Its 2007/08 accounts show a total income of £5,347,844, of which:

• Department for Education & Skills: £1,100,00
• Essex County Council: £588,785
• The Home Office: £130,000
• European Social Fund: £60,885
• Future Builders England: £228,587
• Essex Children's Centre: 270,000
• ---
• Total: £2,378,257 (44.5% of all income)

In addition, 4Children received substantial sums from individual county councils, including £351,518 in 'other contracts and grants'.

Only £8,704 was received in voluntary donations and gifts.

Well that's enough ranting about charities that sponge of the state. Maybe I'll see how many Quangos can be axed. After all that's where the big money is.

I certainly attracted a load of interest from quite a few charities today. I wonder why? Maybe a few of the Righteous worried about their jobs?

A few more so called charities, that could have their government funding culled

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV)

Relatively benign self-proclaimed 'eco-activists' with the usual climate change agenda.

More extraordinary is their jaw-dropping claim to be reliant on charitable donations:

As a charity, BTCV is almost entirely reliant on voluntary donations.

Its 2008 accounts show a total income of £28,616,000

• Central government: £3,157,000
• European monies: £1,077,000
• Jobcentre Plus: £10,307,000
  ---
• Total £14,541,000 (50.8% of all income)

The charity receives a further £1,208,000 from the lottery. It received just £910,000 (3.1%) in donations.

Forum for the Future

Founded by fanatical environmentalist Jonathan Porritt, the Forum for the Future provides a livelihood for unelectable Green Party candidates and retired lefties. Porritt earns £63,671 as its Programme Director and climate change alarmism features prominently with the inevitable demands for greater government interference:

Its 2006/07 accounts show a total income of £4,670,107, of which:

• Central Government: £868,578
• Local and regional government: £775,062
• DEFRA: £109,976
• The Climate Change Project (DEFRA): £241,878
• Tower Hamlets: £42,683
• EU: £23,904
• --
• Total £2,062,081 (44.2% of all income)

It received just £1,300 in donations from the public.

Global Action Plan UK

Although it claims not to be a lobbying group, Global Action Plan UK have campaigned for causes as diverse as a £1 billion "green stimulus package" and an opt-in system for phone book delivery.

The charity's 2008/09 accounts show a total income of £2,952,806, of which:

• London Councils £43,623
• Devon County Council: £85,869
• London Borough of Haringey: £5,000
• British Council, Beijing: £38,715
• DEFRA: £76,838
• Nottinghamshire Local Authorities: £30,328
• City of London: £5,625
• Housing Associations: £67,840
• South West Regional Development Agency: £338,759
• Exmoor National Parks Authority: £3,875
• South West Tourism: £9,700
• London Development Agency: £252,204
• National Council for Voluntary Organisations: £22,250
• London Borough of Harrow: £15,000
• Local and National Government: £6,433

Total: £1,002,059 (33.9% of total income)

The Climate Group

The Climate Group says of itself:

"We act independently, with no political agenda or vested interests."

However, the charity's latest annual accounts show that it received £203,615 from "government" (10.2% of total income) plus £459,450 from HSBC.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

The RSPB is one of Britain's oldest and most respected charities. It used to exist on voluntary donations. Not any more.

The RSPB formed Stop Climate Chaos in September 2006 and were amongst the first environmental groups to call for a 80% reduction in UK carbon emissions by 2050.

In 2008, it received a staggering £19,731,000 in public money, including:

• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: £2,618,000
• Landfill Communities Fund: £1,560,000
• Scottish Natural Heritage: £1,091,000
• Natural England: £931,000
• Scottish Executive: £664,000
• National Assembly for Wales: £552,000
• Countryside Council for Wales: £337,000
• Environment Agency: £333,000
• Department for International Development: £255,000
• Department of Environment, Northern Ireland (NI): £249,000
• East of England Development Agency: £219,000
• Forestry Commission: £177,000
• Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, NI: £38,000
• European Union: £3,169,000
• National Lottery: Heritage Lottery Fund: £2,247,000
• Local councils & other: £5,291,000

The charity's total income was £103,904,000 and other major items include:

• Membership subscriptions: £26,304,000
• Legacies: £26,948,000
• Appeals: £3,943,000
• Investment income and interest: £1,531,000
• Land and farming: £1,608,000
• Events and media sales: £676,000

In addition, the RSPB acknowledges the support of 164 local groups (which are, presumably, mostly based on voluntary contributions). These raised a grand total of £319,000.

As such, the RSPB does raise a substantial percentage of its money from voluntary contributions; however, 19% of its income comes from the pockets of the taxpayer in involuntary contributions.

The Women's Environmental Network

Generic wimmin's group with added green credentials. It claims that "women are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change". It conducts environmental and what it calls "environmenstrual" campaigns. Members of Stop Climate Chaos.

Its 2007/08 accounts show a total income of £170,976

• The Department for Communities and Local Government: £19,419

• London Borough of Tower Hamlets: £5,500

• The National Lottery's Awards For All: £10,000

• The Community Recycling and Economic Development Programme: £1,322

  ---

• Total £36,241 (22% of all income)

It received a further £10,000 from Awards for All (the National Lottery).

(It fared even better in 2007, when it received £60,000 from the Department of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, as well as £87,786 from the London Boroughs and £17,544 from the Department for Communities and Local Government.)

The Woodland Trust

"We used to be members of this until we found out. The organisation regularly sends out to members vast volumes of expensively-printed puff which resembles the self-congratulatory output of a government department."

The Woodland Trust is a member of Stop Climate Chaos.

In 2007, it received £2,882,000 in public money, including:

• Forestry Commission: £884,000
• Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: £51,000
• Local authorities: £192,000
• Environment and Heritage Service, NI: £114,000
• Natural England: £67,000
• Scottish Executive: £3,000
• European Structural Funds: £63,000
• Department for Communities & Local Government: £107,000
• Countryside Council for Wales: £41,000
• Rural Payments Agency: £29,000
• EC Life Nature: £5,000

This represents 12.3% of its total income for 2007.

It received a further £1,383,000 (5.9%) from The Big Lottery Fund

The charity's total income was £23,380,000 and other major items include:

• Membership subscriptions: £4,733,000
• Legacies: £6,876,000
• Fundraising & appeals: £4,936,000
• Sponsorship income: £2,242,000
• Company donations, Charitable Trusts and Landfill Tax: £2,521,000

As such, the Woodland Trust does raise a substantial percentage of its money from voluntary contributions; however, 18.2% of its income comes from tax and lottery money.

This really has to stop. If they want money to continue then they should go out and walk the streets rattling a tin. Don't expect me to pay though my tax for their profligate spending. When did you see tin rattlers for the RSPB in your high street?

Don't mess with the older generation.

Amazing what you can do with a handbag.

Scanners. Who needs them?

What a great idea. Why didn't anyone think of this???
The Russians are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with  full-body scanners at the airports.

They have a booth that you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you.

They see this as a win-win for everyone, and there would be none of this junk about racial profiling. This method would also eliminates the costs of a long and expensive trial. Justice would be quick and swift. Case Closed !

This is so simple...that it's brilliant.
I can see it now. You're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter an announcement comes over the PA system,
"Attention standby passengers - we now have a seat available on flight number _____".

Happy landings ....

Dial 1, Dial 2, etc. You know the rest.

This how automated voice mail services should be.

 

H/T to The Grumpy old Twat

Where is he?

Anyone seen Gordon?

Hi Dave. It's me again.

Just thought I'd give you a few more ideas where you can save some money.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

All UK press, especially the BBC. ASH campaign continuously for escalating laws against smokers including tax rises, advertising bans and smoking bans.

• Department of Health: £142,000
• ---
• Total £142,000 (19.1% of all income)

The remainder of its income comes from ASH International (part-funded by Pfizer), and supporting charities, principally Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.

It received just £4,975 in voluntary donations from the public, plus a £10,000 legacy.

ASH Scotland

Openly prohibitionist anti-smoking pressure group. Upon leaving office after 12 years, its Chief Executive Maureen Moore said

"As the Scottish Government work towards a smoking prevention strategy next spring, let’s see them state outright that they want Scotland to become a smoke-free society and they will provide all the necessary support, funding, and legislation to do so."

Of the £468,500 ASH received in grants and donations in 2006/07, £403,800 came from the Scottish Parliament. The remainder came from Health Scotland (which is part of NHS Scotland) and the British Heart Foundation (which receives £4m from the government).

In December 2009, ASH Scotland's revenue doubled when it received £500,000 from the Big Lottery fund.

ASH Wales

Member of the SmokeFree Alliance and respondent to the 2008 Tobacco Consultation. Led the battle for the Welsh smoking ban of 2006.

According to its 2008 accounts, ASH Wales received £113,000 from the Welsh government and £49,968 from the Pfizer Foundation (n.b. Pfizer manufactures Nicorette and Chantix which are both medications to help people to stop smoking).

Its total revenue as shown in its 2007/08 accounts was £247,306. Of which,

• Welsh Assembly: £113,000
• ---
• Total £113,000 (45.7% of all income)

The remainder came from the Pfizer Foundation, the lottery, conference revenue and the British Heart Foundation. A mere £870 came from voluntary public donations.

No Smoking Day

No Smoking Day is a member of SmokeFree Action, which is campaigning for higher cigarette taxes, tobacco display bans, plain packaging of cigarettes and smoking bans in cars.

Its president is Duncan Bannatyne *, who wants the children of smokers to report their parents to the police (I'll only be happy if smoking is banned, The Guardian).

According to its 2007/08 accounts, No Smoking Day received an income of £745,804, of which:

• Department of Health: £250,000
• NHS Scotland: £25,000
• Welsh Assembly: £30,000
• Northern Ireland: £7,000
• Armed forces: £17,793
  ---
• Total £329,793 (44.2% of all income)

Most of the rest of its revenue came from the sale of No Smoking Day products. There is no record of any voluntary donations from the public.

QUIT

QUIT was a member of the SmokeFree Coalition which campaigned for the UK government to ignore its manifesto commitment to exempt 'wet' pubs and private members' clubs from the 2007 smoking ban.

According to it 2007/08 accounts, QUIT had a total income of £2,054,477, of which:

• European Union: £482,181
• ---
• Total £482,181 (23.5% of all income)

The majority of its income comes from 'services to help smokers to quit', presumably paid for by local and/or central government.

P.S. When can I get a turn at being Chancellor?

Best Regards,

The Filthy Engineer.

* Uber Tosser.

A Dilemma

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car?

Think before you continue reading.

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take
the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS...................

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. He simply answered:

'I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.'

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations.
Never forget to 'Think Outside of the Box.'

HOWEVER....,

The correct answer is to run the old lady over and put
her out of her misery, have sex with the perfect partner on the bonnet of the car, then drive off with the old friend for a few beers.

God, I just love happy endings!

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.