Close

Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    DF VIP Member JonEp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    uk
    Posts
    2,250
    Thanks
    1,112
    Thanked:        875
    Karma Level
    394

    Default Begging letter - The Alternative Animal Sanctuary

    My mother got a begging letter from The Alternative Animal Sanctuary this morning asking her to send 3 pound coins in a card to this charity which claims to take in and look after sick and abandoned animals.

    http://www.alternativesanctuary.co.uk/

    On the face of it, it is the sort of thing my whole family would support as they all have pets of one kind or another.

    However it was odd in so far as it was addressed to a name my mother used 40 years ago at an address 200 miles away, so she asked me to take a look to see what it was all about.

    On investigation it is a registered charity however the published accounts on closer inspection show it to be a cash cow for the people raising money with little spent on animals.

    On page 6 of the accounts for 2011 you will see "Voluntary Income", that's money raised by amongst other things sending begging letters) as £1,053,755. Not bad.

    Yet further down this amount is almost cancelled out by "Cost of generating voluntary income", that's money they have paid someone to raise the Voluntary Income money some £932,872.

    Leaving £120,883 to spend on actual animal care and other costs.

    http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk...110331_e_c.pdf

    I've tried asking them who pocketed the £900k fees but so far they have refused to comment.

    I know this is the way of many charities and of course there are chuggers often in the equation who charge for their service to interrupt my path to my lunchtime pint.

    I find it odd that they ask to send cash with no request for a direct debit. The government hate cash transactions as there is no audit trial for crime prevention and taxation purposes and from a charities point of view there is no option of repeat funding. And all the published numbers go to voice mail.

    Slightly less weird are the charities that attach a 5p coin to the outside of their begging letters. I get several of those a month at home. Combined with the cost of postage that is money that could be better spent I think.

    Thanks to JonEp

    Roach-Rampino (28th September 2012)  


  2. #2
    DF VIP Member andmor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    573
    Thanks
    81
    Thanked:        178
    Karma Level
    316

    Default Re: Begging letter - The Alternative Animal Sanctuary

    That £932k is further broken down into £558k for post & stat and £374K for prof fees. That's a shit load of money for for both... you're right thinking something odd going on..

    Thanks to andmor

    JonEp (28th September 2012)  


  3. #3
    DF VIP Member consoles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Way out there
    Posts
    2,710
    Thanks
    365
    Thanked:        874
    Karma Level
    394

    Default Re: Begging letter - The Alternative Animal Sanctuary

    Thanks to consoles

    JonEp (28th September 2012)  


  4. #4
    DF VIP Member
    beansontoast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Korova
    Posts
    5,370
    Thanks
    729
    Thanked:        606
    Karma Level
    672

    Default Begging letter - The Alternative Animal Sanctuary

    I was just looking at the Euro DM website, sounds horrible:
    1) Send out letters like the one your mum received
    2) Try to get people to donate regularly
    3) Find the rich pickings from the donators
    4) Persuade them to leave some money in their will for the charity

    Some people.
    No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride...

    Thanks to beansontoast

    JonEp (28th September 2012)  


  5. #5
    DF Probation Goldberg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Location
    Landaaaan!
    Posts
    14,453
    Thanks
    1,325
    Thanked:        1,547
    Karma Level
    1152

    Default Re: Begging letter - The Alternative Animal Sanctuary

    And those are the 'declared' figures...
    We all make mistakes sometimes

    Thanks to Goldberg

    JonEp (28th September 2012)  


  6. #6
    DF VIP Member
    Mule's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Surrey
    Posts
    9,210
    Thanks
    460
    Thanked:        979
    Karma Level
    1049

    Default Re: Begging letter - The Alternative Animal Sanctuary

    Euro DM (their fundraisers) also sell websites, think I'll pass on their offerings.

    http://www.eurodmltd.com/solutions/index.php

    Thanks to Mule

    JonEp (28th September 2012)  


  7. #7
    DF Rookie okjilly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked:        1
    Karma Level
    0

    Default Re: Begging letter - The Alternative Animal Sanctuary

    Wow coincidence, I actually received one of these requests today, I would have returned the £3 requested, being a sucker for sick animals, but Not Now!! Thanks for the warning 👍🏻

Similar Threads

  1. Alternative to afterburner coming soon..
    By _Belial in forum Old Skool Gaming & Retro
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 23rd December 2002, 12:36 AM
  2. osamas letter to the americans
    By ABCMan in forum The Dog and Duck
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 7th December 2002, 08:17 AM
  3. SCSI drive not assigned drive letter !
    By BlackBeard in forum PC Problems
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 24th November 2002, 02:33 PM
  4. An Evolution X Alternative
    By f1kid in forum Microsoft Consoles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 6th November 2002, 05:30 PM
  5. Need an alternative firewall tunnel
    By knee doc in forum System Security
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 30th August 2002, 10:54 AM

Social Networking Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •