If you work for a charity get some charitable work done. During the working day you shouldn't be reading my blog.
Go out and rattle a tin.
Friday, 11 June 2010
My first Quango.
Natural England
Here's just a few snippets from their own annual report and accounts.
Natural England is predominantly financed by annual Grant-in-aid from the Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
All very laudable you say. Yes it would be if they didn't have their pockets filled by you and me. Government theft without us having any say.
Just look at the figure below from the report April 2008 - March 2009. It's eye watering.
Natural England’s main source of funding is Grantin-aid (GIA) from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In 2008/09 Natural England’s grant-in-aid was £265,103,000, which made up 97% of its gross income. The other 3% was made up as
shown in the graph below. For a further breakdown of other income see notes to accounts 1 to 5.
What. Only 3% from other sources? I presume they are all voluntary contributions. It's certainly not clear in notes 1 to 5. It must come from all those tin shakers then. Although I've never seen one. maybe they are camouflaged as bushes, or hanging baskets, or some such?
And what the hell are they on about below?
Natural England has established a firm
commitment to Diversity and Equality helping all employees to work together to build an inclusive environment. Dave Webster, Executive Director
Corporate Services, is the Executive Diversity and Equality Champion for Natural England and is supported by diversity strand champions, a steering group and forty Diversity Ambassadors [employees who have stepped forward to help
embed diversity across our organisation].
What sort of non-job is a diversity strand champion or a Diversity Ambassador?
And would you believe That there's a member of their staff that works for 7 weeks in a year and earns up to £15,000 for the privilege
*FE turns his fag packet over and scribbles a quick calculation*.
FFS, that's an equivalent annual salary of £ 111,428.
I would suggest the government should axe this quango. However they might need a combine harvester.
Go and read it for yourself, if you want to be further depressed.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
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?
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
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?
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 ....
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
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!
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