THE WEEKLY ESSAY: Charity begins with volunteering
This week's 'weekly essay' comes from local businessman Philip Milton and is on the subject of charity and volunteering.
THE traditional 'left wing' perspective (or perhaps one could say 'liberal', especially following our MP's fortnightly column which seems to continue the subject) is one which believes "The State will provide and will be able to do it best". Sadly this all too often means that others won't bother to do anything because State provision becomes a 'belief', just like the benefit system where individual charity appears redundant under the new State rules which society has adopted over the last few generations.
Readers may recall reports in the Journal last year on the Devon Community Foundation and the Philip J. Milton & Company Plc named fund set-up under the Grassroots initiative and how we sought approaches from small local causes to consider for small grant distribution.
May I commend the Journal for its coverage because so far, we have been approached by 31 different organisations and I have been able to provide them with details of the fund as well as other possible funding routes according to the respective needs (and yes, some 'self-help' initiatives too).
It isn't just a cheque either, but an opportunity to provide practical guidance to help these small causes and it has been a privilege to direct a few in lines of enquiry and thought they may never have considered.
However, down to the point. Most of these organisations are staffed by volunteers. Yes, a few are professional with paid staff but most are not. Be they based upon the Church, or Scouts, or Rotary or whatever, the prerequisite of having to be fronted by paid staff, this is not present across the board.
There are some great volunteer orientated organisations and charities out there. Look at the Barnstaple Rotary Charity Shop – not a single paid person and not like all the other charity shops with paid management installed, a cost which has to be covered before a profit is made for the charity.
There are literally thousands of locally based charities, trusts and organisations where people give tirelessly of their time, expertise, experience and resources and are not looking for payment in exchange and not always because they have a personal interest which has stimulated the connection.
This isn't decrying all paid charity workers at all but to suggest that the volunteer model is dying is an injustice to all those who do give so much of their time, energy and resource for nothing expected in return.
Take the first recipient of an award from the Philip J Milton & Company Plc Fund – the Children's Summer Club in Barnstaple where I have watched Christine Brennan and her team over the years tirelessly turn out regularly to provide that activity and including carnival entries and a pantomime as well, on top of environmental projects and community clean-ups.
Yes, I do think that more people connected to those local needs should help out. The parents of local youth clubs could take more of an interest and perhaps volunteer their time and attendance to ensure the provision continues. Have they been asked or because there are paid staff, does that mean seeking volunteers is not seen as a priority?
Take local playgroups too – if numbers are too low, can they be expected to survive with fully paid leaders and helpers? Probably not. Is the model becoming unsustainable, in fact?
There are plenty of examples like that and not all of them 'deserve' to survive just because State funding has propped them up previously, perhaps. That is the issue too, is it not, the funds are a valuable resource which should be used to optimum benefit and that can't mean being able to do everything?
The Journal's former columnist John Barum once suggested that regulations have gone mad and I agree but that, too, is no excuse to default to the 'we must pay someone a handsome salary, pension and car just because' position – it doesn't follow and it can't.
We have a growing youth unemployment issue in our country too and wouldn't it be great to provide and encourage more opportunities in the voluntary sector for some of them so they can begin to accrue experience which might help them into employment in due course, as well as appreciating their own self-worth through such a commitment?
They have the time on their hands as well. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities across a wide range of different charitable organisations from charity shops to hospices and the Freedom Centre – let alone helping in youth clubs.
Yes, I do believe inevitable and overdue cuts in public spending will create their own review and perhaps with it, will stimulate more people to volunteer commitment to clubs and organisations, even if for their own/family's self interests.
Indeed, as austerity bites, closer society can result as well and that can be one of the bi-products, as long as we better manage the inexorable rise otherwise towards selfishness and not venturing out to help others, an attitude that we have all encouraged over the last few decades.
That said, yes I do live in hope that the volunteer core will remain strong and indeed may strengthen and that the primary driver is not the financial reward secured but the desire to help others.
Let us in the meantime salute all those who do volunteer time and resource with no consideration for reward to themselves.
19 Comments
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by Felixthecat11
Saturday, February 18 2012, 10:17AM
“Dear Appignanesi
Your constructive comments are welcome. An 'Essay' which questions received wisdom and engenders or provokes thought and comment in the reader has achieved its goals.
I'd like to see more 'comment' on 'Big Charity' and the business it has become - and the roles of the individual in our Society where volunteering without considering the reward to the individual (or even expenses!) is at the forefront again (and as it remains still for so many unsung heroes incidentally).”
by appignanesi
Saturday, February 18 2012, 4:31AM
“I have come to this website in the early hours of this fine West Country morning. I love Devon since it was the home of my ancestors. I believe that Mr Milton was seeking to deferentiate (word used in context and hopefully spelled correctly) between the public and the private sphere. The public sphere is, and should be, the concern of the "government", the "state". The "private sphere" is, and should be, our responsibility, Mr and Mrs Him and Her down the road.”
by Felixthecat11
Friday, February 17 2012, 10:14AM
“Dear Jude011
You're now learning that what the paper prints isn't the whole story, perhaps - just the public front.
I'll await your Essay but do disclose your real name so I'll know what to look for. As for suggesting I am 'wrong' - the Essay asked lots of questions and stimulated thought.
Doves is no poisoned chalice - if it closed tomorrow, what chalice is that to anyone else? Instead it is a great opportunity for a fore-sighted person who's prepared to work hard and commit to it as a project for the Community. Sadly too many sit back and let someone else 'do it' and then just criticise in ignorance. That's fact not patronising. I've always tried to demonstrate faith in people - to my cost often as well.”
by Jude011
Friday, February 17 2012, 12:31AM
“I know plenty about you, as do all readers of the North Devon Journal, because you are always promoting yourself.
Your response is patronising and pompous in the extreme - I'm "getting there" am I? Getting where exactly? I still think you're wrong. That doesn't make me cynical - do try to be a little more benevolent.
As to the Doves "baton" - from what you have said, it sounds more like a poisoned chalice which you are desperate to rid yourself of. Very kind offer, but no thanks.
I'll just carry on trying to work out how on earth this camel is going to get through the eye of this needle.......... I'll let you know if it does.”
by Felixthecat11
Friday, February 17 2012, 12:18AM
“"It's a shame you don't have a bit more faith in people." These are your words - if only you'd started your comments under this premise. You don't know me, you sit in judgement without knowing not a sous of what I have done, do do or may be doing.
You represent the cynicism and indeed, press 'send' when a good night's space between writing and sending may engender a different response yet you don't understand the concept - it's nothing to do with 'freedom of speech' - that's what I exercised in the 'Essay' - you can do the same if you have the courage. That said, I think you are getting there - the acts you suggest, yes, they can be done without seeking payment - at last.... revelation!
I commend the Christian concept of a benevolent spirit and always welcome and endorse it - yet charity as we understand it goes beyond that basic human nature which costs each of us little.
You still haven't offered your practical baton of taking on the Christian Centre - why not? Do as I did, put your house on the line, with debt, to support it for twenty-three years! Or is it a case of the spirit's willing but the pockets are shallow unless it's someone else's risk! I've met that a few times in my life!”
by Jude011
Thursday, February 16 2012, 10:59PM
“I'm not cynical. I just think you are incoherent.
You sense wrongly - I do not work for a charity. I nevertheless disagree with what you say.
There's no point in complaining about it being "too easy to use a computer these days", whatever that means. It's called freedom of speech.
You seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that people don't do anything for others. That's not the world I live in. Thousands of people all over the country perform small acts of kindness (call it charity if you want) every day - putting out a neighbour's bins, helping someone with shopping, looking after a friend's child, giving someone a lift. These things are never trumpeted but are inherently valuable. It's not "the big society". It's normal human behaviour.
It's a shame you don't have a bit more faith in people.”
by Jude011
Thursday, February 16 2012, 10:56PM
“I'm not cynical. I just think you are incoherent.
You sense wrongly - I do not work for a charity. I nevertheless disagree with what you say.
There's no point in complaining about it being "too easy to use a computer these days", whatever that means. It's called freedom of speech.
You seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that people don't do anything for others. That's not the world I live in. Thousands of people all over the country perform small acts of kindness (call it charity if you want) every day - putting out a neighbour's bins, helping someone with shopping, looking after a friend's child, giving someone a lift. These things are never trumpeted but are inherently valuable. It's not "the big society". It's normal human behaviour.
It's a shame you don't have a bit more faith in people.”
by Jude011
Thursday, February 16 2012, 10:52PM
“I'm not cynical. I just think you are incoherent.
You sense wrongly - I do not work for a charity. I nevertheless disagree with what you say.
There's no point in complaining about it being "too easy to use a computer these days", whatever that means. It's called freedom of speech.
You seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that people don't do anything for others. That's not the world I live in. Thousands of people all over the country perform small acts of kindness (call it charity if you want) every day - putting out a neighbour's bins, helping someone with shopping, looking after a friend's child, giving someone a lift. These things are never trumpeted but are inherently valuable. It's not "the big society". It's normal human behaviour.
It's a shame you don't have a bit more faith in people.”
by Felixthecat11
Thursday, February 16 2012, 5:26PM
“The greatest philanthropists of all time have been some of the wealthiest working people - Carnegie, Buffett, Gates - they weren't on State Benefits. A 'simple' person working in any job can give up time and effort voluntarily without needing payment for it and many do - please, you're too cynical. I sense you work for a charity - if so please do reread my article - I wasn't condemning all employed charitable work, you said I was but that's not true. I'd just like more people to do things for 'free' without expecting something back all the time to justify the fact that they are helping charitably.
Yes, I did do my research and all too often people criticise first, without checking things - because it's too easy to use the computer these days! Yes, one can get a bit fed-up with it!”
by Jude011
Thursday, February 16 2012, 3:56PM
“I don't know if you realise this but your comments always come across as criticial i.e YOU do your research and you wish everyone else would and YOU have volunteered, but never expected to be paid for it. All very commendable, but why is it relevant?
The only way people could volunteer without ever being paid would be if they were on state benefits, which I'm sure you wouldn't advocate.”